TROTTING 10 Southern Horses To Race At Auckland

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29339, 19 October 1960, Page 5

TROTTING 10 Southern Horses To Race At Auckland

Ten South Island horses will race on the first night of the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday. Southern representation is stronger numerically and in class than has been the case for some time at an Auckland meeting in October and it will be surprising if most of the horses do not pay something towards expenses.

Eleven horses have been accepted for, but Disraeli will not make the trip north. He was balloted out of the Stewards’ Handicap and left in the field on 24 yards in the Second Epsom Handicap. Had he been left in the field for the Stewards’ Handicap, he would have been sent north with F. E. Newfield.

Newfield’s two representatives, Holy Smoke and Queen Ngaio, went north last night. Holy Smoke looks favourably placed on 12 yards in the Northern Challenge Stakes, a race for three and four-year-old pacers. The Smokey Hanover gelding was an easy winner over 13 furlongs at Methven last month at his most recent start. He has shown ability far above average, but as yet he is comparatively inexperienced. If he handles the Auckland track confidently, he should be much too good for his rivals. He will have a similar race to suit him on the second night of the meeting next Wednesday. Queen Ngaio will contest the Smith Memorial Handicap and the first division of the Electric Handicap. She was a stylish winner over 12 furlongs on the first day of the recent Forbury Park meeting and last Saturday she was not disgraced when third to Highland Heath and Diamond Hanover in the President’s Handicap.

Queen Ngaio is in splendid form at present and she will have prospects of reaching a place in both of her races, but her chances look brightest in the 13-furlong Smith Memorial Handicap.

Strong Team The Templeton trainer, D. G. Jones, went north on Monday night with Smokeaway, Couthie and Slick Chick. He also took Ebonite north for C. C. Devine and he will drive her in her engagements at the meeting. Smokeaway will oppose Queen Ngaio in her two races. He has had only two starts so far this season, finishing sixth in the Methven Cup and thirteenth in the President’s Handicap at Forbury Park last Saturday after being involved in a mix-up at the start. Smokeaway is usually most reliable at the start and he can handle all types of track conditions. Should there be rain in Auckland and the track becomes soft on Saturday, his prospects would be enhanced. Couthie is a candidate for the two-mile Stewards’ Handicap. She has had only one start so far this season, finishing eleventh in a sprint race at New Brighton on September 3. She was close up until the half-mile in that appearance and then dropped out. She is reported to have trained on well in the meantime and she should be capable of a bold showing. She showed sound staying form last season and, like Smokeaway, she is at home on soft tracks.

Slick Chick, a gelding by Brahman from Snow Jane, has gained two placings from three starts this season. He was most impressive at his first appearance this season when he finished fast from towards the rear of the field to beat all but Vanese in the Mount Harding Handicap at Methven. He was third to Boy Blue and Cele in a division of the Waihora Handicap at Motukarara a fortnight ago at his most recent start His chances of beating Holy Smoke in the Northern Challenge Stakes do not look bright but if he races up to his best form, he could finish in the money. Out Of Form Ebonite has been out of form in three starts this season, although at times she has trotted well enough to suggest that she was capable of an early win. She looks favourably placed on the front in the Mountain Handicap, the main event for trotters at Auckland. She will not be set an easy task, but it will not surprise if she races prominently for a time.

John Leslie, which is now being trained at Nelson by his partowner, J. T. Hill, is down to make a fresh start in the Stewards’ Handicap. The Fallacy six-year-old raced most disappointingly last season when five placings were his best efforts from 15 starts. The previous season he numbered the Hawera Cup among his successes. He stays well, but it is doubtful whether he will be forward enough to be a serious threat after a long spell away from racing. Takitimu. a disappointment in two appearances at the recent

Forbury Park meeting, will start in the Smith Memorial Handicap. She has drawn what appears to be the weaker of two divisions in the Electric Handicap and her second start is expected to provide her with her most likely chance of success. She would have to show marked improve-

ment to trouble Queen Ngaio or Smokeaway in the Smith Memorial Handicap. Takitimu won twice at this meeting 12 months ago.

Sure Maggie and Cat’s Luck complete the southern horses. They will race in the 11-furlong Mountain Handicap, the main race for trotters. Sure Maggie could easily upset calculations. She looks favourably placed on the front and could lead from end to end.

Cat’s Luck would be preferred over a longer distance as she usually takes time to become properly balanced.