TROTTING Trainer’s Strong Hand In Classic Races

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29350, 1 November 1960, Page 6

TROTTING Trainer’s Strong Hand In Classic Races

The Belfast trainer, C. S. Donald, will hold a strong hand in restricted age races at the New Zealand Cap meeting, which opens at Addington next Tuesday with King Hal and Jolly Hal. The last-named opened his winning account at Hutt Park Raceway on Saturday night when he led from end to end in the Wellington Challenge Stakes. Jolly Hal was strongly challenged by Student Prince and then Spangled Princess in the straight, but he ran on strongly and won decisively by a length in the good time of 2min 42 3-ssec.

Jolly Hal is a good-looking three-year-old gelding by Hal Tryax from Amieble, by Dillon Hall from Pleasant Guy, by Adioo Guy. Amiable was a useful winner a few years ago when trained in Southland and later in Canterbury, but she fell a long way short of her dam, Pleasant Guy. in ability. Pleasant Guy took a record of 2min 40 2-ssec for 10 furlongs and at the stud she left several winners,, including Gaiety Hall, Affable, Joeund, Aula, and Charmante. Jolly Hal is raced by his breeder, Mr G. Youngson, of Gore, a prominent studanaeter. Mr Youngson is best-known as the owner of Dillon Hall. He also imported Hal Tryax, but sold him after having him at his stud for a season or two. Jally Hal has had only five races, two of them being last season. He has always looked to have far more than average ability, but he has not shown form as quickly as his stablemate, King Hal. Jolly Hal has been patiently handled by Donald, who has driven him this season, while D.' J. Townley has handled King Hal. Jolly Hal has been entered for the Ricoarton Stakes ■ on the first day at Addington, and his main mission will be the New Zealand Derby Stakes on the final, day. Jolly Hal eould well be as sound a prospect as King Hal for the mile and a half in the Derby. King Hal has been a winner at his two starts this season. He won the T. S. Harrison Stakes at Methven in September, and on October 22 he recorded a fine performance to beat Jay Ar and Flying Note in the Oamaru Three-year-old Stakes. King Hal over-

came difficulties to win at Oameru and there was merit in his effort. Both King Hal and Jolly Hal will be in demand in their raees at Addington and there might not be much between them. On Thursday The Kaikoura Trotting Club’s annual meeting, which was to have been held yesterday, was postponed because heavy rain on Sunday night had made the track dangerous. The elub has received permission from the New Zealand Trotting Conference to hold the meeting on Thursday, November 3. Cup Withdrawal Mayneen has been withdrawn from the New Zealand Cup and all other engagements at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s cup meeting at Addington. Mayneen's withdrawal reduces the field to 17, one more than the safety number on the course. Should the field have to be reduced by one when withdrawals close for the race today, Damian eould be the first horse to be eliminated. He is assessed at 4mln 25sec for two miles and is the most loosely-assessed horse in the race. Cup Trials Today Big fields, which include the majority of the horses down to race at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s cup meeting next week, will parade in seven races to be run at the cup trials to be held at Addington today by the Canterbury Trotting Owners’ and Breeders’ Association. The first race will be run at 11 a.m., with the A. L. Matson Memorial Handicap, a race for horses entered in the New Zealand Cup, down to start at 12.30 p.m. Most, of the best trotters in commission and the majority of candidates for the New Zealand Derby Stakes and other restricted age races at the cup meeting will parade todlay.

Three To Go M. Holmes had only one win at Hutt Park on Saturday night, winning the Twilight Handicap with Blue Prince. That brought his total winning drives to 997. He should top the 1000 mark before the end of next week. He will probably be at the Kaikoura Trotting Club’s meeting on Thursday and then he will be driving on the first two days of the New Zealand Cup meeting at Addington on Tuesday and Friday of next week. Holmes also had three seconds at Hutt Park. He was beaten with Blue Prince in the Stewards’ Handicap, with Damian in the Farewell Handicap and Student Prince in the Wellington Challenge Stakes. Plans For Apmat Apmat. winner of the £5OOO Spring Cup at Harold Park ,pn Friday night, is booked to leave tomorrow for Perth where he will contest the £5OOO Anniversary Cup on November 14. Apmat’s time for the 13 furlongs and 98 yards was 3min 30 3-ssec, only 3-5 of a second slower than Caduceus's track record for the distance. Apmat showed great courage on Friday night. He galloped off the mark and he was 10 lengths from the pacemaker, Heroic Action, at the end of half a mile. He was carried up to the leaders at the three furlongs by Southern Van and was within a neck of Heroic Action at the straight entrance. It was not until the last 30 yards that he reduced Heroic Action’s advantage, but most on the course thought he had failed to get up. Apmat has been entered for the Inter-Dominion Championship series at Addington next February and he will probably be given an easy time for a few weeks after racing in Perth. He is due to arrive in Christchurch towards the end of January. For Addington The Mangere trainer, R. Stockdale, is expected to arrive in Christchurch today with Blue Prinee, Eden Derby, Student Prince and Paysan Bleu, which are to race at the New Zealand

Metropolitan Trotting Club’s cup meeting at Addington next week. Blue Prince followed up some hard racing at Auckland with a good win in the two-mile Twilight Handicap at Hutt Park on Saturday night. He led all the way and won well in the course record time of 4min 22sec.. Blue Prince won the New Zealand Metropolitan Challenge Stakes at the cup meeting 12 months ago. Blue Prince followed up his win with a good second to Pencarne, which received a start of 36 yards, in the Stewards’ Handicap. Blue Prinee returned 2min 38 2-ssec for the 10 furlongs. If he has taken no harm from recent hard racing, he should extend his record at Addington. Eden Derby will contest open handicap events at Addipgton, while Student Prince, runner-up to Jolly Hal in the Wellington Challenge Stakes, and Paysan Bleu will contest restricted age races.