TROTTING FALSE STEP MAY WIN AGAIN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29057, 20 November 1959, Page 4

TROTTING FALSE STEP MAY WIN AGAIN

Allan Matson Handicap At Addington False Step will be confidently supported to win his third major handicap in the last fortnight when he parades in the Allan Matson Handicap at Addington tomorrow. The Allan Matson Handicap is the main race on the programme for pacers on the third day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s cup meeting and it is the first leg of the double.

The field for the race is similar to that which contested the Ollivier Handicap last Friday. False Step meets the second horse, Caduceus, on the same terms, but the remainder of the horses which started behind the limit last week have been let up six yards. Whether this will be enough to enable any of those horses to finish in front of False Step is doubtful as he is in such tremendous form at present.

False Step won the Ollivier Handicap last week with the greatest of ease. He looked as though he could have gathered in the leaders at any stage of the race, but his trainer-driver, C. C. Devine, was content to wait until the straight entrance before asking him to stretch out.

He won going away in nearrecord time. False Step was an unlucky third in the New Zealand Free-for-all last Friday as he dragged a damaged sulky wheel for practically the whole race. That defeat should be overlooked when assessing his prospects tomorrow. Thunder will again be bracketed with False Step. He finished a fair third in the Ollivier Handicap and be could again earn some of the stake money.

Gentry, which will start from 18 yards, has paced fine races so far at the meeting. He just failed to catch Caduceus in the free-for-all, after failing to get a run in the Ollivier Handicap. Earlier he finished second to False Step in the New Zealand Cup. Gentry is always a danger over sprint or middle distances and he is entitled to healthy respect.

Caduceus has had a win and two placings from his three starts at the meeting. He shares the back mark of 48 yards with False Step. There was great merit in his two placings on the first two days as he was forced over extra ground. The brilliant U. Scott stallion will only need to receive a reasonable run to be in at the finish.

Robert Dillon looked unlucky when fourth in the Ollivier Handicap last week. He was pushed back by tiring horses near the two furlongs and then finished boldly once clear to be a nose behind Thunder at the finish. If he has taken no harm from his racing so far at the meeting he will have prospects of reaching a place. Fit Horse Scottish Command is a fit horse. He was involved in accidents in his two starts earlier at the meeting. On both occasions he was pacing well. His trials this week at Addington have been outstanding and given a reasonable run he could be hard to beat Reason Why was fifth in the Ollivier Handicap last week, a good effort for a horse in his class. He could again be prominent. He will be bracketed with Showdown, which has been checked in his two races at the meeting. Lady Belmer has had no luck in her races at the meeting and her failures can be overlooked. She is a capable mare on her day and could finish in the money However, she will not find it easy to beat False Step, Gentry or Caduceus. Recruit should gain his third win in the New Zealand Trotting Free-for-all, one of the feature

races on the programme. He has trotted two. magnificent races from long handicap marks so far at the meeting and this race looks to be made to order for him. A win for him would be well received as his efforts have been among the finest ever recorded by a horse of his gait and they have deserved a better fate.

One of the Best Mares Supervise, winner of the Worthy Queen Handicap and third in the Dominion Handicap, is one of the best trotting mares in commission. Her chances of beating Recruit from the same mark are not highly rated, but she should at least finish in the money.

With You looked certain to take a prominent part in the finish of the Dominion Handicap last week until he received a bad check near the two furlongs. He is a fine stayer and should be hard to keep out of the money. The Dominion Handicap winner. Annual Report, must be respected. He looks to be right back to his best again. Hazel Grattan, placed in the Dominion Handicap, and Cabra. an unlucky fourth in the same race, appeal most of the remainder.

The Hayward Handicap will be the second leg of the double. Teryman, Raven Dew and Sextant forming a likely trio. Weather prospects are favourable and the track should again be in splendid order.