TROTTING FIRST LEG AT ADDINGTON

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28541, 21 March 1958, Page 4

TROTTING FIRST LEG AT ADDINGTON

La Mignon Fancied For Rattray

La Mignon is selected to win the Rattray Handicap, the main race and first leg of the double on the opening day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting at Addington tomorrow.

La Mignon will be meeting a strong field of improvers, but if she races as well as she did when third to Lookaway and Thunder in the last New Zealand Cup, the task should not be beyond her. La Mignon has had a win and two placings in her last four starts and it will be surprising if she fails tomorrow from the handy position of No. 5 on 12 yards.

Two other outstanding mares— Glint and Light Nurse—may offer most opposition to La Mignon. Glint has not raced since she failed to handle the heavy track in the New Brighton Cup last month. She is a far more capable mare than that effort suggested and if she has conditions to her liking she should be in the finish. Light Nurse, which raced well at Addington 12 months ago. showed that she was close to winning form with a forward showing at last week’s trials. She is a grand staying mare on her day and she will' only need to begin smoothly to be the hardest to beat.

of her opponents. She is very fit and should be in the money again. Prince, Affiliate, Ceremonial and Stormlea are all capable two-year-olds and any of them could add interest to the finish. Probationary Drivers Spring Chat, which made a forward showing at last week’s trials, may win the Preliminary Handicap, a race for probationary drivers. The U. Scott five-year-old usually stays on strongly and this could be a deciding factor tomorrow.

Gay Polka is another pacer noted for solid finishing runs. He was a winner at Wyndham a week

The Southland pacer, East Dome, would no doubt start favourite on a heavy track. He is always a prospect on firm going, but his tendency to lose ground early could be against him in this strong field. However, if he does not have to cover too much extra ground, he could be prominent. Esteem and Lady Shona appeal most of the others on the front. Esteem won two races at the New Zealand Cup meeting in November and she is holding her form well She needs plenty in her favour in her races and if she receives this tomorrow, she could surprise.

Lady Shona has not won a race this season, but she pleased by winning at last week's trials. The Dillon Hall mare is a good frontrunner and if allowed to make her own rules, she could take beating. Canyon will be having his first start since joining R. Young’s team. His form at the Auckland Cup meeting was of a high standard and he could be prominent. Invicta, a consistent pacer since being trained by S. D. Edge, at Rakaia, and the Dunedin Cup winner, Lady Belmer, appeal most of the remainder.

Chance for Backmarker Recruit, winch shares the back mark of 36 yards with Battle Cry, should go close to winning the Stewards' Handicap, the main race for trotters. Recruit, is a brilliant sprinter and as long as he does not have to race too wide while closing on the leaders, it will be most surprising if he fails to take a prominent part in the finish.

The Westport trotter, Durban Chief, was a stylish winner at Addington last month. He can both sprint and stay and from 24 yards his chances must be highly rated.

Battle Cry is a particularly fine sprinter, his ability to accelerate smartly entitling him to serious consideration in this field. He will not be set an easy task from his long mark, but this should not be sufficient to keep him out of a place. R. Young has him near his peak at present. Highland Glen and Barravey will form a popular bracket. Highland Glen is a capable trotter, but he does not appeal as much as his stablemate, which showed outstanding form at this meeting 12 months ago. Barravey could easily upset calculations. Quite Contrary, Lady Baffelan and Superfortress are all ready to race well and they may do best of the remainder. In the absence of Adroit, Blue will be at cramped odds to win his third successive race in the New Zealand Welcome Stakes. He is favourably drawn at No. 6 and it is difficult to see any of the others troubling him.

Cheam, which has finished second in her'two starts to date, chased Blue home in the Timaru Nursery Stakes. She has drawn wide and will find it hard to get very close to her speedy rival. Fair Loan is certain to be running on more strongly than most

ago and on the strength of that effort he must be respected. Two starts earlier be was successful at Hutt Park.

Ladyship is capable of winning this race if she does everything cbrrect|y. She is not always solid, but on her day she is njore than useful.

Fyvie Queen was runner-up In a fast-run mile and a quarter at Washdyke recently. The extra distance may find her out, but as long as the pace is not too strong early, she may be in at the finish.

Wainoni Loyal, Wimpy and Toucher are others with sound staying form and they, too, may show to advantage, Mayneen, a disappointment at New Brighton last month, may make amends for that failure in the Fendalton Handicap. Mayneen won over all distances and in. all conditions earlier in the season and her consistency was a feature of her racing. She has had a chance to freshen up since last she raced and it wil| be surprising if she does not show up. Becky Medoro won the Charles Cross Stakes at Addington last month and she followed that up with an unlucky third at New Brighton. She has yet to prove her worth over two miles, but she has run on so strongly at the end of 13 furlongs that the extra distance should not trouble her.’ Captain Free has not raced since January 1, but he gave a dashing display at the Addington trials last week. He, too, is a fine stayer and from 12 yards he should take part in the finish. Commander Spangle and Achates will form a strong bracket. Both have won twice in their last four starts.

Dismiss, Vanity Scott and Solemnity should do best of the others. The second leg of the double will be run on the Rothschild Handicap, Single Derby, Bon Ton and Auditor forming a likely trio in a very strong field.