TROTTING Grouse Picked For Nelson Winter Cup

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29227, 10 June 1960, Page 5

TROTTING Grouse Picked For Nelson Winter Cup

Grouse, which indicated that she was close to her best form again by finishing second to Young Dieman over two miles in the Acton Handicap at Ashburton last Monday, might gain her third win for the season in the Nelson Winter Cup, the principal event and first leg of the T.A.B. double, on the first day of the Nelson Trotting Club’s winter meeting tomorrow.

It was an exceptionally brilliant run that carried Grouse into a dividend-bearing place at Ashburton. A mile from home she had only three of 24 runners behind her and it was fairly late in the race before she even managed to work into a challenging position.

The last time Grouse competed at Nelson was in February. She came through that meeting with a second over two miles and a win over 12 furlongs to her credit. Grouse is not always reliable at the start, which could place her at a disadvantage in this big field, but as long as she does not lose too much ground it is expected that she will match the best of the others at the distance.

One of the strongest rivals might be Somerset Rose, which has previously proved herself on the course —she was a dual winner at Nelson in February—although not over two .niles. However, her fast finishing sixth over 12 furlongs at Ashburton last Saturday and an improver’s fifth in the Acton Handicap on Monday were highly encouraging. She would not have to improve much on either of those efforts to make a winning bid. Deep Lead, Peebles and Young Betty each have recent winning form to their credit and should do best of the remaining runners off the front mark.

Those which appeal most of the handicapped horses are Fiord and Jimmy Grattan, two of seven off the 12-yard mark, and Aurelia, the co-backmarker with Laughlin's Lass and Lepanto, on 43 yards. Most of Fiord’s best form has been shown over shorter distances but she has proved that she can run two miles out as solidly as most of her present class when the pace is not too torrid. Jimmy Grattan has failed in four starts since his solid run for second to Mystic Star over 14 furlongs at Washdyke last month. However, he would only need to reproduce an effort of equal merit to be a first-class prospect in this field. Aurelia, a winner over 12 furlongs at Hutt Park two starts back and a fairly close third behind Eden Derby and Regal Duchess at Ashburton on Monday, is not set an easy task but one of her best runs should get her into the finish again. The Second Leg Island Mist, the runner-up in three of her last four races, might gain a well deserved win in the Beatty Handicap, the second leg of the T.A.B. double.

The Beatty Handicap will be run over a mile. With 16 of the 17 runners off the limit, luck in the running in the first furlong or so will probably have an important bearing upon the result. Island Mist has drawn fairly wide out at the start but she is usually a nippy beginner and her barrier position could prove an advantage. There are eight dual acceptors in the field and among them are some of the stronger form runners. One of those is Napoleon Hanover, which is expected to be Island Mist’s most powerful rival if this event is chosen as his mission. He was a decisive winner over 12 furlongs at Ashburton on Monday. At a mile that record should not be hard to keep intact. Elusion, Girl Again, Loyal Dieman and Valter have all shown fair ability over sprint distances and should add interest to the finish. Fields, with form, for the TA3. double races are:— NELSON WINTER CUP, Of £475; 4min 45sec class; two miles. 0000 Allard (10) .. .. It.

7676 Cherry picker (7) .. 7718 Deep Lead (5) .. .. It. .. It. 0 Dither (2) .. It. 4702 Grouse (6) .. It. 1935 Our Comrade (P.) (9) .. It. 3714 Peebles (81 .. It. 8364 Rock’n Robin (T.) (3) .. It. 2900 Sanfarer (1) .. It. 8000 Siberia (13) .. It. 0065 Somerset Rose (12) .. It. 3000 Stormlea (4) .. It. 0000 Terako Queen (14) .. It. 3120 Young Betty (11) .. It. 0004 Banquier (5) .. 12 2600 Fiord (6) .. 12 0430 Gatley (3) .. 12 6090 Jimmy Grattan (1) .. 12 0367 Pioneer (2) .. 12 0000 Resolution (4) .. 12 5468 Thumberlina (T.) (7) .. 12 7103 Aurelia (1) .. 48 0850 Laughlin's Lass (3) 48 3313 Lepanto (2) .. 48 Bracket: Allard, Siberia and Banquier. BEATTY HANDICAP, Of £250; 2min 21sec class; one mile. 3000 Artillery (4) .. It. 00 Bankligbt (10) .. it. 0038 Dark Signal (1) .. .. It. 0470 Dell Hanover (3) .. .. It. 0416 Elusion (11) .. .. It. 0030 Gay Widow (6) .. .. It. 5010 Girlie Again (8) .. 2022 Island Mist (14) .. .. it. .. It. 3929 Lilt (15) .. It. 0050 Loyal Dieman (16) .. It. 6351 Napoleon Hanover (13) .. It. 8877 Powerflite (7) .. It. 0000 Sarlita (2) .. it. 8077 Sure Angela (12) .. It. 9058 Thunderbolt (5) .. .. It. 6546 Valter (9) .. It. 5640 Van Ardee (1) .. 24