TROTTING Friendly Persuasion In Form For Tonight

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 5

TROTTING Friendly Persuasion In Form For Tonight

"The Press" Special Service

AUCKLAND, February 15.

Friendly Persuasion will be solidly supported to make amends for his third placing last Saturday when he contests the Alexandra Park Handicap, the main race and first leg of the double on the second night of the Auckland Trotting Club’s February meeting tomorrow.

Friendly Persuasion has an outstanding record this season, and from 10 starts has had three wins and five placings. He appears to be one of the most capable pacers trained in the Auckland district at present, and it will be surprising if he fails to show up.

Friendly Persuasion last ’ Saturday finished in fine style i from seventh at the half-mile i for third behind Caricature i and Flying Fiver, being only a length behind the winner 1 at the post The race was i run at a very fest pace, and 1 there was considerable merit in his placing. He is in grand 1 order at present and should : gain another win in his next start or two. Caricature showed some- i thing of his true ability when he won last Saturday after taking 3min 26 2-ssec for the 1 13 furlongs, time which has : seldom been bettered on the : track. He will start on his own on 24 yards tomorrow ■ and should begin more i smoothly than when in a line I of horses. Gay Reel is an interesting i newcomer to this class. She i

won narrowly but handily over two miles on the first night of the meeting and seems to be more reliable at the barrier than earlier in her career. If she shows the dash of last week, she should be the pick of the others on the front, although there will be support for Silvester and Loyal Parade. Flying Fiver showed great speed to beat all but Caricature last Saturday, an effort which suggested that he was rapidly approaching his best form. He will have to show very little improvement to go close to winning. Gentry, ‘he backmarker on 48 yards, finished a fair seventh in the Queen Elizabeth Handicap won by Falsehood at Hutt Park last Monday. The pace is unlikely to be so strong at Auckland to-

morrow, and if he receives a reasonable run he could surprise. The Dillon Hall stallion appears to be right back to his best The St Andrews Handicap, for trotters, will be the second leg of the double. Our Eileen and Indian Smoke were placed last Saturday and they should again be prominent Pohutukawa, a fresh horse at the meeting, has raced with distinction at Auckland in the past and in spite of his handicap of 48 yards he cannot be left out of calculations. Wairau King and Rock’n Robin are two other consistent trotters expected to show to advantage. Fair weather is forecast and the track should be fast. Selections,— 8.50 p.m.—Logan Handicap: Joylyn, Trespasser, Direct Cobra. 7.25 p.m.—Manurewa Handicap: Light Oak, Five Star. Loreto's Best 7.55 p.m.—Epsom Stakes: Great Adios, Chief's Fancy. Tutankhamen. 8.30 p.m.—Alexandra Park Handicap: Friendly Persuasion. Caricature, Gay Reel.

9.2 p.m.—Walrakei Handicap: Vai Averill, Southern Smoke King Anjou.

9.30 p.m.—Richmond Handicap: No Reply. Early Wynn. Keith.

10 p.m.—St. Andrew’s Handicap: Our Eileen, Indian Smoke. Pohutukawa.

10.30 p.m.—Henderson Handicap: Valcador, Globe’s Birthday. Jack Super. Acceptances.— LOGAN HANDICAP, £750; 2:49 class; probationary drivers; Ilf.—Direct Cobra (6), Gipsy Hanover (3), Golcourt (4), Joylyn (1), Paulina (5), Rapine (10), Scots Guide (7), Spring Lynne (2), Superior Scott (11), Toka Boy (9), Trespasser (8) It; Gay Diamond (1) 12 MANUREWA HANDICAP, £850; trotters; 3:47 class; 13f.~ Kola (2), Light Oak (5), Nimble Grattan (4), Revisal (3), Rossi's Way (1), Stylish Moccasins (6), Oakley’s Pride (7) it; Rascal (1) 12; Five Star (3), Full Measure (1), Lassie Hanover (4), Loreto's Best (2) 24; Oleda Giri (1). Ebony Scott (2) 36: Jovial Scot (1) 48. EPSOM STAKES, £650; three and four-year-olds; special conditions; Ilf.—Forshy (3), Revel Time (4), Snow Chief (1), Spring Tonic (2) It: Chief’s Fancy (1). Electric Direct (2). Mountain Guard (3). Swan Bay (5), Thundering (4) 12; Globe’s Mistake (2), Russley Song (4). Tutankhamen (3), Great Adios (1) 24; Professional Globe (1) 48.

ALEXANDRA PARK HANDICAP, £1200; 3:35 class; 13f. 7619 Call Boy (7) .. It. 2000 Earl Delta (1) .. It. 6023 Friendly Persuasion (4) .. .. It. 2981 Gay Reel (3) .. It 0805 Loyal Parade (8) .. It. 3060 Lynwood Earl (6) .. It. 8807 Maule Direct (5) .. It. 0014 Silvester (2) .. .. It. 5038 Bonny Starlet (4) .. 12 4200 Dundee (3) .. ..12 0302 Flying Fiver (2) .. 12 9050 Highland Don (8) .. 12 2611 Caricature (1) ..24 5673 Gentry (1) .. ..48 Brackets: Loyal Parade and Caricature Maisle Direct and Highland Don, Dundee and Gentry. Scratched: Ballista. Gildirect.

WAIRAKEI HANpiCAP, £950: 4:31 class; 2m.—Count Medoro (3), Garrison Royal (2), Happy Hunting (1). Intuition (4). Super Attack (5), Vai Averil (6) It; Banock (5), Dusky Valley (2), Eden Derby (1), King Anjou (3), Southern Smoke (4) 12; Schnapps (1) 24.

RICHMOND HANDICAP, £850; 4:33 class; 2m.—Baby Trust (10). Bobbinet (7), Bobcat (8). Brewer (1), Cavan (9). Drumquin (11), Early Wynn (5). General John (2). Great Return (4). No Reply (3), Scrivener (6) It; Cindy Lee (2), Dora Scott (1), Keith (3). Yankee Hanover (4) 12; Modem Song (1) 38. Balloted out: Professional Globe. ST. ANDREW'S HANDICAP. £1000; 4:38 class; 2m. 0000 Cappy Rowan (2) .. It. 0873 Indian Smoke (1) .. L 0614 Scotlelgh (3) .. It 1535 Scrap Iron (4) .. It 4542 Our Eileen (2) .. 13 8890 Wehrin (1) .. 12 9060 Jovial Scot (2) .. 24 2321 Rock’n Robin (1) .. M 534 F Wairau King (3) .. 84 9756 Billy Again (1) .. 36 iB6O Chances Are (3) .. 38 9088 Molly's Report (1) .. 36 6710 Pohutukawa (1) ..48

HENDERSON HANDICAP, £1000: 4:29 class: 2m.—Melrose Giri (2). Mighty Milla (1) It; Bells Bella (4). Dandy Andy 71), Jack Super (6). Johnny Cabot (7), Jonboy Star (5). Student Prince (3). Valcador (2) 12: Cairnbrae (4). Gay Reel (1). Globe’s Birthday (3), Lynwood Earl (S) X.