trotting Maharaja Beats Fox Able At Ashburton

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29107, 20 January 1960, Page 5

trotting Maharaja Beats Fox Able At Ashburton

Maharaja and Fox Able, both of which will probably race on the second day of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s summer meeting on Saturday week, made forward showings in their heat of the free-for-all at trials held at Ashburton yesterday by the MidCanterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association. The trials were held in fine weather, but a heavy wind marred the first few races. The track was in good order.

Our Bridget was first out in the first heat of the free-for-all, but she was soon passed by the Dunedin Cup candidate, Gay Alabama, which had been a little slow. Fox Able, after breaking at the start, improved near the six furlongs and dropped in behind Gay Alabama, with Maharaja moving up to third. Fox Able raced clear approaching the half-mile and led to the straight where John Leslie was improving wide out and Maharaja on the inner. Maharaja finished slightly better than Fox Able to win by a head.

Maharaja has not won a race this season, but at times he has raced well enough to suggest an early win. He could be returning to his best. He recorded 3min 22sec for the mile and a half, the last half-mile in Imin 2 2-ssec. Fox Able showed much of his usual brilliance in this race and he may not be long making amends for some disappointing efforts. John Leslie, which was not knocked about in the straight, was only half a length back third. He will be hard to beat in the Summer Handicap at Forbury Park on Saturday. Elope was beaten off fourth, clear of the tiring Gay Alabama, with another gap to Our Bridget. Laughlin’s Lass was beaten off over the last half-mile. Spring Lynne Wins Spring Lynne, which has no immediate engagements, led from end to end in the second heat of the free-for-all, recording 3min 24sec for the mile and a half, the last four furlongs in Imin 3 l-ssec. Spring Lynne has plenty of ability and her performance yesterday suggested that she may be in for an early win. Cat’s Luck, which is to contest the Otago Handicap at Forbury Park on Saturday, gave a bold display of trotting to take second place, a head in front of Twig, which made up a lot of ground over the last nine furlongs. Twig is to contest the Hororata Handicap on Saturday and she may be hard to beat. She is raced by the president of the Hororata club (Mr O. J. Watson).

Rockn Roll, also a candidate for Forbury Park, moved into second place at the straight entrance. She was not asked for a serious effort over the final furlong and was a close fourth, shading Staybright, which lost ground at the start, Lady Attack, Capull and Resolution.

Fox Able was started for a second time. He was checked and went to a bad break at the start and was finally pulled up. The Two-year-olds

Adio '’ay, a youngster by Captain Adios from Spangled Queen in G. B. Noble’s team, was too good for the two-year-olds in a parade over one mile. He took the lead from his stablemate, Adios Duenna, at the end of about half a mile and in the run home he was not extended to beat her by two lengths after taking 2min 19 3-ssec for the mile, the last four furlongs in Imin ssec. Adio Way, which has yet to race, looks a likely type of pacer. Adios Duenna has been placed in her two starts to date and she is holding her form well for the Canterbury Park Juvenile Stakes at Addington next month. Robyn, by U. Scott from Clever Kitty, came home solidly for third, two lengths behind Adios Duenna, with a length back to Borodon, a gelding by Meadow Chief from Ballarat in N. S. G. Watson’s Springston team. Stormcara, a filly by Zancara from Elevator in J. G. Crofts’ team, paced a useful race for fifth, ahead of a gelding by U. Scott from Gay Volo in N. L. Berkett's team, Ingemar, Young Garry and Rhythm Dancer. Grouse Impresses Grouse, a last-start winner at Washdyke and a favoured candidate for the Canterbury Park Trotting Club Handicap and the A. J. Harris Memorial Handicap at Hororata on Saturday, gained an impressive win in the 3min 33sec class pace. She lost ground at the start, but began to improve wide out on reaching the straight. She finished boldly for W. E. Lowe and won by half a length after taking 3min 34sec for the 12 furlongs, a good effort considering the strong wind the horses had to contend with in the back straight. The leaders paced their final half-mile in Imin 3 2-ssec. Grouse is in fine form at present and she should win at one of her starts at Hororata.

Placid Knight, a candidate for the Canterbury Park Trotting Club Handicap at Hororata, paced a useful race for second, a length in front of Resolution, which started from 36 yards and attempted to lead over the last six furlongs and a half. Resolution is in the second leg of the double at Hororata.

Peebles, which is to race in the Forbury Challenge Stakes at Dunedin on Saturday, was not hurried to finish fourth a length behind Resolution, with Jimmy Grattan, Brigadier Scott, Disperse and Cairnbrae following. Cairnbrae began well, but drifted towards the rear in the middle stages. He showed up wide out after reaching the straight and made up ground. He, too, is in the Forbury Challenge Stakes and could bring about a surprise. He finished third at Washdyke on January 9 when having his first race start. He is to be driven at Dunedin by D. J. Townley. Black Abbess, after being close to the lead all the way, gained a narrow win over the fast-finishing Van Rebeck in the first heat of the 3tnin 37sec class pace. Van Rebeck, a candidate for Hororata, impressed as a likely improver. Chirp paced a fair race for third, ahead of Gleniala Lass, Hal Diamond, Anama, which made up ground, Meadow Haze and Sangster. „ „ „ • Black Abbess recorded 3mm 28 3-ssec for the 12 furlongs, the last half-mile in Imin 7sec. Stroll, which is to race at Horo-

rata, finished strongly from the middle of the field to win the second division from the pacemaker, Show Up, a likely type of pacer. Stroll took 3min 28 4-ssec for the 12 furlongs, the last halfmile in Imin 5 3-ssec. La Traviata made up ground for third four lengths behind Show Up, with Little Jan a close fourth, ahead of Windsor Spring, Confide, Gavus and Scan. The Trotters Dianthus Girl and Composite, which started from 60 and 84 yards respectively, had the finish of the 3min 37sec class trot to themselves, Dianthus Girl winning by a length after taking 3min 31 l-ssec for the 12 furlongs, the last half-mile in Imin 6sec. Dianthus Girl broke near the mile post when challenging the leaders. She soon settled down and had control with five and a half furlongs to run. She is a smart trotter and could be one of the hardest to beat in the Malvern Handicap at Hororata on Saturday. Composite, a candidate for the same race, looks to have done well lately for O. M. Quinlan. He has a splendid style of trotting and could upset calculations at Hororata. Spinster Scott, which may show to advantage in the New Brighton Trotting Club Handicap at Hororata, was close to the lead all the way and held on for third three lengths behind Composite and two lengths in front of Arizona Gal. Nimble Grattan was a fair fifth, just shading Ebony King, with the three-year-olds, John Black and Kuyaway, next. John Black is by Johnny Globe from Girl Black and is trained by D. G. Nyhan. Kuyaway is a filly by Stormyway from Double Measure and she is trained by N. L. Berkett.