TROTTING Highland Custom Wins Decisively At Methven

Press, Volume C, Issue 29671, 15 November 1961, Page 4

TROTTING Highland Custom Wins Decisively At Methven

Highland Custom, which is due to resume racing shortly, proved too good for her opponents in the free-for-all at trials held at Methven yesterday by the Mid-Canterbury Owners* and Breeders’ Association. R. Young had Highland Custom reasonably handy to the pacemaker, Fox Able, most of the way. Fox Able stopped near the straight entrance and Highland Custom ran on for an easy but narrow win.

Highland Custom gained two wins early in the season, including the Seaview Handicap at New Britton in September from King Hal. She looks to have freshened up well and should not be long showing form.

Gatley, which has not raced since August at Addington, was close to the lead throughout and she finished sohdiy for second. She looks ready to resume racing shortlyNapoleon Hanover was also handily placed most at the way and he was not knocked about to finish third, two lengths behind Gatley. Napoleon Hanover will have plenty of races to suit him in the next few weeks and he should soon extend his record.

Fox Able has not raced this season. He pulled hard in the middle stages and this left him with little in reserve in the straight Even so he ran on gamely tor fourth, a neck behind Napoleon Hanover and just ahead of Banjo, which broke when in the lead at the end of nearly three furlongs. Banjo is finding it difficult to recapture his best form. Grouse, which broke soon after the start made up ground in the straight to finish sixth. She has not raced this season, but looks to be close to worthwhile form, Kyle View paced a fair race for seventh after beginning slowly, with Commonwealth, Rustic Lad and Dillon's Fashion following. Rustic Lad’s recent form has been disappointing. His performance yesterday did not suggest any immediate improvement

Estelle, Dillon's Fashion, Kyle View and Grouse lost ground in the first furlong. Highland Custom recorded tain 41sec for the 13 furlongs, the last haM-mile in a leisurely train lOsec.

Two-Ye*r-Olds A colt by Johnny Globe from Friendly Grattan in C. M. Laing’s EUTelton team won the first heat of the parade for two-yeer-okis run over six furlongs, less about 12 yards. The Johnny Globe youngster. which looks a likely sort, was handy all the way and ran on solidly to win by a length and a half after taking Im in 41 2-&sec for the full distance, his last haM-mile in Imin 8 l-ssec. Chief Smile, a filly by My Chief from Happy Smile in J. L. Ferguson’s Tinwald team, made most of the pace and held on for second ahead of a gelding by Brahman from Petro Star in D. P. Grice’s Prebbleton team. Hie Brahman youngster looked to be pacing easily at the finish. A fiHy by Captain Adios from Rose Brigade made up ground for fourth, ahead of Willowhip, with Gay and Gulf following. Light Silk, a colt by Local Light from Highland Silk, a sister to Highland Fling, moved up from a handy position early in the run Ihome in the second heat and he finished solidly to win bp’ three lengths after recording Imm 42s ec, the last half-mile in Imin 7 1-Ssec. Hp looks a likely type. He is; trained at Templeton by J, S. Dalgety. 'Lanarth. a colt by Meadow Chief from Largesse in C, R, Berkett's team, was handy throughout and tock second place half a ier«th in front of Frugal, a coH by Morano from Thrifty in J. L Fereuteam. A geldk« by Morano from Rosy Mora in O. J. Watson's Annat team, paced a useful race for lodrth. ahead of Earl Globe, a g4and-looking colt by Johnny Globe from Margaret Earl in D. G. Nyhan’s Templeton team.

Bruce, a colt by U. Scott from Glint, broke badly at the start, but made up a little .ground to finish seven thj Bonnieburn Wins Bonnieburn, a disappointment at -die recent Kaikoura meeting, proved too good for his rivals! in the 3tnin -52 sec class pace. He w«« first out, but was restrained in the middle stages. Once into the sUaight he i aoon put the result beyond doubt md he won by three lengths from Peel, which thad something in reserve, r owed speed in the New - Zealand Metro-

polrtan Challenge Stakes at Addington last Friday and when he reverts to open handicap racing he should be an

early winner. Lillian’s Star paced a useful race for third, but she was four lengths behind Peel, with a length to Fairy Herald, which had every chance. Iniquiticu*. which lost a big stretch of ground at the start, showed speed to finish fifth, ahead of Indiscretion, Flying Dieman and Say When. Bonnieburn paced the 13 furlongs in 3min 46 3-ssec, the last half mile in Imin 5 2-ssec. Doctor Kyle overcame his handicap of 60 yards to gain the easiest of wins in the Jmin 56sec class trot He gradually made up his handicap and finished full of running to win by a length and a half from Gay Jillian, which had started from 84 yards. Both Doctor Kyle and Gay Jillian should be early winners.

Medieval was close to the front throughout and he took third place a head behind Gay Jillian, with two lengths to the three-year-old Courtella, which showed considerable promise. Astra light and Barato headed the others. Doctor Kyle trotted the 13 furlongs in 3min 51 l-ssec, the last half mile in Imin 9 4-ssec. Finished Solidly Who’s That, a slow beginner, gradually improved in

the first heat of the 3mtn 56see class p-ee and once into the straight he finished gamely and won well by* a length from Orangapai, a member of P. P. Gallagher's Washdyke team. Wee Mike, which was also very slow early and then broke for a few strides, made up a lot of ground for third. He looks a likely type, but aa yet he is not too solid at the start of his races.

Rosalinda, which showed promise early in her career, forced most of the pace, pulling hard in the early stages. She tired inside the last half-furlong, but lasted to take fourth place, just ahead of Latent, which finished solidly, and Doctor Dan, with Great Credit, which was not hurried, and Ballykelbeg following. Who’s That recorded 3min 48 2-ssec for the 13 furlongs, the last half mile in Imin 9 l-ssec. Inglemead showed that she should be an early winner when she won the second heat of the 3min 56sec class pace, recording 3min 49 2-ssec for the 13 furlongs, the last half mile in Imin 8 4-ssec. Inglemead was in the middle of the field most oil the way. She joined the leaders at the .straight entrance and did not have to be driven out to win by a neck from Be rodin, with Trywyn, Zeeman, Light Rain and Remembrance following.