TROTTING Impresario Fancied For Ashburton First Leg

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28399, 4 October 1957, Page 4

TROTTING Impresario Fancied For Ashburton First Leg

Impresario is' selected to win his second race this season in the President’s Handicap, the first leg of the double, at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s spring meeting tomorrow. Impresario showed gameness to win in a hard finish in the S. G. Holmes Memorial Handicap, run over one mile and a quarter, at Methveri last Saturday, and he is expected to be much harder to beat over the longer distance at Ashburton.

A half-brother by Dillon Hall to Tactician. Impresario ..has been a difficult horse for his ownertrainer. M. C. McTigue, to get to the races. He was a real problem when first put into work, but he has gradually become solid. He is a tough stayer, as he showed when he wore down the speedy Gold Cloud over two miles at Ashburton in June and recorded 4min 22 3-ssec for the two miles. If he races as well as that this week, he should be hard to catch. The Southland-owned Vierosa is due to end a run of placings with a win. She was runner-up to Somerset Lad in the Methven Cup last Saturday—with any luck she would have won. She will not be set an easy tack from 36 yards at Ashburton, but if she races at her best, she will be handy at the finish. The Gore mare. Responsive, bas compiled a fine record for consistency this season,-a win and three placings coming from her four starts. The Attack mare was fourth in the Methven Cup and from 48 yards, in a much weaker field this week, her prospects must be highly regarded. Good Stayer Cassado, a member of J. Grice’s Tinwald team, usually paces her best when she is fresh. She had only two starts, both at Washdyke last season, and was twice third over two miles. The Casanova mare is at her best over two miles and it will not surprise if she is placed. Starwise has shown his best form over two miles. The Springbok gelding will be having his last start for his owner-trainer, O. E. Hooper. The gelding is to be auctioned next week. Starwise

is a capable pacer at his best and a win for him in this race would be most popular. Provided the pace is not too strong, Dinnie Daley and Gold Moana, both of which are on the front, may show up, while Suzendy and Super Brigade may do best of the horses further back. Egyptian Rose recorded a fine staying performance when she finished strongly from the middle of the field to win at Meth ven last week. She is consistent and the two miles in the Mount Somers Handicap should not trouble her. Indiana failed badly at New Brighton last month when making a fresh start. The Indianapolis mare showed plenty of stamina in her racing last season and the firm footing at Ashburton may result in her making amends for her recent failure. Dalmation has been placed twice so far this season and she is due for a win. Raced by Messrs A. M.

and R. J. Bruce, stewards of the Ashburton club, she is in great order at present and she may show up again. She will be bracketed with Faolan. which will be having his first start since being trained by R. Young. Gay Tune trotted a sound race to finish fourth at New Brighton last month. The Light Brigade mare has at times shown form suggesting she would be a good winner, but she has occasionally been most disappointing. If she returns one of her best efforts, she may surprise. With You, Assure. Jaquine and Willowdale are others expected to race prominently. Rey Derby’s Prospects Rey Derby twice met trouble in his race at Methven last week but he is expected to make amends in the Elgin Handicap. The Doral’s Derby gelding was not far away in seventh place at Methven and, in the circumstances. he did well to finish sb close up. With better fortune in the running, he should win tomorrow. Tourie has now had the benefit of two races this season and he must be close to the good form he showed late last season when he won at Ashburton in June The Gay Piper gelding drifted early in his race at Methven last week, and. although he did not look likely to take part in the finish, he was a useful tenth at the post If he begins better at Ashburton, he could easily win. Technician impressed when he finished fast for second —beaten by a head—to Quibble at Methven. The U. Scott gelding would have bright prospects if he repeated that effort. Captain Free was a stylish winner in' a slower class at Methven and he must have a great chance. Court Talk, Keff, White Caps. Mooloo and Next Time may do best of the remainder. Royal Scott won so easily at Methven last week that it difficult to see him beaten in the Chertsey Handicap, a race for maiden trotters. He will give away starts of up to 36 yards this week, but he will only have to begin smoothly, to win again. Spotless was runner-up to Royal Scot last week, making up ground over the last two furlongs. If he races as boldly again tomorrow, he should be placed, but it is hard to see him catching last week’s winner.

Procrastinator trotted two fair races at Methven and in this comparatively weak field, he must be respected. He is a member of P. P. Gallagher’s Washdyke team. Bonny Wings, which showed promise in her racing last season. Supercraft. Random’s Pride and Maraschino, may also show to advantage. Fields, with form, for the doubles races are:— PRESIDENT’S HANDICAP, Of £BCO. 4min 36sec class. Two miles. 01 Impresario (5) .. .. scr 303 Dinnie Daley (3) .. .. scr 1 Gold Moana (2) .. .. scr 040 Reason Why (4) .. .. scr 40 Starwise <1) .. .. scr 00 Super Brigade (1) ..12 0 Blue Jay (1) ..24 00 Hula Rose (4) ..24 4 Mountain Brigade (3) .. 24 0 Parable (2) .. ..24 Cassado (3) .. ..36 00 Roving Gypsy (2) .. .. 36 2 Suzendy (4) .. ..36 0202 Vierosa (1) .. ..36 2314 Responsive (1) .. ..48 ASHBURTON FLYING STAKES, Of £1230. 2min 45sec class. One mile and three furlongs. 20 Dresden Lady (1) ..scr 40 Ricochet (2) .. scr 00 Our Kentucky (6) .. scr 031 Prince Polka (4) .. .. scr 0 Unite (5) .. .. scr Wayward Peter (3) .. scr 00 Adorian (2) .. ..12 1111 Lookaway (4) .. ..12 Paia Royal (3) .. ..12 04 Starbeam (1) .. ..12 20 False Step (2) .. .. 24 Genera! Sandy (1) ..24 0 Brahman (1) .. ..30 Tactician (1) .. 36 2 Thelma Globe (1) .. 42 01 Caduceus (1) .. 54 Brackets: Dresden Lady and Ricochet. Our Kentucky and Thelma Globe, Starbeam and Brahman, False Step and Caduceus.