TROTTING Vanderford And Douce For Hutt Park Double

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30534, 1 September 1964, Page 4

TROTTING Vanderford And Douce For Hutt Park Double

Vanderford and Douce, both of which will be driven by M. Holmes, should make a bold bid to win the double on the second night of the Wellington Trotting Club’s meeting at Hutt Park Raceway today. Both horses were placed on the first night of the meeting and they will have to show very little improvement to win their respective races.

Vanderford followed up a close third in the Louisson Handicap on the first day of the recent national meeting with a fourth in the free-for-all won by Master Alan on the first night of the Wellington meeting. He made an unusually tardy beginning and was second last on the rails early. He was late working clear and was closing rapidly on the dividend-payers at the finish.

Vanderford will start from 24 yards in the President’s Handicap and if he makes his customary smart beginning, he should be reasonably placed all the way and too good for the others over the final furlong.

Master Alan will not be at any fancy price tonight after his free-for-all win last week. He will start from 18 yards this time, a handicap which might not prove too difficult for him. His great courage contributed mainly to his win on Saturday, and a similar performance should see him right up at the finish once more.

King Hal paced his best race for some time when he finished third to Master Alan

and Lordship. He was reasonably prominent all the way, and while he had no chance of catching the first two, he ran on as strongly as any of the others, apart from Vanderford. King Hal was a shade disappointing in his racing last season, but earlier in his career he was rated as one of the best horses in commission. He could be returning to his peak. He will be bracketed with Grouse, a big disappointment on the first night.

Maisie Direct did best in the free-for-all of the four horses on the limit. She finished sixth, after being awkwardly placed on the inside all the way. If she races with the same determination, she could again be prominent, although she has never really shone in such rich company in the past. Junior Royal went a reasonably good race when eighth on Saturday. He' covered extra ground early, but was handy to the straight This race should be easier for him. Lady Charles made up ground for ninth. She was pushed to the rear early and did not improve until late. She is very well and could make another forward showing. Fine Fifth Dandy Briar, having his first start for some months paced a splendid race for fifth for Saturday. A feature of his effort was his smooth beginning. He is far from being a spent force and if he has not been knocked by the fast pace set by Gay Reel on Saturday, he could again show to advantage. Jay Ar and Waitaki Hanover share the 18-yard mark with Master Alan. Jay Ar had to race wide on the turn approaching the straight and went a fair race for seventh, not far from Vanderford. He is much better than his record so far this season suggests and it will not surprise if he is prominent.

Waitaki Hanover made a dismal showing on Saturday, but he might do better with a slower pace. Gay Reel ran herself out in front, but had Lordship not gone with her, she might have been harder to beat. She will have to work hard to get to the lead, but if she does get there and set an easy pace, she could add interest to the finish.

Douce, a candidate also for the Hutt Park Challenge Stakes, will be a firm favourite if produced in the second leg, the Stewards’ Handicap. Her performance on Saturday was outstanding for a three-year-old filly and she was unlucky to fun up against a pacer of the calibre of Adio-

way. The sprint distance in this race will suit her. She has drawn reasonably well at No. 7 and should be able to, secure a reasonable run throughout. Quesnel, a newcomer to this class, won impressively on the first night. He has drawn wide at No. 11, and might have to work hard to secure a prominent position. This half-brother to King Hal looks to be in for a good season and he should extend his record in this race. Revel Time should . also appreciate the sprint journey. He finished fourth in Adioway’s.race on Saturday after racing without a trail all the way. He could easily upset calculations. Adio Morn, Carina Star, Ruling Caste, Dorstan and Silver Mica all raced well enough on Saturday to be considered as fair prospects, but they will be hard pressed to catch Douce and Quesnel. Fair weather is forecast and the track will be fast.