TROTTING Ashburton Candidates Impress At Methven

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30559, 30 September 1964, Page 4

TROTTING Ashburton Candidates Impress At Methven

Oreti, Flying Blue and Rustic Lad, candidates for the Ashburton Flying Stakes on Saturday, raced soundly at trials held yesterday at Methven by the Mid-Canterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association. They will meet much stronger opposition on Saturday, but all three went well enough to suggest that any one of them could be close at the finish.

Oreti will be having only his second start for the season. At his other appearance he finished a close seventh in the A. E. Laing Handicap at the New Brighton meeting on September 19. Oreti looks ready to show form at short notice.

There was merit in Oreti’s win in his heat of yesterday’s free-for-all as he was slow away and he was at the rear when the field settled down. He quickly recovered his lost ground and joined the second horse, Rustic .Lad, just behind Napoleon Hanover in the back straight.

Oreti took a short lead about the furlong post and finished on boldly to win by half a length after recording 3min 34sec for the 13 fur-

longs, a splendid effort considering the strong northerly wind the horses had to contend with from the half-mile. He paced his final four furlongs in Imin 4sec. Flying Blue, after being handily placed all the way, came through on the inside in the straight and he was pacing easily in second place, half a length in front of Rustic Lad, which has been a shade disappointing since his surprise win in the Louisson Handicap at the national meeting last month. Napoleon Hanover held on for fourth, three lengths behind Rustic Lad, after forcing all of the pace. Then came -Sentimental, Lochgair, which lost ground early and was still at the tail of the field at the half-mile, Toby Brigade, Winonam, Mile End, Guest Star and Our Own.

Happy Sam won the second heat in dashing style, finishing with a great run wide out on the track to get up in the last few strides and ’ shade Dominica. Why Not, which had something in reserve, was a close third, just ahead of Bonnie Widow, Burns Rival, Rawiri, Dreaming, Disband and Eone Navarre.

Happy Sam will start from 36 yards and Dominica and Why Not from the limit of the President’s Handicap, the second leg of the double at Ashburton on Saturday. Happy Sam has been a shade disappointing in his racing this season, but he looks ready to win soon. He recorded 3min 45sec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in Imin 7 4-ssec. Dominica and Why Not both recorded sound trials for Saturday’s race. Stablemates Win A gelding and a colt by Thurber Frost won the heats of the parade for two-year-olds run over about six furlongs. Both winners are members of G. B. Noble’s Yaldhurst team. A gelding by Thurber Frost from a good winner in Heather Mary was first out in the first heat, and was joined by a colt by Whipster from Silver Wood in D. G. McCormick’s team over the last three furlongs. The Thurber Frost finished best and won handily by a length after recording Imin 44 4-ssec for his last six furlongs, the final half-mile In Imin 9 4-ssec. The Whipster colt shaded Johnny Chappelet (Johnny Globe—Chappelet) by a head for second, with three lengths to a filly by Stormyway from Filament and a gap to Mister Bee (Fallacy—Honest Lass). The Thurber Frost— Spangled Brigade colt finished boldly from the trailing position to gain an easy win by a length over a gelding by Whipster from Spring Maid in J. L. Ferguson’s team. The winner paced his last six furlongs in the good time of Imin 41 3-ssec, the final half-mile in Imin 7 3-ssec. A filly by U. Scott from Binnie Lustre was beaten off in third place, well clear of a colt by U. Scott from Gamblette. A colt by U.. Scott from Lady Gamble finished fifth. He got away well, but tangled after less than two furlongs. He showed ability once properly balanced. Darwyn Gets Up Darwyn, which is to make a fresh start in the Second Hinds Handicap at Ashburton on Saturday, outfinished four rivals in the 2min 19sec class pace, recording 3min 48 2-ssec, the last half-mile in Imin 7sec. Darwyn broke just after the start and was a good way back afterwards. However, he soon recovered and came home boldly along the inner to win by a neck. Light Chief, one of Darwyn’s rivals on • Saturday, forced most of the pace and held on for second, half a length in front of Rekots, with a gap to Smart Lass and another to Omaha. Field Chief, one of the horses on 60 yards in the Chertsey Handicap at the Ashburton meeting, gained a narrow win in the 2min 20sec class trot. He gradually made up ground and was handy to the pacemaker, Big Charge, over the final halfmile. Big Charge broke for a stride or two at the straight entrance, leaving Field Chief clear. Break Through finished well over the final furlong, but Field Chief lasted to win by a head. Break Through, also a candidate for the Chertsey Handicap, trotted strongly into second place, well clear of Big Charge, with Cleone in fourth position, clear of Lightning Scott, which made up a lot of ground, Wayleggo, Rapparee, and Blazing. The winner recorded 3min 47sec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in Imin 12sec. Sky, which is now a member of E. M. Ryan’s Little River team, gained a decisive win in the first heat of the 2min 20sec class pace, recording 3min 43sec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in Imin 7 l-ssec. Golden Sunset showed ability to take second, ahead of Lord Cecil and Misty Haze. . Fells won the second heat in 3min 48 3-ssec, the last half-mile in Imin 7sec. Cloudy Bay was pacing easily in second place, ahead of Hal Special, World's Fair, and Doctor Paul.