TROTTING Lordship And Scottish Light Please At Trials

Press, Volume C, Issue 29623, 20 September 1961, Page 5

TROTTING Lordship And Scottish Light Please At Trials

Lordship, which may race next at the Forbury Park meeting on October 7, gave a dashing display of pacing when he came- from fifth at the straight entrance to win his heat of the j free-for-all at Addington yesterday. His effort was a grand one as the track was very slow’ after rain for trials held by the Canterbury Trotting Owners’ and Breeders’ Association. Although he finished only third in his heat, Scottish Light recorded a grand trial for the Methven Cup on Saturday. He was second last of eight horses turning for home and finished boldly.

Jonboy Star made a splen- . did beginning in the first • heat of the free-for-all, being , followed out by Lordship. Kiwi Grattan and Direct ’ Rhythm. Lookaway wps a i little hesitant at the start ; and with Jay Ar and Lucky Tryax he was at the tail of the field early. Lookaway improved sharply after passing the seven furlongs and he took control with a round to go. He was followed into the straight by Jay Ar. with Jonboy Star. Kiwi Grattan and Lordship next.

Lordship finished boldly in the middle of the track and won handily by three lengths after taking 3min 35 2-ssec for the 13 furlongs, a smart effort in the conditions. The leaders took Imin 3 l-ssec for their final four furlongs and 3’sec for the last quarter. Lordship's times for those sections would have been faster by more than half a second. Jay Ar. which has been entered for races at Wellington and Forbury Park, showed that he was rapidly approaching his peak when he finished second, a length in front of Lookaway, which was not extended in the straight. Lookaway looks to be improving with each run at trials and he should be near his best for the Ashburton Flying Stakes at Ashbur- , ton on Saturday week. Jonbow Star, which has not raced for a long time, made a forward showing. He is a grand little pacer and might not be long returning to the good form he showed earlv in his career. Kiwi Oattan paced a fair race for fifth, ahead of Luckv Trvax. which made uo ground. Maharaja. which pulled hard in the middle s'ages, was next, clear of Direct Rhythm, which did not look at ease in the going. Showdown Wins Showdown, which may race next in the Ashburton Fly-ing-Stakes on Saturday week, pave a useful display to win the second heat. He was in second place most of the way and came through in the straight to win by a length and a half after taking 3min 31 l-ssec for the 13 furlongs the last half-mile in Imin 3 4-ssec and the final quarter • in Usee. Showdown's wins have been few and far between in the last 18 months, but he 10->ks to be approaching his best and he might not be long returning to form Van Push after being close uo on the inner most of the way, came with a determined run in the straight for second He may race at Forbury Park. He looks in good order - Scottish Light was allowed ; to coast along well, back in . the field most of the way He ‘ was pulled wide in the straight and finished on in » g-and stvle to be a length i end a half behind Van Rush Scottish Light looks to have f-eshened uo well since he • failed at Addington at the end of August He will no . doubt be a firm favourite for the Methven Cup and he should go close to making amends for h’s Addington failure. Guard’s Brigade was well back most of the way and he made up ground for a

close fourth, just ahead of Gay Alabama, which forced most of the pase, and Fourth Edition, which had broken at- the end of a furlong. Takitimu and Mystic Star were next. Three-Y ear-Olds Ruling Caste. Aiblins and Hiya. candidates for the T. S. Harrison .Three - year - old Stakes at Methven on Saturday, finished in that order in the first heat of the 3min 56sec class pace. The first two to finish were slightly more impressive than Hiya, but her effort was a pleasing one just the same.

Ruling Caste broke before the end of a furlong and was well back in the middle stages. She gradually insproved and moved up sharply approaching the straight. Aiblins, which had begun cleanly, received a good run all the way, and he was pacing easily at the finish. He will have prospects in the Methven race, as will Ruling Caste, which could develop into a top-class performer. Ruling Caste took 3min 39 2-fcec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in Imin 5 2-ssec. and the final quarter in 31 l-ssec.

Hiya. which was a little slow, p ced a good race for third, but she did not look to have as much in reserve as the two to finish in front of her.

Sierra Madre, which started from 48 yards, did well to finish fourth, ahead ot Morano Boy, Swanky Boy and Morny. - For Certaip was close to the lead throughout the second heat and she ran on solidly to win by a neck after taking 3min 40 2-ssec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in Imin 4 4-ssec, and the final quarter in 31 2-ssec. For Certain was a little disappointing at Addington last month, but her effort yesterday suggested that she could be prominent at Methven. The Meadow Chief three-year-old was one of the most consistent performers in her age group last season. Taurua, a disappointment at New Brighton last week, was running on solidly for second, just ahead of Lyrical, with a gap to Royal Attack, which was followed by Talent. Glene and Congo Boy. Useful Run Lucks Way. which has been entered for thi Banks Peninsula meeting, showed speed to win the 3min 41 sec class pace. The track had improved considerably by the time thss race was run and it provided splendid footing. O'Dearo took the lead from First Song at the end of three and a half furlongs and set a sound pace However, she tired in the straight and Lueks Way finished boldly in the middle of the track and won well by a length Lucks Way took 3min 31 2-ssc for the 13 furlongs, the last half, mile in Imin 3 2-ssec. and the final quarter in 31 2-ssec. He has been a little disappointing lately, but could soon show form. 1 Spangled Princess, which is on an awkward mark at present, bad something in reserve in second place. She is in great order. She was a head in front of Orient Night, which paced a great race

from 36 yards. She finished fast along the inner and looked to be in front 50 yards from the finish. She was then allowed to ease down. Orient Night may resume racing at the Hutt Park meeting on Saturday week. First Song tired a little and finished fourth, ahead of Joylyn and St. Ives, which was not hurried. St. Ives has been off the scene for some time, but C. W. Hogan looks to have him well forward. Finished Well Oakleigh I<ad, which is to make a fresh start in the Drayton Handicap at Methven on Saturday, finished boldly from a fairly handy position to win the 3min 56sec class trot. Oakleigh Lad gave a ■ sound display of trotting and he close to worthwhile form. He took 3min 46 4-ssec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in Imin 8 2-ssec, and the final quarter in 34 4-Ssec.

Arizona Gal, after beginning a little slowly, made up ground for second, a length behind Oakleigh Lad. She is also in the Drayton Handicap at Methven and after her placing at New Brighton on September 2, she will be in demand. Andromeda was one of the leaders all the way. She was not pushed in the straight and was untroubled to hold third place, ahead of Mina Lass, with Tracey’s Pal being eased down in fifth place, followed by Grosvenor Maid. Ideal and Yon Bairn.

Safe Return was very slow away in the 3min 48sec class pace, but he came with a powerful run over the final three furlongs to gain a narrow win over Vanese. Safe Return was balloted out at Methven on Saturday. He has been entered for both the Forbury Park and Banks Peninsula meetings a fortnight later. He is rapidly approaching his best and should soon show worthwhile form. He took 3min 41 4-ssec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in Iman 7 3-ssec. and the final quarter in 33 l-ssec.

Vanese, which started slowly, covered a lot of extra ground and did well to finish second. She may race next at Motukarara.

Santa Amada was close up all the way She was not hurried in the straight and was a length behind Vanese. with a neck to Guineas, which did well to finish so close up after starting from 36 yards Guinness is a candidate for the S. G. Holmes Memorial Handicap at Methven on Saturday. Consistent, which is to race in the T. S. Harrison Three-year-old Stakes, paced a useful race for fifth, ahead of Smokescreen, Idleman and Terrace Dele. Adioson finished ninth. He was slow away and became awkwardly placed racing to the straight. He could surprise at Methven on Saturday.