TROTTING La Mignon Has Been Consistent Winner

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28414, 22 October 1957, Page 5

TROTTING La Mignon Has Been Consistent Winner

When La Mignon won the President’s Handicap, the feature race at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s spring meeting on Saturday, she advanced her stake-earnings to £6290 from nine wins and eight placings from 26 starts. La Mignon’s win took her back to a 4min 23sec mark for two miles, the limit for the New Zealand Trotting Cup. Few horses have reached this tight mark after having had so few starts. One to have done so in recent years was Rupee, which had had only 12 starts before he finished third in the 1954 New Zealand Cup. La Mignon, now a six-year-old. was the leading two-year-old of her season. An accident on the training track prevented her starting as a three-year-old and it was not until the cup meeting in 1955 that she resumed racing with a most impressive win over Auriferous. She was then second to False Step over two miles at New Brighton, second to Don Hall in the Charles Cross Stakes al Addington on December 31, and two days later she beat Scotch Girl over two miles at the same Canterbury Park meeting. She did not race again until last season. Her first win was in the Boxing Day Handicap at Ashburton in December. In that event she beat Gay Cobra by six lengths La Mignon’s next win was at the Canterbury Park meeting in February. She gave a glimpse of her class by beating Malabella most decisively after taking 4min 17 2-ssec for the two miles. She then finished fourth in the New Brighton Cup won by Super Royal. Her next glimpse of form was at Forbury Park in April, when she beat all but her stablemat- 0 . Highland Air, in the Winter Handicap A week later on a heavy track she was second to Dresden Lady in a similar race. She finished the season by beating Ruth Again in the Canterbury Park Club’s Winter Handicap. Fourth at Auckland La Mignon was a little disappointing in her racing early this season. In four starts before her win on Saturday she recorded two placings. She was fourth to Lookaway. Electric Ring and Bon Ton in the Ferguson Handicap at Auckland on September 21, and she was a distant third to Don Hall and Derive in the Metropolitan Handicap on the first day at Forbury Park. On Saturday she was in front from the start. Several horses made vain attempts to take the lead from her, but La Mignon was not troubled to maintain hei advantage. Once into the straight she did not look like being caught and she won unextended by two j lengths and a half from Don Hall | Saturday’s effort showed that j when at her best La Mignon is i capable of holding her own in the strongest company. She will be meeting plenty of opposition in her future racing, but if she con- ■ tinues to race as well as she did on the second day at Forburv Park she should not be troubled 'to extend her record. La Mignon is raced by Mr ■ R * A. McKenzie, of Wellington •who also has Highland Air i eligible for the New Zealand Trotting Cup. La Mignon is by Light Brigade from a brilliant j race mare almost 20 years ago in i Parisienne. She is a sister to iGolden Hero, which also von the (New Zealand Sapling Stakes, and i a half-sister to Bohemian. Spring (Fashion. Mary Wootton (the dam (of Scottish Command), and Scotch jParee. La Mignon's record to date is:—

Totals 26 9 8 6290 Finished Last I Cat’s Luck, runner-up to Serenelli on the first day of the meeting. raced most disappointingly on Saturday when she finished at the rear in the Churchill Handicap. She met trouble early and was not in a challenging position. She looks a fit mare at present and should soon make amends. Inaccurate Information Figures showing the last four performances for each horse were listed in the Forbury Park race card on Saturday. Unfortunately the information for a large number of horses was incorrect. Such information requires to be accu- ■ j i

rate or it is valueless. Among the horses about which incorrect information was published were With You, Cat’s Luck, Super Brigade, Victory Nelson, Parable. Indiana, Auditor and Johnny Hall. Racing Well

Captain Spider has raced most generously since he has been trained by his part-owner, A. J Bromby, at Waimate. Captain Spider finished second in two appearances at the Forbury Park Club's spring meeting. His efforts deserved a better fate and he was unlucky to meet a trotter of the ability of Royal Scot on the first day. On Saturday, when driven by" M. Holmes, he was in front from the start, but he could not withstand Onawe's run over the last two furlongs. His 3min 37 4-ssec for the mile and five furlongs was a smart’ effort and would have won the majority of races for horses in his class. Captain Spider should not be troubled to make amends for his recent defeats in his next start or two.

Early Handicaps The early declaration of handicaps by the Greymouth Trotting Club for the first day of its meeting next Saturday has met with considerable criticism from owners and trainers. Handicaps for the meeting were published lasi Friday, but withdrawals are not taken until today. This action prevents winners last Saturday from renominating to fastei classes and could result in the club losing a number of horses from its meeting. It is understood that the club publishes handicaps early to enable the race card to be compiled and set by the printer before withdrawals. The same result could be achieved if an advance copy of the handicaps was arranged by the club. The few horses to be renominated would cause little inconvenience. Disappointing Efforts Super Brigade was most disappointing at Forbury Park on Saturday. On the first day of the meeting he finished fifth at his first appearance and won later in the day. On Saturday he broke at the start of the Visitors’ Handicap, but was quickly in front. Once into the straight he showed no fight and was near the rear at the finish. He was produced again in the Victory Handicap, but broke badly in the first few strides 3nd refused to settle down He was soon so far back that he wa& pulled up. A six-year-old gelding by Light Brigade from Translate. Super Brigade has plenty of ability, but he apparently has his own ideas about racing. Easy Win

Gay Alabama gained one nf the easiest wins of the day when she beat Elsinore in the St. Kilda] Handicap at Forbury Park on Saturday. The Medoro mare was never far away in the running and once into the straight she wasi pulled wide by R. Young and she settled the issue in a few strides.] By Medoro from Alabama, she is I raced by Mr F. Smith. She is booked to race at Auckland next week-end. when she w’ll

start in restricted age events. Il she travels well, she should not be troubled to pay expenses Gay Alabama showed she was close to worthwhile form when she beat all but Spreadeagle at Motukarara on October 12. She is a member of K. Purdon’s Addington team and brought a welcome change of luck to him with her win.

Answer to Correspondent “Inquiry,” Christchurch.— Suzendy has been trained throughout her race career by F. E. Newfield.

Oamaru (New Zealand Press Association)' rr,. . . , OAMARU, October 21. The double on the first day of the Oamaru Trotting Club’s spring meeting on Saturday will be on the Tapui Handicap and the October Handicap Acceptances:— 11.15 a.m.— WELCOME HANDICAP, of £275trotters: 3min 56sec class; one mile and five furlongs—Au Fait (5) ! Basha Felika (6). Beau Clair (4)’ Captain Scott (9), Cyma (8). Dalgelia G ?l d (7> ’ Karingal (11).! Misty (2). Polish Girl (10), Stavelev (1) scr; Dungarven Lady (1). Cinderella (3). Maraschino (5), Moon Boy (4) Scotch Mist (4) 36. 11.55 a.m.— REDCASTLE HANDICAP, No. 1, of £275; 3min 56sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Allanah Marie (11). Craignair (5), Devastation (15)’ Ebonite (3). Fox Able (14). Gleniala Lass (2), Justice (4), Ladv Cardigan (12) Leighton Lass (6). No Idea (1). Quare Times (7). Rhonda’s Pride (13) Space Patrol (8), Sudden Change (16), Wild Mirror (10), Yon Lad (9) scr; Conquistador (1) 48. 12.40 p.m.— TAPUI HANDICAP, of £350; 4min 48sec class; two miles.—Conquistador (15), Brawl (5), Commander Spangle (6). Cortina (2). El Misti (13). Elsinore (1). Fontenoy (8). Gala Girl (14) Gay Polka (16). Jackaleen (7), King Star (11). Panacea (3), Rene Lou (4) Reputation (12). Rimu Lass (9).Teremoana (10) scr; Spreadeagic (2). Toka Boy <1) 36. 1.25 p.m.— REDCASTLE HANDICAP. No. ?. of £275; 3min 56sec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Becky Medoro (3), Darkest (16). Diamond (15), Final Say (4). General Mark (6),. Highland Glory (1). Kanor (10). La Traviata (5), Maurice (9). Otaio Lass (12). Red Antrim (14). Rovindale (13). Split Pin (8). Te Par (7). True Flight (2). Zelmira (11) s. r. 1.10 p.m.— GEORGE BRUCE MEMORIAL HANDICAP, of £600; 3min 42sec class; one mile and five furlongs.— Colossal Queen (2), Compo Jack (11. Golden Hero (3). Johnny Hall (4 scr; Gold Moana (1> 12; Western Sun (1) 24; Genghis Khan (1) 41>. Suzendy (1 > 60. 2.55 p.m.— OCTOBER HANDICAP, of £4OO, 3min 58>ec class; one mile and five furlongs.—Banquier <8). Brenda Dillon (4). Court Talk (9i, Crimson Star (3). Egyptian Queen 2). Lord Balfour <1). Mooloo (5). Night i Reveller (6). Scottish Choice <7> scr; I Morere (1) 36; Auditor (1) *3. 3.40 p.m.— i OAMARU HANDICAP, ,f £325; trotters: 3min 33sec class; one mile, and five furlongs.—Avon Lad (5», Captain Spider (2), Cinderella (li. ; Dungarven Lady (3). Maraschino (6).! Procrastinator (4) scr: Dalmation (2) Kabuon (3). Lothario (4). Twin Power (1). Young Atlas (1 24: In-' dianna il) 36; Sandfly (1) 48; Diomede? (1) 72. 4.25 p.m.— WESTON HANDICAP, of £450.: 2min ulsec class; one mile and a quarter.—Captain Free (11). Carn-I t? ne (6‘). Clyde (13), East Dome (2), Hazel Grattan (T.) (16,. May Hall (1), Mighty Loyal (3), Next Time (15), Ronella (7), Seafield Lad (12?. Signor (10). Spaxton (14>, Synchronic e <5). Toucher (4). White Caps (9). Young Reta (8) scr: Good Fight (1:. Signet Ring (2), Skydale (3) 12; Real Class (1) 24.

ua ivngnon s record to date is:— Age Starts Wins Placings Stakes £ 2yrs 4 3 — 1725 4yrs 4 2 2 1410 5yrs 13 3 4 2345 6yrs 5 1 2 810