TROTTING First Night Picked For Second Leg At Washdyke

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28794, 15 January 1959, Page 4

TROTTING First Night Picked For Second Leg At Washdyke

First Night, one of three horses from the Duntroon stable of I. S. Sutherland which raced prominently on the first day at Washdyke, is expected to improve on her second placing to Daisy Doro in the Kerrytown Handicap, when she contests the Pukaki Handicap, second leg of the double, on the concluding day of the Timaru Trotting Club’s summer meeting on Saturday.

Like most of the other members of Sutherland’s team First Night appears to have thrived in a busy holiday campaign in which she has not once failed to race generously. Last week the Andy Derby mare kept a prominent position close to the lead until the straight but had some difficulty working clear, which left Daisy Doro beyond challenging distance a furlong out. Although decivisely beaten, First Night was a comfortable second. A performance of . equal merit this week would make her a first-class winning prospect The remaining runners on the front mark, with the exception of Bonny Starlet, a newcomer to this class, contested the corresponding race last week. The best of them then was Bracken Brae, which paced a sound race for third, two lengths and a half behind First Night, after being in the middle of the field half a mile from home. When produced in the Taiko Handicap later in the day, Bracken Brae did not display the same enthusiasm and kept about eighth, failing to improve. Bracken Brae’s form generally this season has not been strong but if he races up to his first effort last week he could reach a place again. Trailed At Start The chances of Dansey Lady, Sextant, and Dora Young last week were all lost through tangling at the start. The first two would have to show sharp improvement before being considered winning prospects but Dora Young, a stablemate of Daisy Doro, although unreliable at the barrier has a lot of ability and would only need to begin correctly to take part in the finish. She was an impressive winner at New Brighton in December. Kokomo, Lavella, Our Bridget, and Timber Miller were all prominent in the running until the home turn last week but none of them could quicken in the run' home. Closest at the finish was Kokomo, which was sixth. The most likely improver of this quartet would be Our Bridget which paced a sound race for third in the Taiko Handicap at her second start last week.

Bonny Starlet was an impressive winner over this distance in the Pareora Handicap last week. The Gore-trained mare was in the middle of the field until the home turn but finished determinedly in' the straight to win going away by a length and a half. Her time for the distance was only 2-ssec outside that recorded by Daisy Doro earlier in the day. On that effort her chance of again playing a major role in the finish looks bright. Should Soon Win Bargee, a disappointing fourth when an odds-on favourite for the Kerrytown Handicap last week, could make up for that effort if more patiently handled this time. The Lighterman Tom gelding which had three successive wins to his credit before that race was far from disgraced by his defeat. From the 12-yard mark he was not well placed when the early scramble for positions was over and had to make ground wide out to reach the lead at the end of the first half-mile. He set a strong pace from there to the home turn where he attempted to slip the field. Under the circumstances his lack of finishing dash was understandable. If Bargee’s brilliant turn of speed can be reserved until later in the race this time he could prove to be First Night’s strongest opponent. With the exception of Joyfree, a newcomer to the meeting, the remaining runners on the 12 yard mark, on their performances last Saturday, should be safely held by Bargee. The best of them will probably be Gay Polka which finished a close fourth in the sprint on the first day and Johnny Guitar, the beaten favourite in the same race, which lost his chance by breaking at the start. Consistent Joyfree, a winner at Hutt Park in November where she beat Waitaki Child, a dual winner at the Canterbury Park meeting earlier this month, over a mile and five furlongs, has raced consistently but without much luck since. At her latest start she finished a fair fifth after being close to the lead throughout the Middleton Handicap, two miles, at Addington on January 2. With a favourable run this week Joyfree should again be close to the lead all the way. After Impressive wins at Gore and Winton last month Charmante was solidly supported to win the John Hole Memorial Handicap last week but failed to leave the mark correctly and was always among the tail-enders. She will share the 24 yard mark with Skydale this week and will not be without prospects if she begins correctly. Skydale has been racing solidly recently and is overdue for a win. He was a fast finisher for sixth, about four lengths from the winner Rovindale, over a mile and a quarter last week. A bold showing over the additional four furlongs this time would not come as a surprise.