TROTTING Notify-Fern Leaf Hororata Double

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29108, 21 January 1960, Page 4

TROTTING Notify-Fern Leaf Hororata Double

It is expected that form at the Timaru meeting will be of value in the double races at the Hororata Trotting Club’s annual meeting on Saturday. The double will be on the Hororata Handicap and the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club Handicap. Two impressive performers at Washdyke last Saturday were Notify and Fern Leaf and they could be successful in the double this time.

Notify’s effort to win the Pukaki Handicap last Saturday was outstanding. He was one of the slowest beginners, but after six furlongs moved around the field and was equal fourth, but three wide with a mile to run. In the next two furlongs, to save covering too much extra ground, D. C. Watts had to race Notify up to the leader then ease him back alongside Dusky Bay, which was trailing. Notify had to race two wide without a trail for the last six furlongs. For a stride or two close to home it appeared as if he would be beaten, but he fought determinedly to hold his lead and won by a nose. If he begins reasonably well from the front mark this week, Notify should be more than capable of matching the best of his 18 rivals.

Although she failed to win.

Dark Louise paced two solid races at Washdyke for a third over 14 furlongs and a very unlucky sixth over a mile and a quarter. Two miles is probably a little beyond Dark Louise’s best distance, but she is usually a very reliable beginner. Her chance may depend upon the pace at which the race is run.

Four Peaks and Hindu Princess were both successful over two miles on the West Coast in the holidays. Four Peaks won the Reefton Cup and Hindu Princess was successful in the main race at Westport on Boxing Day. Both have failed in three starts since, but at this distance either would only need to race generously to take part in the finish. Forced Pace

Royal Brittania showed that he was approaching his best when he contested the sprint at Washdyke last Saturday. He forced most of the pace then withstood several challenges in the last furlong and coped with all but that of Fire Bell. He would only need to race as well this week to add interest to the finish.

A faulty beginning cost Russley Boy any chance he might have had in the Kerrytown Handicap on the first day at Washdyke. However, his second to Jonboy Star over two miles at Addington on January 2 entitles him to be included among the better prospects.

Both of Twig’s winning runs this season have been over 12 furlongs, but each time she finished on in the manner of a true stayer. The additional half-mile this time is not expected to bother her. She shaped particularly well in her race at the Ashburton trials on Tuesday. The strongest opponent for Notify might be Schnapps which shares the 12 yard mark with Capull and Zagar. Schnapps was the unlucky runner in the Kerrytown Handicap on the first day of the Timaru meeting. He began well, but ran into bother at the end of a furlong and lost several lengths. In the circumstances, his fourth less than two lengths from the winner was a performance of exceptional merit. Three starts earlier Schnapps had finished a very close second to Nadjehda over two miles in the Rangiora Cup on December 19 If he escapes trouble in the running on Saturday he may be capable of putting Notify to the test.

Florita should do best of the others. She is not set an easy task from 36 yards, but is racing particularly well at present. She was a strong finisher for fourth in the sprint at Washdyke last Saturday and before that had won three of her last four races on the West Coast circuit.

The Second Leg Fern Leaf will probably be a firm favourite in the second leg of the double. At Washdyke last Saturday he was a rival to Notify in the Pukaki Handicap. Fern Leaf tried to make all the pace over the last 12 furlongs of two miles but failed to run the distance out quite as strongly as the winner or runner-up. He finished third a nose and a neck back.

Dusky Bay, Gatley, Resolution, Stanway, Kerry Queen and Te Par all contested the Pukaki Handicap and finished behind Fern Leaf. The closest to him at the finish was Dusky Bay, which was little more than a length back fifth, but making no impression after receiving the run of the race. It is likely, therefore, that Fern Leaf’s strongest rivals this week will come from among the newscomers in the field. One in this section which is expected to shape well is Admit, a stablemate of Notify. Admit was the beaten favourite in the sprint on the first day at Washdyke. A slow beginning and two checks in a fairly rough run race cost Admit all chance, but he showed good speed each time he managed to get in the clear. When his position becam- hopeless towards the concluding stages he was not persevered with and finished a distant eighth. If he receives a more favourable run this week Admit should take part in the finish.

Navua, a winner at Greymouth earlier this month, and Stanway, which finished third over 10 furlongs on the first day at Washdyke but failed badly over two miles last Saturday, might do best of the others on the limit. The recent form background of the five runners off the 12 yard mark is not strong, but if Bocasa produces one of his best runs It should get him into the finish.