TROTTING Bright Future For Rascal Predicted

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29263, 22 July 1960, Page 5

TROTTING Bright Future For Rascal Predicted

Auckland followers of trotting have a high opinion of the trotter, Rascal, which was successful twice at the Rotorua Trotting Club’s inaugural meeting on July. 9. Before those wins she had been successful once, beating Juggler at Thames in March. Juggler finished second to Rascal in her two wins at Rotorua. Between her win at Thames arid her wins at Rotorua, Rascal had had 10 starts for three seconds and three thirds. Rascal is a rising seven-year-old mare and is still comparatively young for a trotter. She should have several seasons of racing ahead of her.

Rascal still requires a win to be eligible for races at Alexandra Park Raceway, but she should not find difficulty in obtaining that in the spring. She prefers firm going and the Alexandra Park track should suit her. Rascal is bred to be good. She is by a Dominion Handicap winner, Precaution, from Comedy Lass, a grand-daughter of Retapeter, winner of the New Zealand Cup in 1920 and 1921. Retapeter was one of the finest trotting mares raced in New Zealand. Her feat of winning two New Zealand Cups against the pacers has never been equalled. Only 15.1 hands, Retapeter, according to reports, was a rediarkable mare. She was a cast-off before joining the late A. G. Wilson’s team in 1919. Promoted To First Retapeter actually finished second to Sherwood in her second cup victory, but her hind legs were badly stripped and, after an inouiry, she was promoted to first. Rascal was bred in Christchurch by Messrs W. Thomson and A. G. Jamieson, who leased her to Mr A. Ogilvie, of Howiek. Later Mr Ogilvie, who has raced several horses since 1945, including Indian Parrish, bought her outright for £l5O.

Early in her career, Rascal became extremely nervous as a result of taking fright and bolting at a matinee meeting at Alexandra Park. She was then put aside for about three years before she was given to the young Manigere trainer. B. K. Murray, to prepare. Murray, who worked first for E. Cressey, and later for R. Cameron and C. R. Berkett in Canterbury, has held a trainer’s licence for only a few months. Mr Ogilvie is high in his praise for the manner in which Murray has Rascal racing and he is hopeful that the combination will be successful in rich races at Auckland night meetings in the new season. High Stud Fdes Addos, advertised by Meadowlands Farm as the only sire whose stock have won 1,000,000 dollars a year for the last. four years, was fully booked for this year's

breeding season in the United States at 7500 dollars. Other sires at Meadowlands and their fees were Direct Rhythm (Imin 56 l-ssec), 750 dollars; Thorpe Hanover (Imin 58 2-ssec), 750 dollars; Meadow Rice (Imin 58 l-ssec), 500 dollars; and Dale Frost (Imin 58sec), 500 dollars. Misty Leased Mr G. C. Cruickshank, of Invercargill, has leased the Light Brigade trotter, Misty, to a patron of J. S. Hunter’s Trentham stables. Misty, which has been lightly raced, won one race this season when trained by J. L. Ferguson. Most of his racing was done in Southland where be was required to start from long handicap, marks. Misty has plenty of ability and he should be eligible for slow-class races at Hutt Park Raceway next season. Auckland Election Never in the history of the Auckland Trotting Club- has there been such interest in the election of officers as is reflected in this month’s activity, says the Auckland correspondent of “The Press." The election for president between Messrs P. Bridgens and H. Bull has been intensifled by party campaigners and rivalry between the two camps is particularly keen. For the 700 members of the dub, the election savours of a political or municipal contest. The result of the election for president, and for all other offices, will be announced at the club’s annual meeting on Wednesday, July 27.

Triella Betting Triella betting, recently introduced in Adelaide, is proving so popular that the inventor has had a request from North America for further particulars. The dub interested is the Vancouver Horse and Trotting Club, which desires to know whether the triella system' has been registered as copyright in Canada and the United States. The system put before Adelaide investors is to select quinellas (first and second) on three nominated races. Some substantial dividends have been paid, and in many eases the winner and second horses have not been selected in the third race of those nominated. In that case the per- 1 son or persons holding tickets with first and third or second and third are deemed the winners.

The system is most popular in Adelaide, and it is expected to be introduced to New South Wales at a later date.