TROTTING LORDSHIP PICKED TO WIN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29602, 26 August 1961, Page 4

TROTTING LORDSHIP PICKED TO WIN

Stern Task In Stakes At Addington Lordship will be a firm favourite to start his three-year-old career on a winning note in the Canterbury Challenge Stakes at Addington today. This race is one of the feature events on the second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s national meeting. The field includes most of the leading two-year-olds and several of the top-ranked three-year-old pacers of last season. Lordship’s meeting with King Hal and Jay Ar, which will give him a start of 12 yards, and some smart horses of his own age which will receive a start of 24 yards, has aroused considerable interest.

Lordship is considered by many to be facing an almost impossible task from his handicap mark of 24 yards However, 12 months ago Jay Ar, which w’as a three-year-old, beat a strong field from the same mark and paced 10 furlongs in 2min 36 3-ssec, a record for a horse of his age. Sun Chief was favourite last year and started from 36 yards. However, he could do no better than fifth.

Lordship’s brilliance is such that few are prepared to compare him with any past juvenile champions. He became outright favourite for this race when, at the recent Addington trials, hfe came from the tail of a field of near-cup class horses at the two furlongs and finished fifth after taking 28 4-ssec for his final quarter. He did not look to be at top at the finish, although his time suggested he could not have had much in reserve. If he begins with his usual brilliance he should not be troubled to give the three-year-olds their third win in four contests for this race, which replaced the Canterbury Three-year-old Stakes in 1958.

King Hal was rated as the best three-year-old of last season. He has not raced since June, but he has been back in work for some time and should be forward enough to give a good account of himself in this field.

Southern Cross raced at the recent Addington and Methven trials. He looks to have had plenty of work and if he races up to his best form will have bright prospects of reaching a place. Jay Ar finished brilliantly from well back for fifth in the race won by Scottish Light at Addington last week and confirmed that effort with a bold showing at the Methven trials on Tuesday. He looks in great heart and is certain to make a bold attempt to win the race for a second time. For Certain, one of the most consistent two-year-olds of last season, ran Lordship to a neck in the Sapling Stakes in June. She has come to hand well and showed to advantage at the recent Addington trials. She is above average in ability and appeals most of the horses on the front. Others on the front expected to race prominently include Belroy, Consistent and Dieman Lad.

Happy Hunting is one of the tallest horses racing in Canterbury. He has plenty of stamina and should be hard to beat. Guest Star paced a fine race for fourth over 13 furlongs on the first day of the meeting. He should be an improved horse today and master the distance better than most of his rivals. Sentimental overcame difficulties when he finished third last week. He is a dour stayer and if he receives better fortune in the running, he should be in at the finish. Falsehood and Ballista will form a strong bracket, with Falsehood appealing most over the two miles in this race. Orient Night, Medium Blue, Schnapps and Highland Custom are others expected to race well. The double will be run on the National and Wildwood Handicaps. Queen Ngaio and Scottish Light forming a likely combination. Fair weather is forecast for today. Rain yesterday did not affect the track, which should be in good order as long as there is no further heavy rain.

Golden Rule, winner of the New Zealand Champion Stakes last December, should do best of the horses on 12 yards, and Trusted, appeals most of the remainder. Happy Hunting was a decisive winner over two miles on the first day of the meeting and shouljj go close to completing a double in the Improvers' Handicap, to be run over the same distance.