TROTTING Outstanding Form Shown By Trotters

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28446, 28 November 1957, Page 4

TROTTING Outstanding Form Shown By Trotters

Although the fields were not large, racing in events for fast-class trotters at the cup meeting at Addington was of a high standard. In none of the races for horses' of this gait was there any loitering, and fast times were recorded throughout the meeting. With horses of the calibre of Recruit, Battle Cry, Durban Chief, Barravey, Lenvin and Cabra engaged, the main trotters’ races were of a much stronger class than the main races for pacers. It is most unfortunate that there are such limited opportunities for these fine trotters, the big difference in the handicap marks of the horses named being one of the main reasons why clubs have failed to cater for them.

Races for the straight-out trotter have proved a great attraction at Addington over the years, and during the last seven seasons the overaU standard in the main trotting races has been as good, if not better than that in handicaps for fast-class pacers.

The more tightly-assessed of the best trotters will have no opportunities against horses of their own gait until the Addington meeting at Easter, but some may be taken to the Auckland Cup meeting next month and asked to start from extremely long marks. With such outstanding trotters as Recruit, Battle Cry, Durban Chief and Barravey in work, the material is available for some enterprising club to give a worthwhile prize for one of the four horses named to break Worthy Queen’s 23-year-old mile record of 2min 3 3-ssec for one mile. A further sum could be offered for the first trotter to equal or break two minutes. Given favourable conditions it is predicted that all four horses named above could beat Worthy Queen’s record, while Recruit could go close to two minutes. Great Draw Such an attempt on the record would prove a great draw. It would be most unfortunate if such high-class horses are not given the opportunity to attack the record. Recruit’s performances at Addington were outstanding and he is undoubtedly one of the fastest trotters ever raced in New Zealand. He recorded probably his greatest effort when he got up to win the Dominion Handicap by a head on the second day of the meeting. He gave away starts of 84 yards in a race run in a heavy rain shower, and he recorded 4min 16 4-ssec for the two miles. He was privately timed to trot the distance from post to post in 4min 14sec. Unfortunately Recruit broke just on the post and he was relegated to third on the grounds of galloping, the decision of' the stipendiary stewards arousing a tremendous controversy. An appeal has been lodged against the decision and it is possible it will be altered at the hearing next Wednesday. Recruit finished the meeting with a most impressive and stylish win in the New Zealand Trotting Free-for-all He led all the way and won with plenty in hand. His efforts at Addington advanced his stake-earnings to beyond £lO,OOO. Raced by his breeder. Mr J. J. Rooney, of South Canterbury. Recruit is an eight-year-old black gelding by Light Brigade from Sister Polly. He has been trained throughout his career and driven in most of his races by M. Holmes. Recruit’s record is:—

Battle Cry’s Record When Battle Cry won the Worthy Quec.. Handicap on the first day of the cup meeting he gained his sixteenth win. Like Recruit, he has had extremely limited opportunities and only in his five-year-old season was he started more than nine times in 12 months. That season was an exceptional one as he had three extra opportunities at the InterDominion Championship meeting at Auckland. Raced by Mr and Mrs E. S. Baxter, of Mayfield, Battle Cry is an eight-year-old gelding by Light Brigade from Amore, the dam also of Brave Company. He was trained for his early races by C. R. Berkett, but after a short spell with M. Holmes, he was transferred to R. Young, for whom he has won three times in the last two seasons.

Battle Cry won the Worthy Queen Handicap, but struck himself in the Dominion Handicap and was not placed. He finished a fine third in the Greyhound

Handicap and a useful fourth in last Saturday’s free-for-aIL He should extend his record when opportunities arise.

Same Sire Barravey, like the two horses named earlier, is a son of Light Brigade. Now a seven-year-old, he has had extremely restricted opportunities. He resumed racing at the cup meeting after his career had seemed at an end following an attack of tetanus last season. He was unplaced in the Worthy Queen Handicap on the first day of the meeting, but that race improved him and he gained a win and two pacings in his later starts.

Barravey finished a useful third in the Dominion Handicap, and followed up that placing with a decisive win in the Greyhound Handicap and a third in the free-for-all last Saturday. A seven-year-old by Light Brigade from Golden Pointer, Barravey is trained by J. D. Litten for Mr J. Smyth, who also races False Step, one of the outstanding pacers at present. Barravey’s record is:—

The Westport trotter, Durban Chief, gave brilliant displays of speed at the meeting. He is only a five-year-old and further improvement can be expected from him. In another 12 months he could be the fastest horse of his gait in commission. His best effort at the meeting was in the Dominion Handicap. He broke twice in the first five furlongs and made up a tremendous amount of ground in a fast-run race to beat all but Recruit. Subsequently he was awarded the race and gained his most important win to date.

Trained at Westport by J. R. Woodcock, who races him in partnership with Mrs M. F. Collins and Mr E. Walsh, he is a lightly-framed chestnut gelding by Springbok from Marie Scott. He will have races to suit him at the Auckland Cup meeting next month and if taken north he should not be troubled to extend his record. He has already been a winner at Auckland. Durban Chief’s record is:—

Age Starts Wins Placings Stakes 3yrs .. 7 — 2 10 4yrs .. 7 — —— — 5yrs .. 11 8 1 4,040 6yrs .. 9 2 3 2,500 7yrs .. 12 4 3 3,355 8yrs .. 5 1 2 965 Totals 51 15 T1 10,970

Battle Cry’s record is — Age Starts Wins Placings Stakes 3yrs . 9 6 2 1.7921 4yrs . 8 2 625 5yrs . 13 6 3 6.860 6yrs . 3 —■ —— — 7yrs . 8 2 1 1,550 8yrs . 4 1 2 775Totals .. 45 16 To 11.6021

Age 3yrs Starts Wins Placings Stakes .. 6 1 4 525 4yrs .. 12 4 1,290 5yrs .. 12 *— 2 145 6yrs .. 10 3 3 2,265 7yrs .. 4 .1 2 1,170 — — — —i . Totals 44 9 15 5,395 — — — —

Age Starts Wins Placings Stakes 3yrs .. 10 2 4 680 4yrs .. 10 4 2 1.645 5yrs .. 7 2 3 2,295 Totals .. 27 8 9 4.620