TROTTING Young Trotters Show Ability At Rangiora

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28869, 14 April 1959, Page 4

TROTTING Young Trotters Show Ability At Rangiora

The performances of three-year-old trotters at the Cheviot Trotting Club’s annual meeting at Rangiora on Saturday suggested that the Blenheim trotter, Wairau King, which is unbeaten in three starts, may not have things all his own way in the New Zealand Trotting Stakes, which will be run at Addington by the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club on June 13.

Three three-year-olds, Kennuway, Ahumai and Fourina. starred in the Domett Handicap or Saturday, and another, Court Out. was withdrawn, probably because of the track conditions.

Kennoway, which looked a little unlucky when he finished boldly for third to Clamour and Supercraft, is expected to develop into a worthwhile winner. Kennoway was in the first five throughout Saturday’s race, but he became awkwardly placed on the inside at the straight entrance. It was not until inside the furlong that C. M. Laing worked him clear, and then he had to come wide out on the track to make his run. He was inclined to run out over the last 75 yards, but responded in grand style, afid at the post he was closing rapidly on the winner Kennoway was having his firs: start at a totalisator meeting on Saturday, and the race should have improved him. He had trotted two fine races at the Ku-i row Trotting Club’s non-totalisa-tor meeting a week earlier, and those efforts were responsible for him starting fourth favourite.

Kennoway has a splendid style of trotting, and the half-brother by Vagus to Lady Attack will not be at any fancy price next time he is produced. He is not at Methven this week, but may race at Oamaru next month. He is raced by Mrs R E Laing and Mr F. W. Jarman. Mr Jarman is also part-owner of Wairau Princess and Kaboon. winners at the trotting gait. Ahumai’s Effort Ahumai was favourite for Saturday’s race, and she looked to have bright prospects of finishing in the money as she trailed Clamour all the way. She came to the end of her run about 75 yards out and stopped to finish fourth, about five lengths from the winner. Ahumai did not look like putting a foot wrong, and on a firmer track she would probably have been harder to beat.

Raced by Mrs A. V. le Roi, whose husband bred her, Ahumai is a filly by Light Brigade from Salutation. She is closely related to Highland Fling, Highland Kilt, Caduceus, Unite, and other winners.

Ahumai, which is trained by W. R. Butt at Templeton, did her early racing as a pacer. She failed in the New Zealand Oaks at New Brighton in December and was then switched to the trotting gait. She had her first start at this gait at Hororata <n January, finishing ninth in the New Brighton Trotting Club Handicap. She was taken to Greymoutn on March 30 and trotted two sound races, finishing third to Supercraft and Flying Lyn in the Rimu Handicap, and a good second to Foam in the Otira Handicap later in the day. Ahumai has not yet finished improving, and she should be much stronger by the time the Trotting Stakes are run in June

Fourina had her third start for the season in the Domett Handicap. She broke at the start and was well out of her ground al the end of half a mile. She finished strongly over the last two furlongs, but was beaten oft in twelfth position.

Trained by J. L. Behms for Mrs M Scott, Fourina is by Fourth Brigade from Maxina. the darn of a winner in Unlikely. Fourina has a good trotting action, and she should become more solid with racing and travelling. The only other three-year-old trotter to "race on Saturday was Glenfern, which contested the Wreys Bush Handicap at Wairio. A gelding by Bill B. from Oware Hall, Glenfern began racing a week earlier at Winton, but, as at Wairio. he finished outside the money.

Lighting Costs The Forbury Park Trotting Club will ask the New Zealand Trotting Conference for information about the probable cost of lighting Forbury Park for night meetings. It is hoped to be able to place the information before the annual meeting of the club later in the year. Deserves a Win

Battle Fling’s fast-finishing run for third in the North Canterbury Racing Club Handicap at Rangiora on Saturday was his fourth placing in his last five starts. He began well from 24 yards, but still had 13 horses in front of him at the end of two furlongs. He had improved only one place at the half-mile and was not in the clear until well into the straight. He finished on in grand style and’ deserves a win.

Dates Sought The Forbury Park Trotting Club will seek to bring forward by one week its summer meeting next season? It is hoped to race on January 30 and February 6. Three days—April 23 and 30 and May 7 —will be sought for the winter meeting, the extra day taking the place of the one-day November meeting, which has not proved satisfactory. It is possible that the programme of the former November meeting would be run on April 23. At West Melton Ordeal was left with her partowner, W. A. Bradley, at West Melton, after she had failed in the Intermediate Handicap at Addington on March 28. Ordeal had eight starts this season for the Reefton trainer, C. F. Murcott, and gained five wins. Her failure at Addington on March 28 was the only occasion on which she had failed to weigh in Ordeal will have limited opportunities during the remainder of the season, but she should extend her record. She looks to be one of the brightest prospects m her class and next season she should be among the best winners of her gait.

Won at Awapuni Ponty and iJodger were two former South Island horses which won at the Manawatu Trotting Club's meeting at Awapuni on Saturday. Poniy was wrmei’v trained at Yaidhurst by N. L. Berkett and he is now a member of J. Butcher's team at Papatoetoe. He gave away starts of up to 48 yards on Saturday and won by a short length from Dolly Dinks. Ponty is an aged gelding by U. Scott from Daventry. He will have numerous opportunities at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting next month.

Dodger, a place-getter m ms three starts at the recent Hawera meeting, gained his first win since oeing trained by I. Schwamm at Ashhurst when he beat Lucky Guard in the Broadway Handicap. Dodger is a half-brother by Light Brigade to a well-performed mare in Mayneen. He should continue to, pay his way where the class is not too rich.