TROTTING More N.Z. Horses Leave For Campaign In Wales

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30426, 28 April 1964, Page 5

TROTTING More N.Z. Horses Leave For Campaign In Wales

A further four horses have been shipped from New Zealand on the first stage of their journey to Wales where they will compete at night trotting meetings at Prestatyn. They are Gay Tartan, Dark Orator, Mary Bingen and Lois Stirling, They are in the care of G. D. Grantham, who will train and drive them in Wales.

The night trotting season in Wales is expected to open in the next few weeks. According to reports from England, there is increased interest in night trotting in Wales and prospects are for a successful season. The former Pukekohe reinsman, T. G. Payne, now training at Prestatyn, has 16 horses in work. He is being assisted by N. Ryan, of Auckland.

Another five horses arrived from Auckland earlier this month. Among them was Melody Pilade, a winner- at Whangarei in February when

trained by R. Purdon. Melody Pilade has been purchased by Lord Langford, a director of the night trotting company, who will drive the horse himself. There has been a keen demand for New Zealandbred horses and several syndicates to buy or lease pacers and trotters have been formed.

The latest shipment bringsto 11 the number of horses cleared by the New Zealand Trotting Conference since January 1 to race in Wales. Gay Tartan is expected to be a top-class performer in Wales where all fields are sent away from. behind the starting gate. He has shown great speed in his races in New Zealand, but he ruined his chances in most races by failing to begin cleanly. A five-year-old gelding by Meadow Chief from Deverbn, Gay Tartan won one race this season—at Cambridge on March 13.' He made one of his rare smart beginnings and won the main race, the F. J. Smith Memorial Handicap, with ease. Along with Mary Bingen and Lois Stirling, he will be raced in Wales by Grantham’s father, the well-known Hawera trainer, D. R. Grantham, and Mr R. Robertson, of Auckland. Mary Bingen is a lightlyraced five-year-old by Scottish Bingen from Pahia. Although she has not won a race, she has shown speed at times. Lois Stirling, an aged mare by Morano from ■ Stirling Maid, failed in seven starts this season, but won twice last term. Although past his best. Dark Orator could show up at Prestatyn for his Auckland owner-trainer, N. J. Taylor. He is well into the veteran class, but is most reliable. He caused a big surprise last November when he won at Palmerston North, the only time this season he finished in the money from 15 starts. Glehila, Last Cry, Reprimand, Mono Star, Ship Ahoy and Smoke On are other horses to have gone to Wales this year. All are expected to race in the next few weeks. Returning To N.Z. Among the New Zealand horses expected to compete' at early meetings in Wales is Scottish Command, the winner of the 1959 Auckland Cup. Scottish Command has been campaigned with success in the United States and is on his way back to New Zealand. He reached England a few months ago to undergo six months in quarantine. He has been in work for some weeks near Manchester and is reported to be showing dash. The former champion Australian pacer, Apmat, which raced with distinction in the United States, is anothei probable starter. He, too, is spending six months in quarantine before coming on to Australia. As well as stallions at present domiciled in England, breeders often get the use .of sires on their way either to Australia or New Zealand. Newport Chief, at present at the stud in Southland, was mated with a number of mares while in England. One of the foals, now a two-year-old, was sold recently for 1200 guineas. A short spell of stud duty in England, helps offset the cost of shipping a horse to New Zealand or Australia. The New Zealand Trotting Conference views with concern the number of outstanding foaling returns and service certificates for the 1963 breeding season. These were doe on February 8 last. In the past it has sometimes been necessary to impose substantial fines on breeders making late returns.

Miriam Hall and Meadowmac have gone north to compete at the Thames Trotting Club’s meeting at Alexandra Park Raceway oh Saturday night. Miriam Hall finished a good fourth in the J. McCloy Memorial Handicap at Methven recently and will have to show very little improvement to pay expenses on the trip, Meadowmac paced useful races at the recent Wellington meeting and he, too, could go well. Retired Sun Chief, , one of the top pacers of his day, has been retired from racing. Sun Chief, which was raced by his Oamaru breeder-trainer, S. Easton, won £12,360 in New Zealand, the result of 12 wins and 14 placings from 62 starts. He also won more than £3OOO in Sydney where he won the New South Wales Pacing Derby. He was the top two-year-old in the 1958-59 season when he failed in only one of six starts. His wins the following season included the New Zealand Champion and Great Northern Derby Stakes. An interrupted prep ration and a check in the running possibly cost him a win in the New Zealand Derby Stakes. He finished second to False Step in the New Zealand Cup as a four-year-old.