TROTTING Queenson Favoured In Washdyke Main Event

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 5

TROTTING Queenson Favoured In Washdyke Main Event

. Queenson, a last-start winner over two miles at aamgton on January 2, is expected to run the same distance out competently in the South Canterbury handicap, the main race and first leg of the T.A.B. aouble, on the second day of the Timaru Trotting ub s summer meeting at Washdyke on Saturday.

„ ii ls best n °ted for his ability to stay e L The Selwyn Handicap at Addington marked his rst winning run this season. That race was also only nis third test beyond 13 furlongs since he made a fresh start in October.

In one of the other two, at New Brighton early in December. he was eliminated from the race when his driver was tipped from the sulky after being involved in a mix-up. Last season Queenson won three races. Each of those wins were over two miles and two of them were at successive starts.

Queenson and five of the other 19 runners in the South Canterbury Handicap will start from 12 Yards. * s a ' so f rom this mark that the Gore-trained entire might find his strongest rival. That could be John Leslie which was runner-up to Patchwork at his last start over 13 furlongs in the Prebbleton Handicap at Addington. In that race John Leslie took the lead after three furlongs and a half then held it until very close to the end.

John Leslie has not managed to win a race this season but he now appears to be close to his best staying form. The Nelson and Hawera Cups, both two miles, were two of three races he won last term. Spring Chat Spring Chat and Joyfree might be the best of the others on the 12 yard mark. A lengthy list of minor placings came to an end for Spring Chat when she won easily in the John Hole Memorial Handicap on this course last Saturday. At her previous start Spring Chat was a rival of Queenson at Addington. He won but she was only a moderate third. They will meet on the same terms

again this week but in her present form Spring Chat should at least add interest to the finish.

Joyfree made no impression in her race at Ashburton or on the first day at Canterbury Park after her decisive win over two miles at New Brighton last month. In her latest race, on the second day of the Canterbury Park meeting, she was involved in a mix-up and fell. If she has suffered no ill effects from that accident Joyfree should run this distance out better than many of her rivals. The form backgrounds of the majority of the runners off the front mark have not been impressive this season but two for which there will probably be solid backing are Mulgrove and Raven Dew. Fresh Start Mulgrove, which had been off the scene since the New Zealand Cup meeting in November, made a fresh start at the Canterbury Park meeting earlier this month. His first race at the meeting was in the Irwell Handicap on New Year’s Day. He finished determinedly from the middle of the field for third. His fourth in the Prebbleton Handicap the next day was just as impressive. Most of Mulgrove’s best efforts have been marked by strong finishing runs but he has probably lost many winning chances because of his tendency to dwell at the start of his races. One of Mulgrove’s strongest points is an abundance of stamina. He will only need to begin on reasonable terms with the rest of the field this week to take part in the finish.

Raven Dew was not impressive in his two races at Addington at New Year but he has the ability to sprint as well as stay. One of his best recent efforts was as a sprinter on the testing Ashburton course on Boxing Day. There he became badly placed on the inner about five places from the lead until the straight but came with a determined run once in the clear to get up for third. Both of his other placings this season were over two miles.

At New Brighton in September he was narrowly beaten by Mighty Mina and at the New Zealand Cup meeting at Addington he was third to Gay Alabama and John Leslie in the Cashmere Handicap. Raven Dew is usually a reliable beginner which enables him to hold a prominent place in his races. This could prove a big advantage on the Washdyke track.

A peak performance from either of the stablemates, Gay Baron or Omega, would make them prospects at this distance for both have the necessary stamina. Neither has a very impressive form background this season but in some of their recent races they have certainly not had much luck in the running. Sound Form

Vinola’s Luck and Red Monarch might do best of those further back in the handicap. They are not set an easy task from the 24 yard mark in this big field but Vinola’s Luck especially has earned herself a fairly high place of favour because of her sound form in the holidays. She beat an unweildy field convincingly over 11 furlongs at Ashburton on Boxing Day and was second to Harlequin Parade over 13 furlongs at her second of two starts at Addington at New Year.

Vinola’s Luck has shown winning form over two miles at the Wash dyke track in the past. In her present form she should only need a favourable run to extend some of the more favoured runners.

Red Monarch’s latest run was in the Ashburton Trotting Cup on Boxing Day. He did not look likely to put the major placegetters to the test but battled on encouragingly for fifth at the end of a fairly smartly run two miles on a testing course.