TROTTING OUTSTANDING FORM OF YOUNG TROTTERS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28550, 1 April 1958, Page 5

TROTTING OUTSTANDING FORM OF YOUNG TROTTERS

Performances in the New Zealand Trotting Stakes at Addington on Saturday suggest that the standard in races for straight-out trotters in the next few years should be higher than it has been for some time.

The first three place-getters— Au Fait, Moon Boy' and Guiliano —equalled or bettered the race record of 3mm 23 4-ssec established eight years ago by a grand juvenile trotter, Highland Kilt. Au Fait’s time of 3ihin 20sec was outstanding/ Moon Boy recorded 3min 21 l-ssec and Guiliano 3min 23 4-ssec, equalling the previous record. Au Fait gavea splendid exhibition of trotting, apart from a very slight break in ; &e first few yards. She trotted" her first quarter in 36 3-ssec, half-mile in Imin 8 l-ssec and six furlongs in Imin 42 l-ssec. She reached the mile post in 2mih 15 3-ssec and took Imin 4 2-ssec for her last half, time which could have been bettered if it had been necessary. Au Fait’s win brought her record for the season to four wins and two placings from 12 starts Her stake-earnings amount to £ 1397. She had two starts last season as a pacer, but was not placed. Raced by Mr J. McKay, of Wellington, she is trained at Templeton by D. G. Nyhan, who drove her on Saturday. This was Nyhan’s first success in the Trotting Stakes, and it also gave Johnny Globe his first classic success as a sire.

Au Fait is a bfcy filly by Johnny Globe from Dauphine, which raced both as a pacer and as a trotter, tracing back to Berthabell, founder of one of the most successful families in the New Zealand Stud Book. Au Fait looks to have a great future as a trotter, and when her racing days are over she should be a valuable stud proposition. Fine Trotter. Moon Boy’s second placing was full of merit and would have won the majority of intermediateclass events. He could not foot it with the leaders over the fir's! furlong and he was also hampered a little by breaking horsgs. By the time he was properly balanced he was a good 60 yards from Au Fait. He was handy enough with six furlongs left when Au Fait was eased slightly. He put in a tremendous run in the back straight and was second, two lengths from the leader, at the two furlongs. His earlier efforts told over the last furlong and he could make no impression on the leader. He was not knocked about to hold second place and could no doubt have finished a little closer. Moon Boy can be expected to show considerable improvement in the next 18 months and it will not surprise if ultimately he develops better staying form than Au Fait. He has been a most consistent trotter this season and from 10 starts he has had three wins and five placings for £lOBO in stakes, followed a similar course. Raced by Mr and Mrs H. Morris, of Weedons, he is a bay gelding by Court Martial from a winner at the trotting gait, Bardia, by Lusty Volo from Allone, the dam of Seven Bar, Wedding Ring, Ennolla. Court Martial, which was bred at Riccarton by Mr J. A. R. Hampton, was a winner at the trotting gait, taking a mile and a half record of 3.23 1-5. He would have taken a high rating if he had not been troubled by recurring soreness. He was by Light Brigade from Suda Bay, the dam also of an outstanding trotter, Signal Light, and a useful pacer. Sue Scott. Moon Boy’s best effort before Saturday was a clear-cut win over Happy Haven in the Winslow Handicap at Ashburton on December 26. That day he recorded 3.20 for one mile and a half, an outstanding effort by a horse of his age on a grass track. Promising Effort

Guiliano, which had been unplaced in two earlier starts this season, made a bold showing to finish third, even though he was 16 lengths from the winner, Au Fait. Guiliano’s placing was not altogether a surprise as he had been an impressive winner at the Hororata trials earlier in the week. Guiliano began well in Saturday’s race, but he went to a break entering the back straight at the end of a furlong and a half. D. C. Watts soon had him trotting squarely again, but he was fifth, six lengths behind Moon Boy, at the end of six furlongs. He finished on well over tiring horses to take third money, recording an effort good enough to win the majority of Trotting Stakes. Raced in partnership by his Spreydon trainer, R. H. Adcock, and Mr A. J. Hopping, Guiliano is a bay gelding by Medoro from Lady Ardee, by Grattan Loyal from Princess Ardee, by Rey de Oro from a mare by Matchlight. Van Ardee, which finished third to Highland Glen and Durban Chief in the Trotting Stakes in 1956.

Guiliano has improved considerably in recent weeks and he should be untroubled to graduate from maiden company at his next start.

Mighty Brigade showed plenty of speed to finish a distant fourth. He broke badly just after the start and was at least half a furlong from the leader when he settled down. He was timed to trot his last mile in better than 2.10 and he was finishing on well at the post. Raced by Mr C. L. Rhodes.

for whom he is trained by L. C. Roper, Mighty Brigade should eventually develop high-class form. He is a gelding by Light Brigade from a grand pacing mare in Bel Hamed, a half-sister to Karnak, the dam of Scimitar. Mighty Brigade is a member of a fine winning family founded by Bonnie Bell for the late Mr W. J. Morland.

Mountain Melody, which raced last season and earlier this season as a pacer, trotted a useful race for fifth, She did not break

and was handy to the straight where she began to tire. She may be a prospect in maiden events later on.

The 3, 3 favourite, Worthy Rival, disappointed. He broke badly and was soon out of the race. He showed that he had a splendid style of trotting once under way and with more experi-. ence he should be a fine winner

Answer To Correspondent “Big Wager,” Christchurch.— Tempest won the Methven Cup in 1932, beating Bracken and Silver de Oro.