TROTTING Grantham’s Bracket Favoured At Thames

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28937, 3 July 1959, Page 5

TROTTING Grantham’s Bracket Favoured At Thames

The Hawera trainer, D. R. Grantham, is certain to provide the favourite combination for the Thames Trotting Cup, the main race and first leg of the double at the Thames Trotting Club’s meeting tomorrow. He will be represented by Wexford Chief and Wise Earl, which finished fifth and fourth respectively in the F. J. Smith Memorial Handicap, won by their stablemate, Scarlet Earl, at Cambridge last Saturday.

Scarlet Ear] was not as favoured as Wexford Chief in the bracket of three last week; but he carried the day for supporters of the hot favourite combination. Scarlet Earl will not start this week, but with better fortune, it is expected that the other two will go close to finishing in the money. The former Canterbury-trained Wexford Chief did well to finish fifth last Saturday at Cambridge. He was slow away and was last Ixl a field of 23 soon after the start. He put in a tremendous run to finish fifth and was still passing horses at the post. The brother to Lady Wexford. Young Wexford and Excelsa has won two races since being trained by Grantham and he will only have to begin a little better than he did last week to win tomorrow. Wise .Earl paced a sound race for fourth last week. Like Wexford Chief he stays better than most of his rivals in tomorrow's race and he will only need reasonable luck to be returned ■a winner. .

spected after that effort. He will not be troubled by a heavy track. The 17-year-old Raider stallion. Intruder, had to be destroyed recently. Intruder for the last few seasons has stood at Mr A. Runman's property near Melbourne. His oldest Victorian progeny are rising two-year-olds. Intruder for a time stood at A. Holmes’s property at Yaldhurst and he left a few winners in New Zealand, the most notable of which was Pointer, a good winner as a two-year-old in New Zealand. Later he was a winner in New South Wales. Failed Badly The Tinwald trotter, Rockn Robin, was solidly backed in his race at Cambridge last Saturday and he started a 2.2 favourite. His supporters received a poor run for their money as he broke early and trotted poorly afterwards. He made up a little ground to finish twelfth, but was a long way from the leaders. The Josedale Grattan five-year-old has a fair turn of speed and if the going is heavier at Thames this week he may do better in the Karaka Handicap. Back At Auckland

Well Belated Wise Earl is bred to be more than useful. He is a six-year-old gelding by Robert Earl from the Rey de Oro mare. Clockwise, the dam of Patrick Earl, Scotch Alarm. .Golden Chimes and Sister Earl. He is raced in partnership by Grantham with Mr A. J. Corrigan, who bred him. GranIIMM will drive him ix»‘ toxnorrow’s race. Dusky Valley, Gowden, Anton and Predict are others expected to add interest to the race. Dusky Valley finished well from seventh at the half-mile for second behind Scarlet Earl last Saturday and on the strength of that effort the Sir Michael four-year-old must be respected. Gowden finished solidly for third in Scarlet Earl’s race. He was tenth with six furlongs to run and there was merit in his effort. Gowden has had a win and two placings from his last five starts and his consistency gives him a chance of success Anton, a member of M. R Kerr’s Morrinsville team, will be bracketed with Simon. Anton has had four placings in his last six starts and it will be surprising if he fails to show up. Predict, a member of R. A. McMillan’s successful Tamahere team, which includes the unbeaten two/year-old, Hautapu, is not reliable, but he has finished close up in his recent races. He was a good sixth at Cambridge last Saturday and he must be re-

Single Derby has joined J. S. Butcher’s team at Alexandra Park. An aged horse by Logan Derby from Isabel Derby, Single Derby was a failure in 11 starts this season, but last term he showed fair form. His last win was at Washdyke in March, 1958. He has always shown plenty of ability, but he failed to reproduce his training runs in his races. He will have plenty of opportunities in the Auckland district next season and if he returns to his best form he should not be hard to place to advatage. Licence Sought

The prominent Auckland trotting owner, Mr H. S. Barry, has applied for a trainer’s licence for the new season. If this is granted by the New Zealand Trotting Conference he will train his own horses in future.

Mr Barry has purchased a property at Mangere and a halfmile shell track has been laid down. His team will include Gentry. Cheerful Quota. Littlejon and two rising two-year-olds They were formerly trained at Pana toetoe by P Stewart. Mr Barry hopes to start a stud on his propetry in the next few years. He hopes to secure imported stallions, mainly from among those standing in the South Island. In the meantime Gentry will serve a few selected mares.