TROTTING Many Smart Pacers Close To Cup Class

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28952, 21 July 1959, Page 5

TROTTING Many Smart Pacers Close To Cup Class

Main interest during the first few months of the new trotting season will be the attempts by a number of promising, pacers to graduate to New Zealand Cup class. There have been heavy losses during the last 12 months among horses assessed at 4min 23sec and faster, the accepted limit for the New Zealand Cup, and an additional three or four horses appear to be necessary to ensure a satisfactory field for the b.ig race in November. The programmes so far announced for early spring meetings give opportunities for horses assessed at 4min 29sec and faster for two miles. Horses on 4min 29sec and 4min 28sec require three distance wins to earn a 4min 23sec rating for two miles; those of 4min 27sec and 4min 26sec require two wins; and those on 4min 25sec and 4min 24sec require only one win. Horses from 4min 29sec will have races to suit them at Addington next month, and then there will be two races at New Brighton in September. It is also possible that they will be catered for at Methven and then at Forbury Park. This season owners of horses close to cup class had difficulty obtaining suitable races and there were no additions to cup class between August and the end of October. This year clubs are making every effort to strengthen cup class and with the additional opportunities available, there should be several fresh horses available for the big Addington race. Macklin and Showdown are both on 4m in 24sec and they should be capable of gaining the required win to be eligible for the cup. Macklin’s wins this season included the Auckland Cup in December. His form, which at times was difficult to follow, showed that he was up to the best pacing classes. Two Cup Wins Showdown, a member of D. J Townley's Tinwald team, showed outstanding staying form this season with wins in the Ashburton Cup and the Dunedin Cup. In the latter race, run under invitation conditions, he beat a strong field, which included a number of New Zealand Cup candidates. Auditor, Canyon, Heather Mary, Lee Scott, Light Nurse, Overdrive and Vesta are included among the horses assessed at 4min 25sec for two miles. Auditor was a little disappointing in his racing this season, but on his day his efforts were sound. He has become more solid than in the past and he could be an improved horse in the spring. Canyon, Heather Mary, Lee Scott and Vesta are all trained in the Auckland province. None of them look potential New Zealand Cup winners, although it might not be too difficult for them to qualify for the Addington race with a win in their own province.

Light Nurse, a daughter of a New Zealand Cup winner, looked a likely major handicap winner earlier in her career, but her racing late last spring was most disappointing. She is a sound stayer and will only have to return to her best to be an early winner.

Overdrive, too, disappointed in many of her races this season, although she won in August. She looked to be returning to form towards the end of the season and might not yet be a spent force.

Blue 'Emperor, Con Scott, Danniel’s Pride, East Dome, Girl Brigade, Guard’a Brigade and Lucky Hall are on 4min 26sec and require two wins to qualify (for the cup.

Blue Emperor showed fine sprint and middle distance form this season, but whether he would be capable of mastering a tough two miles in the rich company he will encounter from now on remains to be seen. He improved a lot for his West Melton trainer, J. D. Litten, this season and he could be better still in the new season.

] Con Scott raced well enough in the latter half of the current season to suggest that he would be capable of reaching cup class He has improved considerably since being raced and trained by A. C. Amyes at Ashburton.

The North Island pacers, Danniel’s Pride and Girl Brigade, are both on hard marks now and they may find it hard to improve their assessments. East Dome has been dogged by soreness throughout his career and he may not stand up to another searching preparation. The consistent and hardy Guard’s Brigade looks a great prospect among the cup aspirants. He seldom paces a bad race and is a grand stayer. He was nob well suited by the rain-affected tracks he encountered towards the end of the season or his record would have been better. Blue, Bon Ton, Captain Star, Honest Charles, Shenandoah, Twinkle Hall and Upward are assessed at 4min 27sec. Blue is unlikely to do much racing in New Zealand next season as it is intended to send him to Australia by October. Twinkle Hall, the winner of five races this season, and Bon Ton, whose best effort this season was a second to Thunder in the Easter Cup, look the most likely improvers among the others on this mark. Some capable pacers are included among the horses on 4min 28sec. Horses on this mark include Aksarben, Captain Free. Diamond Hanover, Fourth Edition, Genghis Khan, Golden Chimes, Reason Why, Robert Dillon and Seafleld Lad. Diamorid Hanover, Captain Free, Genghis Khan and Robert Dillon have the best staying form to their credit among those horses but Seafield Lad could find two miles well within his reach in the new season when he will be a five-year-old. Bonny Starlet, Bardora, Frontier Lad, Monterey Our Tim, Scottish Fair and Silent Scott are among the ' horses assessed at 4min ’’Ssec for two miles. Bonny Starlet has won her way from maiden company to this mark since November She was a little disappointing in her last few races, but she may have been feeling the effects of some strenuous racing. She has had a chance to freshen up since last she raced and she should again do well this season Our Tim, which won several races, including the New Brighton Cup, stays well and is better than most horses in bad ground. He is a rising, five-year-old and the coming season could be his best.