TROTTING Axis Selected To Win At Hutt Park Meeting

Press, Volume C, Issue 29635, 4 October 1961, Page 5

TROTTING Axis Selected To Win At Hutt Park Meeting

The Motueka-owned pacer, Axis, will be a popular fancy to gain his second win for the season when he parades on the second night of the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting at Hutt Park Raceway today.

Axis gained a stylish win two starts ago at Methven when he beat the speedy Cairnbrae over 10 furlongs. He was a commanding favourite for the Pressmen’s Handicap, the second leg of the double at Hutt Park on Saturday, but broke and lost about 50 yards at the start. He did well to finish third, two lengths and a half from the winner, Dark Wonder.

Axis is engaged in both the City Handicap and the Stewards' Handicap tonight. The City Handicap, which will be run over one mile and a lialf. has drawn a field of only seven. Axis has drawn No. 1 on the front line, which is not a good position for a horse not always a good beginner. Axis has plenty of speed and stamina and with a smooth start, he should just about win.

Mary Mavis beat all but Dark Wonder in the Pressmen's Handicap on Saturday and very little improvement will be necessary for her to be returned a winner. However, if Axis begins cleanly, she will find him hard to catch, but she should earn some of the stake. Meadow Scott is a newcomer to the meeting. He paced his best race for a long time when he beat all but the speedy Urrall in the two-mile President’s Handicap at Ashburton last Saturday. He was penalised 12 yards for that placing and will start from the awkward mark of 24 yards tonight. He wiil need plenty of luck to win. but if the pace is muddling, he could make up his handicap without too much effort and play a prominent .part in the finish. Paysan Bleu, a brother to Blue, was a winner over 12 furlongs on Saturday in much weaker company. He made most of the pace and fought on gamely to win by half a length. He could again be one of the leaders and might take part in the finish. Dora Scott looks the pick of the others.

Axis might be too strong in stamina for his rivals if produced again in the Stewards’ Handicap. He has proved his ability over two miles, gaining a stylish win over the distance in Nelson in June. Meadow Scott and Mary Mavis should master the distance better than any of the others in the race. Due For Win The Nelson-owned and trained Van Ardpe will have prospfects of winning the Innovation Handicap, the slowclasssrace for trotters on the programme. Van Ardee went away to a big lead in the early stages of the Welcome Handicap on Saturday night and he was so far clear with half a mile left that the others looked to 1 have little chance. However, he stopped badly and was caught In the last stride by a smart trotter in John Scott. Van Ardee again adopted the role of pacemaker in the Flying Sportsmen Handicap later in the night, but he tired and was beaten into fifth place If Van Ardee has taken no harm from those two hard races, he should be a hard horse to catch if again allowed to make his own rules in front. Fiammetta impressed at Ashburton on Saturday when she made up ground for sixth in the race won by Resistor. Fiammetta looks to be approaching her best form and as she has proved her ability at Hutt Park, she must be respected. Wairau King was third to John Scott and Van Ardee on Saturday night in the Welcome Handicap and he trotted another bold race for fourth in the event won by

Ahumai. Those races were his first since June and he should be a much-improved horse tonight. The other three acceptors for this race look to be out of their depth if their recent racing has been their best. The double will be run on the R. A. Armstrong Memorial Handicap and the Otaki Handicap.

Jay Ar, Falsehood and Slick Chick are expected to do best in an open field in the first leg. while Front Line. John Scott and Min Scott form a likely trio in the second leg.

Fine weather is forecast and the track should be in splendid order.

INNOVATION HANDICAP. d» £4OO : 3min 32see class; one mile and a half.—Hamesh (2) Slayer <1) 24; Thumberlina (1) 36: Fiametta (3), Van Ardee (1). Wairau King (21 48.

CITY HANDICAP, of £630; 4min 37sec class; two miles.— Axis (4), Dora Scott (2). Lynwood Earl (1). Paysan Bleu (3). Young Albion (5) It; Mary Mavis (1) 12; Meadow Scott (1) 24. Scratched: Serpentine. SUBURBAN HANDICAP, of £450 ; 3min 30sec class; one miie and a half—Bobcat (5). Dandy Briar (1), No Comment (3). Retreat (4). Wee Mon (6). Whipdale (2). Pat Mars (2). Student Prince (3). Rapine (1) 12. R. A. ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL HANDICAP, Of £750; 3min 21sec class; one mile and a half. 4021 Dark Wonder <3> .. It. 00 Dark Signal (1) .. It. 000 Great Return (5) ..It. 000 King Anjou (4) .. It. 0440 Major Star 16) .. it. 0400 Medium Blue <Bl .. it. 2002 Orient Night (2) .. It. 2033 Slick Chick (7; .. It. 3001 Falsehood (3) .. 12 1000 Ballista (1) ..12 0002 Jav Ar (2) .. 12 0000 Metier (5) .. 12 Oil Master Alan (4) .. 12 0130 Dew Heath (1) ..24 Brackets: Falsehood and Ballista Medium Blue and Metier. HUTT VALLEY HANDICAP, of £400; 3min 30sec class; one mile and a half—Black Sheen <4). Chelsea Lady (3). Ra Pointer (5) .Scotch Bomb (2). Sea Chase (1). Snuffbox (6). Tongariro (7) It; Lucky Guard (3>, Sand Drift (2). Siberia (1) 12: Spangled Princess (1) 24. STEWARDS’ HANDICAP, of £650; 3min 24sec class; one mile and a half.—Axis (1), Dora Scott i 4). Lynwood Earl (2), Paysan Bleu (3) Young Albion (5) It: Mary Mavis (1) 12: Meadow Scott (1> 24 OTAKI HANDICAP, Of £600: trotters: 3min 28sec class: one mile and a half. 000 Fiammetta (2) .. It. 000 Hamesh (8) .. It. 210 Min Scott (7) .. It. 00 Pohutukawa (4) .. It. 0000 Thumberlina (I) .. It. 20 Van Ardee <3) .. It. 34 Wairau King (6) .. It. 11l John Scott <5) .. It. 001 Ahumai (3) >■ 12 000 Dan Duval <2> ..12 1002 Front Line (5) .. 12 0 Peppercorn (4 ) ..12 3 Safetv Catch (1) .. 24 Scratched: Superway. FAREWELL HANDICAP, of £400; 2min 51sec class; one mile and a quarter —Dandy Briar (2). Bobcat (5). No Comment (3). Peat Moss (91. Rapine <Bl. Retreat <4) Student Prince (1). Wee Mon- (7), Whipdale (6) It Plane for Wellington Seats available on chartered plane for Hutt Park trotting meeting Tonight. returning after races. 'Phone 78-578. —Advt.