TROTTING BELFAST BRACKET DOMINANT

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29802, 19 April 1962, Page 4

TROTTING BELFAST BRACKET DOMINANT

Four Horses In Easter Cup At Addington

The Easter Gup, the first leg of the double on the final day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting at Addington tomorrow, appears to be dominated by the bracket of four from G. S. Donald’s Belfast stables. Donald will be represented by Gildirect, Falsehood, Zany and King Hal, all of which have shown form on the two earlier days of the meeting. Falsehood won the Rattray Handicap on the first day and finished fifth in the Williams Handicap last week. Gildirect was runner-up to Falsehood and then won last Saturday.

Zany finished fourth in a •print on the first day and seventh Last week, while King Hal, in his only start at the meeting, finished third to Blue Prince and Jay Ar over 10 furlongs last week, making up a lot of ground over the final two furlongs.

Gildirect could be the best prospect among the four. He is racing better now than at any other stage of the season. His ability to take up and hold a handy position in his races could be a deciding factor.

Falsehood has plenty of ability, but he is not quite as reliable at the start as Gildirect. However, if he race* as well as he has in his two earlier starts, he will be hard to beat.

King Hal should do better than Zany. He is one of the best horses on commission and if he has improved as much as expected as a result of last week's race, he could be one of the brighter prospects. Patchwork could be the hardest for the bracket to beat This will be her final appearance before her departure for the United States early next month. She finished third in a sprint on the first day of the meeting and last week she did well to finish fourth after forcing a strong pace. Patchwork has never been renowned as a sprinter and the extra three furlongs in this race should help her to race prominently Queen Ngaio has paced two sound races so far at the meeting finishing sixth on the first day and an unlucky eighth last Saturday after receiving a bad check near the mile post. She thrives on racing and from the front mark, her prospects must be highly rated. Lordship’s Chance Lordship will again be solidly supported in spite of his failure to return a dividend so far at the meeting In both his races Lordship has failed to receive any luck in the running and on occasions his keenness appeared to have caused some of the bother he encountered There is no doubt about his brilliance and if his two hard races have taken no serious toll, he could be one of the brighter prospects. Vanity Scott, which has finished seventh in her two starts at the meeting, could do best of the others on the front.

Frown, a place-getter on the first day of the meeting, is very fit and it will not surprise if he races prominently.

Samantha is a capable mare, but she has not raced since March 14. She went well at the Methven trials on Tuesday and might be prominent. Sun Chief was well beaten when fifth in a sprint

last week. He should improve. but whether he will yet be ready to win seems doubtful. The same applies to Lookaway, the backmarker on 42 yards. Flying Note, an impressive winner over two miles last Saturday, should have bright prospects in the Autumn Handicap the second leg of the double. Flying Note was well back in the field for most of last week’s race, but once in the open he finished with a great burst.

Dandy Briar paced a sound race for a close third to Gildirect and Master Alan last Saturday, showing improvement on his first-day effort. He is close to winning form and might offer most opposition to Flying Note. Master Alan has been a model of consistency this season. He has been placed in both of his races at the meeting and he should extend his record.

Pagliacci and Schnapps should do best of the others on the front, while Jay Ar, Seafield Lad and Zenith will be sound prospects among the horse* on 12 yards. The wearther has cleared in Christchurch and unless there is heavy rain, the track will be in splendid order.