Prince-Blue Emperor For Forbury Double

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29021, 9 October 1959, Page 4

Prince-Blue Emperor For Forbury Double

Prince and Blue Emperor form a likely combination for the double on the opening day of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s spring meeting tomorrow.

Prince will face a severe test in the first leg, the Metropolitan Handicap, in which he will start from 12 yards from the awkward mile and a half barrier.

Prince is unbeaten in his last three starts, being most impressive in all of them. He won by six lengths at Ashburton last week after starting from 48 yards. He will only have to begin reasonably well to make short work of this field. Great Dillon has been a most consistent pacer for D. J. Townley this season and he had not yet come to the end of his run. Ceremonial beat him at New Brighton last month at the end of a solidly-run mile and a half. If he races up to that effort, he will be the hardest for Prince to beat. He will be bracketed with a speedy mare in Queen Ngaio, which will be making a fresh start. She raced well enough at the Ashburton trials to be considered. Finestra, a close third in the race won by Ceremonial at New Brighton, looked an improved horse when raced at the Ashburton trials on Tuesday. He is close to his peak and could upset calculations. Battle Fling, a winner over 10 furlongs in smart time at New Brighton, Gay Alabama, which races best when fresh, Josie Gay and Sun Chief should do best of the remainder. The appearance of the last-named will arouse considerable interest. At his best he would have bright prospects of being, placed. However, Prince shpuld ! nM£ him safely at a differeftbe of 12 yards in the handicaps.

Consistent Pacer

Blue Emperor*is onfetbf the most consistent pacers in commission and he should gain his reward in the second leg, the Telegraph Handicap. The Red Emperor gelding has been placed in six of his eight starts this season and he is overdue for a win. He made up ground for sixth in the Ashburton Flying Stakes last week, an effort which gives him a great chance of success in this weaker field Robert Dillon had every chance in the Ashburton Flying Stakes, but he drifted to seventh. He finished third in the Methven Cup and won the New Brighton Henry Mace Handicap at his two previous starts. Those efforts were most impressive and he should be hard to beat in this field.

Guard’s Brigade, a disappointment so far this season, came from well back for fifth in the Methven Cup. He has done well at Forbury

Fields, with form, for the doubles races, are:—

Park in the past and he could take beating. Reason Why lost all chance in the Methven Cup as a result of interference. He has raced well enough at times to be a winning prospect at Forbury Park.

Bon Ton won the Methven Cup and then finished ninth in the Ashburton Flying Stakes. He will not be set an easy task from 24 yards, but he could be prominent. Lucky Hall has met trouble in nearly all his races this season and he is due for a change of

fortune. One of his better efforts would give him a chance, while an easing in the track conditions would enhance his prospects. Kingsdown Direct, a fair sixth in the Methven Cup, and Upward, which races well when fresh, could also race prominently

METROPOLITAN HANDICAP, Of £700: 3min 21sec class; one mile and a half.

0001 Battle Fling (1) .. .. scr oooo Dame Sybil (3) .. scr 2003 Finestra (6) .. .. scr 2200 First Belle (3) .. scr 0000 Gay Alabama (4) .. .. scr 0000 Gay Baron (13) .. .. scr 3012 Great Dillon (10) .. .. scr 0000 Harlequin Parade (2) .. scr 0000 Omega (7) .. scr 1323 Pagliacci (12) .. scr 0002 Queen Ngaio (11) .. scr 1140 Sun Chief (14) .. .. scr 0030 Technician (5) .. scr 0000 Vanity Scott (8) .. .. scr 0000 Banjo (4) .. 12 2100 Josie Gay (1) .. 12 OOOO Maharaja (3) .. 12 0111 Prince (2) .. 12 Brackets: Gay Baron and Omega; Great Dillon and Queen Ngaio. TELEGRAPH HANDICAP, Of £1000 ; 3min 30sec class; one mile and five furlongs. 0000 Ice Drift (4) .. scr 0000 Kingsdown Direct (2) .. scr oooo Mighty Loyal (3) .. scr 0010 Surie Queen (1) .. scr 0440 Blue Emperor <5» .. 12 2000 Guard s Brigade (2) .. 12 0400 Lucky Hall (1) .. 12 1000 Reason Why (6) .. .. 12 0130 Robert Dillon (3) .. 12 3110 Upward (4) .. 12 0010 Bon Ton (1) .. 24 0040 Overdrive (2) .. 24