TROTTING Bonny Starlet To Have Races At Addington

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29273, 3 August 1960, Page 5

TROTTING Bonny Starlet To Have Races At Addington

The smart Gore mare. Bonny Starlet, will complete her preparation for important engagements at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s national meeting, which will open on August 20, at Addington. Bonny Starlet came north on Monday and it is probable she will start at the Addington trials next week.

Bonny Starlet has not raced since she finished second last in the Auckland Cup last December. She has done well since rejoining J, W. Miller’s team and she should not take much fast work to bring her to her peak.

She will be on 12 yards in the £l2OO Louisson Handicap, run over 13 furlongs on the first day at Addington, and on the limit in the £l4OO National Handicap, run over two miles a week later. She is also eligible for sprint races on the programme. Bonny Starlet is a six-year-old mare by Stirling Castle from Nelson’s Star. She had nine starts for a fourth placing as a three-year-old, but the following season she showed outstanding form, gaining seven wins and eight platings from 21 starts.

Last season she had 11 starts for two wins and three platings worth £1265, before being put aside. Altogether she has had 42 starts for nine wins and 12 platings, while her stake-earn-ings amount to £4385. Bonny Starlet is now on a 4min 26sec mark for two miles and she requires only two distance wins to graduate to a 4min 23sec mark, the accepted limit for the New Zealand Cup in November. Races Well Fresh Bonny Starlet races well fresh and she showed on the opening day of the national meeting 12 months ago. She paced a grand race to beat all but Cassado in the August Handicap. She finished fourth in a race won by Ceremonial at New Brighton in September, and on New Zealand Cup day she finished solidly from well back for fourth in a sprint won by Prince. Three days later, Bonny Starlet fought on strongly to beat Highland Heath in the Hornby Handicap. Later, she went to New Brighton where she started from 24 yards and got up to deadheat for first with another Southland pacer in Pagliacci. Bonny Starlet had been one of the tailenders near the three furlongs and there was more than average merit in her effort.

As a result of her New Brighton performance, she. was the 3/4 favourite for the Auckland Cup, but she failed to handle the turning track and was never near the lead.

Bonny Starlet can sprint and stay, but it has been as a stayer that her best form has been shown. Usually she races well back in the early part of her races, running out the final few furlongs most determinedly. She will be meeting stern opposition in her rating in, the next tow months, but it will not surprise if she shows to advantage. Success Of Favourites During the 1959-60 season, 312 races were run at Harold Park, Sydney. Of these, 127 were won by favourites or equal favourites, while 66 second favourites were successful during the season. At Templeton Linda Stirling, which until recently was trained at Hawera by D. R. Grantham, is among the latest additions to G. Holmes's team at Templeton. Linda Stirling was extensively raced last season and from 24 starts she gained three wins arid eight platings. Her most recent win was at Cambridge on June 11

when she handled the heavy track too well for her rivals in the Flying Handicap, beating Our Neil by four lengths and a half. Linda Stirling is a six-year-old mate by Morano from Stirling Maid, a winner at the trotting gait and the dam also of Piccadilly Boy. Stirling Maid is a member of the renowned Miss Fortune family, a consistent producer of winners in New Zealand and Australia. Linda Stirling is better than average in heavy ground and she could have conditions to suit her in Canterbury in the next few months. Oamaru Programme The Oamaru Trotting Club has decided to increase stakes by £350 to £7050 at its meeting on October 22 and 24. Amendments to the programme include the inclusion of a special condition race for three-year-old pacers carrying a stake of £7OO. • The race will be run over one mile and a quarter with non-winners starting from the limit, winners of one race from 12 yards, and winners of two or more races from 24 yards. The first day’s programme will finish with the Weston Handicap, a mile event in saddle for horses assessed at 2min 17sec and faster. The limit for the Hannon Memorial Handicap, the feature race on the second day of the meeting, will have a limit of 2min 44sec for 10 furlongs. Last year the race was run under invitation conditions, but these will not apply in October.