TROTTING Dunedin Cup Horses Record Good Trials

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28491, 22 January 1958, Page 5

TROTTING Dunedin Cup Horses Record Good Trials

Light Nurse and Trueco recorded fine trials for the £2OOO Dunedin Trotting Cup at Forbury Park on Saturday when they showed to advantage in their heat of the free-for-all at trials held at Ashburton yesterday by the Mid-Canterbury Trotting Owners’ and Breeders’ Association.

Light Nurse won her heat after losing ground early, while Trueco was easing up in third place. Both horses look well and they should be prominent on Saturday.

The trials were held in fine weather on a good track. With the exception of the qualifying heats and the two-year-old parade, the racing was done about 15 feet out from the rails.

Light Nurse broke at the start of her heat of the free-for-all, while Trueco, Showdown, Responsive and Impresario were allowed to drift a little in the first. 100 yards. Overdrive began well from wide out and rushed to the lead before the end of a furlong. She set an easy pace for the first mile in 2min 17sec, being closely attended at the mile post by Showdown and Esteem, with Banjo, Royal Minstrel, Bedivus, Responsive, Impresario and Trueco following, two lengths in front of Light Nurse. There was little change in the order until two furlongs from home, when Light Nurse and Trueco were both switched to the outside. Trueco was almost on terms with the leaders 75 yards out, and he was not driven out. Light Nurse continued her run on the outer and she got up to catch Banjo on the line. She finished full of running and looks close to winning form. Banjo’s Effort Banjo, too, raced toell. He is engaged in intermediate-class events at Forbury Park. He was a length and a half in front of Trueco, a fit horse for the Dunedin Cup. Overdrive, after forcing all the pace, was easing up in fourth place, a length behind Trueco. She will be one of the favourites for the New Year Handicap at Forbury Park. Impresario made up a little ground to be right up fifth, just ahead of Royal Minstrel, Showdown, Esteem, Bedivus and Responsive. The winner paced her mile and a half in 3min 20sec, the last halfmile in the good time of lmin 3sec.

The fine three-year-old, Diamond Hanover, gained a good win in the second heat. He followed Blacksmith until inside the last quarter, and then finished full of running to win easily by a length after taking 3min 24sec for the mile and a half, the last half-mile in lmin 4 4-ssec.

Maharaja and Quite Contrary were slow at the start, and Cat’s Luck broke. Blacksmith soon took over and led down the back from Diamond Hanover, Whippy Dillon, Bon Ton and Maharaja. The last-named improved his position and was on the outside of Diamond Hanover about the halfmile. Diamond Hanover had the measure of the others outside the furlong and he won very easily by a length from Whippy Dillon, which made up ground along the inner. Maharaja, which was under restraint in the straight, was only a neck back third. He looks in for an early win and will be a prospect when next he is produced. Blacksmith tired a little to fourth place, just shading Bon Ton, which looked to have something in reserve. Bon Ton has apparently made a good recovery from the trouble which has prevented him from racing during the last few months. Quite Contrary and Cat’s Luck were beaten off next. The Two-year-olds Stormlea and Fire Light won their heats of the two-year-old parade over one mile. Fillies filled the first, four placings in the first heat. Stormlea took the lead with five and a half furlongs to run, and lasted long enough to beat Ayrland, which came along the inside, by half a head. Chelsea Lady battled on strongly for third, two lengths in front of Sangster. Smokey Diamond, which broke about the furlong, was fifth, followed by Laurona, Scottish Festival and Revival.

Stormlea, a member of J. G. Crofts’s team, is a filly by Red Flight from Elevator. She has plenty of ability and looks likely to improve in the next few weeks. B. J. Forrester trains Ayrland at Orari. She is by Whipster from June Bar. Chelsea Lady is bred to be good, being by Johnny Globe from Lightning Lady.

Stormlea paced her mile in 2min 17 l-ssec, the first quarter in just under 36sec. Fire Light lost a big stretch of ground at the start of the second heat, but she unwound a fine run wide out in the straight to beat Fair Loan by a head, with half a length back to Parados. Prince xfras two lengths back fourth, followed by Erin’s Night, Paddy’s Day, which tired over the last furlong after going to the front with four and a half furlongs left, Liaka and Cointreau.

The first three horses to finish in this heat are out of good trotting mares. Fire Light is a filly by Light Brigade from Flame. She is owned and trained at Ashburton by J. Wilson. Fair U>an is a filly by U. Scott from Bellissima, while Parados is a gelding by Light Brigade from Tatsydale. , , Fire Light paced her mile in 2min 18 3-ssec, the last half-mile in the good time of lmin 5 2-ssec. Fox Able Shows Speed Fox Able began well from the outside and led from end to end in the 3min 33sec class pace. He was under a good hold all the way and won with plenty in reserve by a length from Gay Polka, a candidate for the Sir John McKenzie Memorial Handicap at Blenheim on Saturday. Fox Able is still not able to start at totalisator meetings, but the ban on him will be lifted early next month. Josie Gay finished on well over the last furlong and she was a good third, a length from Gay Polka. They were not extended over the last furlong.

Cartoni, after having every chance, was beaten off in fourth place, ahead of Resolution, which tangled twice in the running and then showed speed to finish so close up. Captain Bob, Te Par and Great Direct headed the others, but they did not impress. Fox Able paced the mile and a half in 3min 25 l-ssec, the last half-mile in lmin 6 l-ssec. Coronet Lass Wins Coronet Lass, which started from 60 yards, gave a solid display of trotting to win the, first heat of the 3min 37sec class trot. A failure at Washdyke last Saturday, Coronet Lass looks very well and she may soon make amends for recent failures. She took 3min 31 4-ssec for the mile and a half, the last half-mile in lmin 8 2-ssec. She beat Marawiti by two lengths, with four lengths back to Home Mail, which was followed in by Maioro, which broke after setting the pace. Attract and Tribune.

The second heat was won by the converted pacer, Marcina, which is now. a member of C. M. Laing’s team. Marcina started from 60 yards and recorded 3min 34 3-ssec, the last half-mile in lmin 10 2-ssec. She won by half a head from her former stablemate, Fiammetta, with Nimble Grattan, Rock ’n’ Roll and Fallacious following. Rock ’n’ Roll finished with something in reserve and she looks an early winner. Skyleada was handily placed all the way in the 3min 37sec class pace, and he lasted long enough to win by a length from Haughtiness after taking about 3min 27sec for the mile and a half. Kilkerry was not extended to take third place a neck back, a head in front of Royal Britannia, with Blue Shawl right- up next, followed by Fair Flight, which tired badly. Fair Flight and Kilkerry will contest races for maiden pacers at Blenhemi. Kilkerry is racing well at present and should pay expenses on the trip.