TROTTING Bracket Dominates Addington First Leg

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30092, 28 March 1963, Page 4

TROTTING Bracket Dominates Addington First Leg

The four-horse bracket of Cairnbrae, Gildirect, Urrall and Dandy Briar is expected to be a commanding favourite for the Rattray Handicap, the main race and first leg of the double on the first day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting at Addington on Saturday.

Urrall is trained at Hinds by W. E. Lowe and the other three are members of the team prepared by New Zealand’s leading trainer, C. S. Donald, at Belfast. Donald produced Falsehood to win this race 12 months ago.

Caimbrae was unbeaten in his first five starts from Donald's stables. His only other appearance was at Hutt Park on February 23 when he met trouble and broke badly. He broke at toe Addington trials recently and did not show up. However, his earlier form was of such a high standard that he must be considered a winning prospect.

Urrall, after bad luck in two starts at Auckland, finished with a stylish win against fairly weak opposition. He has shown sufficiently good form to be considered a winning prospect in this field.

Gildirect has not won a race this season, but he has recorded sound placings against strong opposition. Dandy Briar will be the back-marker on 36 yards. He has not raced since February 2 at Forbury Park and might need the race.

Highland Custom could be the pick of the horses on toe front. She paced an outstanding race to finish second behind Lauder Scott in the Timaru Cup on March 9 after starting from 24 yards and being well back in the field at toe half-mile. That was Highland Custom’s best effort in a restricted campaign this season and it could be the forerunner of an early win. She has been regarded mainly as a grass track performer, but last year when beaten by Master Alan she recorded 3min 26 l-ssec for 13 furlongs. If she repeats that run on Saturday, she could win.

Junior Royal looks better placed on the front in this race than he has been for some time. His form background is weak, but it will not be surprising if he makes

a bold showing. Some of his racing early in the season was of a high standard. Kingsdown Patch could not handle the soft track in the Timaru Cup at his last start and was not a danger. He has not been consistent this season, but at times he has raced well enough to be considered as a place prospect in this field.

Oreti raced impressively at the Methven trials on Tuesday and he might not be long showing form. However, he will need luck from 24 yards tn get into the finish. The Oamaru pacer. Sun Chief, has raced a long way below his best this season and he will have to show sharp improvement to be a threat to Cairnbrae, Highland Custom, and Junior Royal Peel will be strongly supported to gain his fifth successive win in the Rothschild Handicap, the second leg of the double. This race has drawn one of the most even fields seen for some time, and betting will be fairly well spread.

P 1 has not met fields of the strength of this ofte in his racing so far this season, but he has won so well in weaker company that he should be the hardest to beat. He raced with dash at the Methven trials and should be to beat Doctor Dan, too, pleased ait the Methven trials, and looks to be on the verge of worthwhile form. The Fallacy four-year-old has been placed under invitation conditions and looks to be one of the most promising pacers in his class.

The Templeton trainer, F. E. Newfield, will produce Sirrah, Great Credit, Guineas,

and Stormlight. Great Credit is the speediest of the four, but he is most unreliable. Should he begin reasonably well, he will be hard to beet. Sirrah and Stormlight have raced much better than Guineas, although at times the last-named has shown ability.

Garrison Royal has at times shown splendid form this season and one of his better efforts would give him a chance. He will be bracketed with Ahumai. Avante, Rembrandt, and Van Rush are three other form runners on the front, with Rembrandt appealing most. Trade Fair and Van Rebeck will form a strong bracket. Both have raced with distinction this season and look capable of further* wins. Stormont and Lauder Scott, too, have shown grand form in some of their races this season and they should be capable of a bold showing. However, they might find Peel, Doctor Dan, and Great Credit hard to head.