TROTTING Rustic Lad And Lakeda For Double At Forbury

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30264, 17 October 1963, Page 5

TROTTING Rustic Lad And Lakeda For Double At Forbury

Rustic Lad and Lakeda will form a short-priced doubles combination on the second night of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s spring meeting on Saturday. Rustic Lad looked unlucky when he finished second to Flying Blue last week, and Lakeda should be much improved by her fifth in the same race.

Rustic Lad will meet a fairly weak field in the President’s Handicap, the first leg of the double, but even so he will not have things his own way. The Flying Song gelding deserves a win, his performances in the last month having been outstanding.

Rustic Lad was runner-up to Vanderford on two occasions at New Brighton last month, and he was an unlucky sixth in the Methven Cup at his next appearance.

Last Saturday Rustic Lad was well back in the field in the Telegraph Handicap until the last half-mile. He was forced very wide for more than three furtangs, and, after giving the leaders a long start from the turn, he finished strongly wide out on the track and was catching Flying Blue at the finish. Rustic Lad looks more favourably placed on the limit this week, and he should give a good account of himself.

Trade Fair will be returning to ttie scene of three unbeaten runs earlier in the year. The easy track he encountered at New Brighton at his most recent start did not suit him, but if the going is as firm as it was last week, he should make a bold bid to win. Two starts ago he made up a lot of ground for third behind Vanderford and Adios Heather in a sprint at Addington in August, Avante, too, could do better than he has done in his last few starts. He was a shade disappointing when he finished eighth in the Methven Cup. The distance this week is three furlongs shorter, and this should help him to race prominently. On his day, he is one of the most capable pacers in his class. Flying Note is the one most likely to cause a surprise. Now a member of C. C. Devine’s Templeton team, he paced a splendid race for fifth in the Mettiven. Cup at his last start. He was inclined to hang in that race or he might have been harder to beat. He did well at the Ashburton triads last week and appears to be much keener than he has been for some time. Fourth At Methven Lauder Scott will be making his first appearance since being trained at Templeton by D. G. Jones. He finished fourth in the Methven Cup at his most recent appearance, his best effort for some time.

Peebles disappointed last Saturday after finishing second to Vanderford in the Methven Cup at his previous start. Along with King Hal, one of the backmarkers on 36 yards, he appeals most of the others.

Lakeda, a member of a small team prepared at Oamaru by J. W. Dadgety, Looked in need of a race when die finished fifth in the Telegraph Handicap won by Flying Blue last Saturday. She has raced with distinction at Forbury Park, and she siiould make a bold showing this week.

Garrison Royal could go close to giving last season's leading trainer, C. S. Donald, his first success for the current term. Garrison Royal raced to the front in the Telegraph Handicap last

Saturday, but came to the end of his run after a few strides and finished a reasonably close sixth. That was by far his best effort for a considerable time and he could improve sufficiently to be one of the brighter prospects in this race.

Van Rush made an impressive first appearance for the season when he finished strongfly for third behind Flying Blue and Rustic Lad last Saturday. With both of those horses missing from this week's field, Van Rush’s chances must be highly rated. Chiffon added to her good record for the season when she finished fourth in the Telegraph Handicap last week. She is raiding most generously and consistently and looks to be capable of further successes.

Adios Healthier failed to make much impression last week after a slow start. She has drawn much more favourably ait No. 1 at the barrier this week and if she receives a reasonable run, flha could add interest to the finastL

Johnny Thunder disappointed last week when he finished seventh after having every chance. He should be held safely by the badlydrawn Safe Return, a narrow wiinner last week. Ihglemead and Winona will form a useful bracket and they should be the pick of the remainder.