TROTTING Chesterfield Showed Promise At Nelson

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30155, 12 June 1963, Page 5

TROTTING Chesterfield Showed Promise At Nelson

Chesterfield’s two .winning runs on the second day of the Nelson Trotting Club’s winter meeting on Monday suggested that he was a trotter with prospects of reaching top company. At times, some horses have been flattered by the manner in which they have handled heavy tracks against fairly weak opposition, but Chesterfield looks the type to be at home on firmer surfaces.

Chesterfield was surprisingly well supported in his two races on the first day of the meeting, but he mixed his gait on several occasions when his driver, W. P. Walsh, was attempting to restrain him. On- Monday, Walsh gave Chesterfield his head and he was a vastly-improved trotter. His only lapse was in -the Blenheim Handicap when he appeared to slip in the heaviest going on the course near the three furlongs. However, he recovered quickly and sped away from his opponents to win with a lot in hand by 10 lengths.

Chesterfield’s winning margin was again 10 lengths when he won. the Bronte Handicap later in the day He had a difficult time gaining a clear lead with more ! than six furlongs left, but , from then on he soon drew right away. At the finish he was being eased right up after trotting the 12 furlongs in 3min 39 2-ssec, not much slower than the 3m in 37sec returned by Rannack Song, the winner of the previous race, the Winter Handicap. Chesterfield was produced in great condition l?y his GreymQuth breeder-trainer. H. R. Reid, a prominent trotting administrator on the West Coast. He came through his racing much better than many of his rivals and after his four races he looked as though he was close to reaching his peak. . Chesterfield will have very limited opportunities in his home district from now on and most of his future racing will have to be? done in Canterbury. With more racing and travelling he should be a worth-while winner and he could well follow in the footsteps of Durban Chief and Ordeal, former champions which started on their winning ways from West Coast stables.

Chesterfield is a six-year-old gelding by the Light Brigade horse. Vagus, a brilliant trotter which was never seen at his best because of soreness, from Dawin Grattan, a winner at the pacing gait. Dawn Grattan was by Grattan Loyal from Dawn Sonoma, by Sonoma Harvester from a mare by Rothschild. Young Trotter The trotters’ races on the first day of the meeting were won by Alvean and Del Reno, both of which could be worthwhile propositions in the next 12 months. Alvean, which had trotted well in her previous races in Canterbury, including a third in the New Zealand Trotting Stakes, was at false odds in the St. Vincent Handicap, her only start on Saturday. She was the 5/5 favourite and paid £lO 7s for a win. • Alvean was close up throughout that race and looked to Ijave the result in safe keeping when Port Hope broke alongside her well inside the furlong. From then ‘on she was not pressed and I she won very easily. Alvean | could not handle the puggy [going on Monday and she did i not trot nearly as well as I when the track was heavy and shifty on Saturday.

Alvean is trained at Eiffelton by C. M. Laing, who races her in partnership with Mrs Laing, She is a well-man-nered three-year-ld filly by Johnny Globe from a double-

gaited winner in Anitra, by U. Scott from Seal Globe, by New Derby. Seal Globe gained fame as the dam of Dictation, while Indianna was another splendid winner from the same family. Kyran. the winner of three races this season, is a half-brother by Vagus to Alvean. while Jeanna, the winner of two races, is from the same family. Alvean. Kyran and Jeanna are all trained by Laing, who should have a successful innings in races for trotters next season. Del Reno, which had started racing only last month at Washdyke, followed up some useful efforts with a win in the Collingwood Handicap on Saturday. She looked a prospect earlier that day until she broke when challenging at the furlong. In the twomile race she showed game-

ness to wear down Port Hope and beat her narrowly. * She finished well back in thirteenth place in the Blenheim Handicap on Monday after meeting trouble early. Later in the day she finished strongly from well back for third in the Bronte Handicap. Del Reno is a five-year-old half sister by Fallacy to Belmar and Del Rosa. She is trained at Doyleston by J. W. Mitchell, who races her in partnership with Mrs V. G. Mitchell. With more experience she should be a useful winner.