TROTTING Chance For Captain Free In Methven Cup

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28701, 26 September 1958, Page 5

TROTTING Chance For Captain Free In Methven Cup

Captain Free, a costly failure at New Brighton last Saturday, is expected to make amends tomorrow in the Methven Cup, the main race and first leg of the double at the Methven Trotting Club’s spring meeting.

Captain Free was not pacing well in his race last Saturday and on top of that he received a shocking run. He was almost off the course at the straight entrance and it was not surprising that h<} made no real impression on the leaders.

Captain Free is a much better horse than that effort suggested, and with better fortune in the running he should go close to winning. His best performances have been as a stayer, and he has a two-mile record of 4min 18 3-ssec.

Most opposition to Captain Free may come from W. R. Butt’s bracket of Swift Flight and Guard’s Brigade. Swift Flight finished a useful fourth in the Seaview Handicap at New Brighton last week. That was only her second start for the season, and she should be a better mare this week.

Guard’s Brigade will start from 36 yards with Captain Free. He was most impressive at his last start when he beat all but Macklin in the Johns Handicap at New Brighton on September 6. He was well back racing to the half-mile, and put in a strong run from there. Had he been closer in the middle stages of the race, he might have troubled the winner. He will only need to receive a more favourable run to go close to winning. Robert Dillon is assured of solid support. He has been placed in his four starts this season, and last Saturday he finished second to Seafield Lad. The Dillon Hall gelding has shown fine staying form, and from th§ front M. Holmes should be able to keep him close to the lead all the way. Could Surprise

Honest Charles, Surie Queen and Vinola’s Luck will all start from the front, and any one of them could upset calculations. Honest Charles was runner-up to Finestra over one mile and a quarter at New Brighton last Saturday, and he should be close to his peak. Surie Queen was a winner over two miles at New Brighton three weeks ago. She raced well at the Methven trials on Tuesday, and will only need to reproduce that effort to be in at the finish. Vinola’s Luck has had no luck In her races this season. She was three out early without a trail at New Brighton last week, and that left her with nothing in reserve. She looks better placed on the front in this race. The other horses on 12 yards should be safely held by Swift Flight Cassado and Coincident will be prospects from 24 yards. Cassado has had a fourth and a fifth this season. She is a dour stayer, and could be placed. Coincident finished full of running at New Brighton last week after failing to find an opening in the straight. Her best form has been over shorter distances, but she is racing much more kindly now end may be capable of mastering two miles. ,

Banjo, which raced well at the Methven trials, and Reason Why appeal most of the remainder. Allanah Marie is entitled to solid support in the second leg. the Avonmore Handicap. She was an unlucky fifth over two miles at New Brighton last Saturday when making a fresh start for the season. That race is certain to have improved her, and she should give a good account of herself.

Gay Alabama has been placed in her two starts this season, and she will need to show little improvement to be the hardest to beat She was third over two miles to Gay Baron and Compeer at New Brighton last week, and she should appreciate the shorter distance at Methven. Failed Last Week

Queen Rani, an impressive winner on the course a fortnight earlier, paced a shocking race at New Brighton last week. She is capable of much better, and that effort would be best forgotten. Our Bridget should be improved as a result of her two races this season. She was carrying plenty of surplus condition when first

produced, but she has fined down a lot, and may not be far from her best. Pagliacci, Royal Brittani, Russley Boy and Josie Gay have all raced well enough in the past to be prospects in this field. Cheam will be a firm favourite to gain her first win in the T. S. Harrison Three-year-old Stakes. She has not finished further back than fourth when raced against the best horses in her age group. This will be the weakest field she has met to date, and she should win.

Dark Louise looked in great order when produced at the Methven trials on Tuesday. She was not knocked about over the last furlong or she would have been placed. Her form last season was of a high standard, and she could be the one to extend Cheam. Count Medoro and Ahumai will form a useful bracket. Count Medoro ran on strongly for fifth in the Maiden Event at New

Brighton last Saturday. He could improve on that effort tomorrow. Smokey Diamond, which showed good form last season, Direct Rhythm, one of three horses in the race from D. G. Nyhan’s stables, Wendy Charles and Young Dieman appeal most of the remainder. Au Fait, a good second to the speedy Rockn Roll at New Brighton last Saturday, should prove too good for her opponents in the Riverbank Handicap. rhe New Zealand Trotting Stakes winner of last season should be an improved horse this week. Suntrap was finishing strongly for third to Rockn Roll and Au Fait at New Brighton, and she should again be placed. Welburn, fourth in the same raee, Guiliano, Reflective and Mercury Light are others expected to show to advantage. Fields, with form, for the doubles races are:— METHVEN CUP, Of £lOOO. 4min 33sec class. Two miles. 2342 Robert Dillon (4) .. scr 802 Honest Charles (4) .. scr „7 Kilcullen (5) .. .. scr 50 Roving Gypsy (8) .. scr 0 Stylish George (6) .. scr 410 Surie Queen (7) .. scr 1090 Technician (3) .. ..scr 0600 Vinola’s Luck (2) .. scr 6900 Dinnie Daley (6) ..12 00 Impresario (3) .. ..12 8400 Kelso (4) .. ..12 7730 Responsive (5) .. ..12 04 Swift Flight (1) .. ..12 9200 Spaxton (2) .. .. 12 45 Cassado (1) -- • • 24 105 Coincident (2) .. .. 24 5408 Diamond Hanover (3) .. 24 7700 Banjo (2) .. 36 20 Captain Free (1) .. -• 36 7060 Con Scott (4) • 36 52 Guard’s Brigade (5) .. 36 3303 Reason Why (3) .. 36 6 Scottish Fair (1) ..48 7521 Bon Ton (1) j 72 Brackets: Roving Gypsy and Spaxton, Swift Flight and Guard’s Brigade, Responsive and Diamond Hanover.

AVONMORE HANDICAP, Of £350. 3min 49sec class. One mile and five furlongs.

5 Allanah Marie (3) .. scr 00 Conquistador (12) .. scr Derry Air (11) .. ..scr 43 Gay Alabama (6) .. scr Lady Cardigan (8) .. scr 00 Our Bridget (9) .. scr 9 Pagliacci (10) .. scr 10 Queen Rani (13) .. •• scr 0 Rimu Lass (17) .. •• scr Royal Brittania (2) .. scr 58 Russley Boy (1) .. ..scr 00 Young Sister (4) .. .. scr 0 Gainesway (5) . -• 0 Happy Haven (6) • • 12 65 Irish Wit (3) .. -.12 74 Josie Gay (1) .. •• “ 007 Zany (4) •• 20 Mulgrove (2) .. • • 1* 0 Disraeli (1) ... •• 24 Scratched: Medalius.