TROTTING Sun Chief Selected For Forbury Night Meeting

Press, Volume C, Issue 29421, 25 January 1961, Page 4

TROTTING Sun Chief Selected For Forbury Night Meeting

Although Sun Chief will be making his first appearance since November, he will be a short-priced favourite for the Flying Sportsmen Handicap at Forbury Park tomorrow night. The Flying Sportsmen Handicap is the main race and first leg of the double on the opening night of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s summer meeting.

This meeting has aroused considerable interest throughout New Zealand as it is the first to be run at night in the South Island. Many hundreds of visitors from Canterbury, Southland and all parts of Otago are expected to crowd the track.

Usually crowds of up to 7000 are considered satisfactory at Forbury Park, but the club expects at least double that number tomorrow and Saturday.

Sun Chief, with False Step and Lookaway, was one of the outstanding performers at the cup meeting in November when he finished second to False Step in the New Zealand Cup and third to False Step and Lookaway in the Allan Matson Handicap after receiving a poor run. The brilliant Oamaru four-year-old has an outstanding sprint record and from 12 yards he will only have to race close to his best to win. Diamond Hanover could prove to be the pick of the front markers. He looked desperately unlucky when he finished second to Banjo in the New Year Handicap at Addington on January 2. He did not obtain a clear run until inside the last half furlong by which time Banjo had established a winning break. If he races as well in this field, he should be in the money. Lookaway. the backmarker on 30 yards, showed a return to the outstanding form of earlier in his career when he raced at the cup meeting. He showed that he had freshened up well with a bold showing at a recent matinee meeting held at Hiverton. Arania had r - luck in her race at Hutt Park last Thursday when she was almost knocked down at a vital stage of the race. This grand four-year-old has shown fine sprint form and from No. 7 on the front mark she should be close to the lead throughout. Blue Emperor, Showdown. Finestra, Gay Baron, Highland Heath and Seafield Lad have all shown sound sprint form at times and they will add interest to the race, but they should be safely held by Sun Chief. Second Leg C. C. Devine’s bracket of Van Rush and Young Dieman will be in demand in the second leg, the Forbury Handicap. Van Rush was a stylish winner at Addington on December 31 and he raced prominently two days later. He. failed to show up in the South

Canterbury Handicap at Washdyke last week when he was not at ease on the dead track. He was handy early, but soon became pushed towards the rear in a hopeless pocket. From then on he was not a prospect On his day he Is more than useful and he could just about win. Young Dieman has at times shown sound form. He has failed in six starts since winning at the cup meeting in November, but one of his best efforts would give him a chance. King Anjou paced a sound race for fifth in the South Canterbury Handicap at Washdyke. His previous form was of a high standard and he had gained a win and four placings from five starts. His defeat last week can be over-

looked and he should give a good account of himself. Autumn Folly was a surprise favourite for the South Canterbury Handicap last week at the Timaru meeting. He lost ground early and battled on for a distant third. If he can hold his position early, he could be harder to beat in this field. Couthie paced a fair race for seventh at Washdyke. She is a moody pacer capable of surprising. Her prospects will be enhanced if, there is an easing in the track conditions. Dilossa failed at Washdyke after finishing fourth at her only other start this season. She looks well and could be hard to head. Lavengro, a useful sixth at Washdyke, Bespoke, a winner in weaker company at Washdyke, and Zenith are others expected to race prominently. Fields, with form, for the doubles races are:— FLYING SPORTSMEN HANDIOf £1250: 3min Isec class; one mile and three furlongs. 0000 Arania (7) .. ..It. 4000 Blue Emperor (4) .. It. 0002 Diamond Hanover (1) It. 4000 Finestra (6) .. It. 1000 Frown (10) .. .. It. 1032 Gay Baron ’(9) ..It. 00 Guard’s Brigade (2) .. It. 1000 Highland Heath (3) .. It. 1000 Showdown (5) •• It. 3020 Vanity Scott (8) .. It. 0000 Robert Dillon (4) .. 12 1001 Seafield Lad (2) .. 12 2123 Sun Chief (1) ..12 3000 Thunder (3) .. ..12 3022 Lookaway (1) .. ..30 Bracket: Guard’s Brigade and Seafield Lad. Scratched: Overdrive. FORBURY HANDICAP. Of £750; 3min 39sec class; one mile and five furlongs. 0123 Autumn Folly (4) .. It. 0001 Bespoke (9) .. .. It. 0000 Bonnie Lustre (5) .. It. 000 Compo Jack (7) ..It. 0400 Couthie (1) .. ..It. 40 Dilossa (2) .. ..It. FyVie Queen (6) .. It. 000 O’Dearo (8) ..It. 0000 Stylish George (12) .. It. 3100 Van Rush (3) .. It. 0000 Young Dieman (10) .. It. 3010 Zenith (11) .. ..It. 0000 Alight (2) ..12 3220 King Anjou (1) ..12 0000 Lavengro (3) .. 12 Bracket: Van Rush and Young Dieman.