Prince Should Make Amends At Hutt Park

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29192, 30 April 1960, Page 6

Prince Should Make Amends At Hutt Park

*; (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, April 29. Prince, a costly failure last night, should go close to making amends in the R. A. Armstrong Memorial Handicap, the main race and first leg of the double on the second night of the Wellington Trotting Club’s autumn meeting at Hutt Park raceway tomorrow night. Prince? lost a big stretch of ground at the start of the J. E. August Memorial Handicap last night and he looked to be so far back at the end of a furlong that he was out of the race. However, he took advantage of an easing in the pace in the middle stages and gradually improved.

At the finish he was ninth, an outstanding effort considering the ground he lost. The U_ Scott four-year-old won five races in brilliant fashion early in the season and he looks to be close to his peak again.

The bracket of Dame Sybil and Lady Shona cannot be overlooked in spite of their failure to return a dividend last night. Dame Sybil ijras always badly placed on the rails and the fact that ahe did not appear to hit out as well as usual may have been due to crowding. She was never in the clear over the last two furlongs and finished well for fifth. Better served in the running tomorrow she will be hard to beat. Lady last night broke near the half-mile. It apoeared that another runner got in too close and checked her, but there was no inquiry. Lady Shona’s fine form at Addington earlier in the month entitles her to consideration. Newcomer To Class Arania is a newcomer to this class but after her brilliant winning run over 10 furlongs last night she cannot be left out of calculations. Arania recorded 3min 12 l-ssec for 12 furlongs when third in Stormont’s recordbreaking New Zealand Derby Stakes last November. t Her effort of last night suggested she was at least as good' as in November, in which case she could upset calculations. Ceremonial, an easy winner last night, has been penalised 12 yards, but that should not be enough to keep her out of the, money. She has not been noted for consistency in recent months, but after last night’s win she cannot be left out of calculations. Silent Scot made up ground for third to Ceremonial and Con Scott last niaht and she could again be in the money, as could Con Scott, a capable pacer on his day. Frontiersman and Mayneen had no luck in their race last night and with better fortune tomorrow they could be the pick of the others. Open Race Betting will be well spread in the Rongotai Handicap, the second leg of the double, in which few of the runners have twomile' form of any note. Next Time, which joined R. Young’s team after racing at the Addington Easter meeting earlier in the month, was desperately unlucky when fourth in the Waiwhetu Handicap last night. As well as being checked inside the last two furlongs he failed to obtain an opening until late in the run home. Next Time is not noted as a stayer but in this fairly weak field he could be too solid for most of his rivals. Fernside Lad gave a dashing display to win over 12 furlongs in fast time last night. He is not always reliable but he* is a game, pacer. Now that he has struck form he could extend his record at short notice. True Guest has not shown much form since Christmas but she has shown stamina in some of her races. Given a favourbale run she could be prominent. Andy’s Gift, Bonnie Lustre and Skean Dhu are others expected to race well. There will be a few fresh horses in, each race tomorrow night and this should add interest to the racing. Weather prospects are fair and the track should again be hard and fast.