TROTTING Firmament Fulfils Promise Of Form

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28562, 16 April 1958, Page 4

TROTTING Firmament Fulfils Promise Of Form

Firmament gave further evidence of her ability when she beat Follow On and Lady Content in the Palmerston North Handicap, the main race on the first day of the Manawatu Trotting Club’s meeting at Awapuni oh Saturday. Firmament had had three starts at Hawera for one fourth placing, but those races improved her and on Saturday she gave an excellent display.

Raced by Mr W. Hosking, of Waiuku, who also bred her, Firmament is trained at Pukekohe by J. K. Hughes. She is a three-year-old filly by Scottish Star, a good winner at the pacing gait for Mr Hosking, from Cyone Girl, by Tsana from Cyone, by Logan Pointer, tracing back to imported Bell Bingen. Cyone Girl is well known as the dam of Vodka, one of the finest trotters raced in New Zealand in recent years. He also met with considerable success when raced in the United States by J. S. Shaw. Cyone Girl, a winner as a pacer, is also the dam of a useful pacer in Vesta, which is also raced by Mr' Hosking. Firmament has been extensively raced for a three-year-old and so far this season she has had 27 starts for four wins and nine placings worth £1875 in stakes. She has not always been too reliable at the start of her races, but she has shown great courage and stamina in most of her starts. She has not yet finished improving and later on she is expected to win her way to a tight mark. Unplaced Last . Season Firmament had two unplaced starts last season and her efforts in the spring this term did not suggest that she would go very far. She graduated from maiden company at Te Awamutu on October 12 and won again at the Masterton meeting in November. Firmament finished fourth in the North Island Challenge Stakes on Auckland Cup day in December, and on the second day of the meeting caused a major upset by beating Sebabu and Bannock in the Great Northern Derby Stakes. She was slow away and, after being sixth at the halfmile, she finished strongly to win decisively. One of her best efforts since her Derby win was in the Campbell Stakes at Epsom in February when she beat all but the brilliant Great Reveller, after recording the smart time of 2min 41 4-ssec for the mile and a quarter. She also finished fourth in the Cambridge Gold Cup and fourth in the Massey Memorial Stakes. Firmament will be eligible for races at Auckland next month, but it is unlikely she will be extensively campaigned before the spring, when she should win her way quickly through the intermediate classes.

Night Beam Dead The brood mare, Night Beam, died recently at Mr J. W. Brosnan’s property at Fernside. By Jack Potts from Horotane, she was 21 years old. Well-known as the dam of Starbeam, Hyperbole, Great Dillon and Auditor, Night Beam was a smart race mare herself. She won many races and took a record of 2min 42 l-ssec for one mile and a quarter Gay Piper Gelding A non-totalisator two-year-old race, over one mile, was run at the Gore Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Eight youngsters paraded, with Gay Diamond, a gelding by Gay Piper from Lucky Note, gaining an easy win. He was the most seasoned runner in the field and after being handy in third place to the home turn, he ran right away from the others over the final furlong to win pulling up by eight lengths. He had no difficulty handling the heavy track. Gay Diamond is raced by Mr J. Peterson, of Gore, who races Diamond Hanover.

Whippy Dillon’s Win The heavy track at Gore did not trouble Whippy Dillon and he won the Eastern Southland three-year-old Stakes in good style. He made a smart beginning from 36 yards and, although he was securely hemmed in on the rails for most of the journey, he was never far from the leader. G. B. Noble worked him out with three furlongs to run and, although forced over some ground at the top of the straight, he had the race won at the furlong. By the Quite Sure horse, Whipster, which is having a good season, Whippy Dillon is out of a Southland-bred mare in Real Fortune, by Dillion Hall from Fortune Bond, a half-sister to Edith Grattan, grand-dam of Free Hall, winner of this year’s Inter-Dom-inion Championship Grand Final at Adelaide.

Easy Win Robert Dillon gained his second win since, being trained by D. Todd when he won the Autumn Handicap over two miles at Gore. K. Balloch had him in a good trailing position throughout after losing some ground at the start,

but inside the furlong Blue Emperor looked to have his measure. Robert Dillon fought back on the inner to win well by a length.

Now on a 4min 37sec two-mile mark, the Dillion Hall stallion will have restricted chances in Southland from now on. He is to race at Forbury Park later in the month.

Blue Emperor’s placing on a track which did not suit him was in keeping with his good form this season. He is to race at Methven on Saturday. His trainer, W. Cosgrove, will also take Dilossa and Lady Nelson north. This pair also contested the Autumn, Handicap. Lady Nelson dropped out over the final stages, but Dilossa ran into trouble seven furlongs from home and lost a good eight lengths. At Methven she will be well placed in the handicaps and she will take beating over two miles in the J. McCloy Memorial Handicap. Bred at Winton

Lady Barna, which won the Kelvin Handicap and Polish Girl, which won the Longford Handicap at Gore on Saturday were both bred at Winton by Mr S. J. Moore. Both are out of the Sandydale mare, Happy Nell. Lady Barna, a mare by Canova, improved considerably on anything she had shown previously. On Saturday, she was always handily placed and ranged up on the outside of the leaders at the top of the straight. She held off a late challenge from Basha Felika, which galloped across the line. Lady Barna can be expected to improve further. , 1 Polish Girl w6n her second race in recent weeks. She outstayed her field in the Longford Handicap and she can be expected to win again at short notice. Her stamina has been a major factor in her two recent successes. Polish Girl formerly raced as a pacer but without success. She is a good type of Dillon Hall mare.

Happy Nell, the dam of Polish Girl and Lady Barna, was by Sandydale from Happy Times, by Happy Voyage from Young Weary, by Sir Hector. This family has not, produced many winners in recent years, and Vierosa has been its best representative for some time.