TROTTING Robin Dundee, Queen Ngaio Please At Trials

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29897, 10 August 1962, Page 5

TROTTING Robin Dundee, Queen Ngaio Please At Trials

Robin Dundee and Queen Ngaio showed that they had made good progress in preparation for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s national meeting, which opens tomorrow week, when they won their heats of the free-for-all. The starting gate was used for both events, which were the highlights of the trials run by the Canterbury Trotting Owners’ and Breeders’ Association at Addington.

Although he finished only fourth, Lordship was as impressive as any of the runners in the fast-run first heat, while Samantha and Va Vite raced with dash in the second heat, in which the winner took five seconds more than Robin Dundee for the 12 furlongs and a half.

The trials were held in fine, cool weather before a large crowd. The track was in good order, although il appeared to be carrying excess top.

Prince got away well from No. I and led out in the first neat of the free-for-all. Lordship drew the outside and he was wide out until D. G Nyhan sent him clear

at the end of almost three furlongs. He carried on at a strong pace, the field racing at little worse than twominute spee for the first four furlongs Lordship led to the straight from Prince. Diamond Hanover, Morano Boy. which was losing ground. Ceremonial. Antonius, Robin Dundee and Scottish Light.

Robin Dundee burst clear inside the last half-furlong and finished at a great rate to win by half a length going away. Robin Dundee looks well and will be a bright prospect for the August Stakes tomorrow week. Prince, which has obviously thrived during the winter, paced a useful race for second after having every chance and he could well stage a successful comeback He was a length in front of Diamond Hanover, which finished solidly. Lordship, which looked a little above himself in condition, paced a grand race for a close fourth, ahead of Antonius and Scottish Light which made up a lot of ground after starting from the second line. Bonny Starlet was a fair seventh, ahead of Ceremonial. Axis and Morano Boy, which was not knocked about in the straight. Robin Dundee paced the 12 furlongs and a half in 3min

17 4-ssec. the last half-mile in Imin 3 3-ssec, and the final quarter in 31 3-ssec. Her time was the equivalent to about 3min lOsec for one mile and a half, a smart run so early in the season. Led All Way Queen Ngaio, a candidate for the main races at Addington, led practically from end to end to win the second heat. As in the other heat, the horses were lined up about one furlong and a half from the starting point and it was not until they were almost at the starting point that they had much speed on. Queen Ngaio set a fairly easy pace for most of the way and led for home ahead of Aquaplane, Samantha. Zenith, Highland Custom. Admit, Va Vite, and Luck’s Way. Queen Ngaio fought on solidly to win by about half a length after taking 3mm 22 4-ssec for the 12 furlongs and a half, the last half-mile in Imin 1 4-ssec. and the final quarter in 30 4-ssec. Queen Ngaio raced most consistently last season and she should not be long extending her record. Samantha did extremely well to finish se ond after racing three wide without a trail for much of the race Samantha looks in great order and she should be an early winner. She will have plenty of races to suit her in the next month or two.

Admit raced reasonably close to the lead most of- the way and he finished in grand style for a close third, shading Zenith, with Highland Custom and Va Vite almost together next. Va Vite, after being handi’y placed on the Inner, did not get clear In the straight. She is well forward and could make a bold showing at her first appearance for the season. Sally Boy did well to finish seventh. He was allowed to ease back after starting from No. 1 and he was last until the straight entrance. He made up a lot of ground over the last furlong and should be much improved as a result of the run. Even so he could need a race or two to bring him to his peak Grouse, which started from 24 yards, gained a splendid win m the 3mm 39sec class pace, in which she made most of the pace. She won easing up-after faking 3min 33sec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in Imin 6sec, and the last quarter in 31 l-ssec. Grouse should be an early winner. Van Rebeck finished solidly for second, ahead of Gatley, with Johnny Thunder, Mighty Mina, which finished well. Massacre. and Flying Note next. The last two-named did well to finish so close up after being well back early. Pleasing Run Safe Return showed that he could be In for a most profitable season when he won the second heat of the 3min 42sec class pace, the other heat going to Hancove. which also looks in for an early win. Hancove took the lead at the end of two furlongs and a half is his heat and set a sound pace He ran on strongly over the final furlong to win by a neck from Junior Royal, after taking 3min 32 4-ssec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in Imin 2 4-ssec, and the last quarter in 30 3-ssec. Hancove did not have the best of luck in some of his races last sea-

son. but he should soon make amends.

Junior Royal, which will race on the second day in the Canterbury Challenge Stakes, looks to have had plenty of work in recent weeks. Young Betty was a useful third, ahead of Loyal Brigade, Commonwealth, When, which made up a lot of ground after breaking at the end of half a furlong, Bonnieburn, and La Storm.

Safe Return, which was not always reliable at the barrier last season, made a splendid beginning in the second heat and he was never far from the leaders. He was pulled out by D. C. Watts near the furlong post and he ran on in grand style to win handily by a length, after taking 3min 34 l-ssec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in Imin 2 3-ssec and the final quarter in 30 3-3 sec. Safe Return will only have to race kindly to be a big winner this season.

El Adem, after being close to the lead throughout, ran on solidly for second, shading Broderick Bay. which made most of the pace. Dillon’s Fashion made up ground for fourth, ahead of Arriaga. Linda Stirling, Mossman, and Congruent. Dianthus Girl was always well back in this heat. She should show sharp improvement. The Trotters Astralight and With You gave sound displays of trotting to win the heats of the 3min 47sec class trot, others to impress being Snow Globe, Robert Medora, Merry Nora, and Mina Lass. Snow Globe took the lead from Astralight at the end of two furlongs and a half in the first heat and set a sound pace. Astralight received the run of the race and outfinished his rivals to win by a length, after trotting the 13 furlongs in 3min 37sec. the last half-mile in Imin 4 2-ssec, and the last quarter in 31 3-ssec. Astralight will have prospects in the slowclass race on the first day at Addington. Snow Globe will probably start her racing for the season at New Brighton She is well forward. Robert Medoro finished well in the straight to shade Snow Globe for second, with Full Measure a sound fourth, clear of Chances Are, which did not receive a good run. Reprimand and Gay Jillian. With You gave away starts of up to 60 yards in the second heat and he finished under a good hold to win by half a length from Welbum. which ran on strongly after forcing most of the pace. With You took 3min 35 2-ssec tor the 13 furlongs. the last half-mile easily in Imin 6sec, and the final quarter in 32 l-ssec With You will form a strong bracket with When in the main races for trotters at the meeting. Welburn beat Merry Nora, which had plenty in reserve bv a head tor second. Merry Nora looks in great heart and should be an early winner. Mina Lass trotted a fine race for a mare in her class to take fourth, ahead of Storm Lhrd. Fourina and Oakletgh Lad. which broke near the hatrmTrade Talk gained a good win in the first heat of the 3m in 52see class pace beating Flving Blue, Miriam Hall, and Who's That, in 3min 34 2-ssee for the 13 furlongs. The second heat was won by McGrannigan tn 3min 3a l-ssee He beat a likely improver in Wee Mike by a length with Arizona Gal and Hiya following.