TROTTING Two-year-old Stakes Good Guide To Form

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30712, 30 March 1965, Page 5

TROTTING Two-year-old Stakes Good Guide To Form

The Two-year-old Stakes at Methven on Saturday showed that pacers in this age group in Canterbury are now starting to sort themselves out. Some will continue to be among the principals in the finishes of the remaining classics this season, and others will require more time before they become solid racing propositions.

Performances in the comparatively few races for two-year-olds run so far this season suggest that the over-all standard is high. For a time it appeared as though one or two horses would dominate proceedings, but such is not the case.

Courtier’s win at Methven, the placings of Johnny Chappelet and Phillmark and bold showings by several other horses ensure that the remaining classics, culminating in the running of the £2OOO New Zealand Sapling Stakes at Ashburton on June 5, are keenly contested.

The Methven race has in the past been a good pointer to the Sapling Stakes, and Saturday’s race should be no exception. The Ashburton track is usually on the soft side in June and often even heavier than the going encountered at Methven. Even so, a surprising number of horses handled the Methven track with confidence and fought on in grand style in the uphill straight. Courtier’s effort was that of a true stayer, especially as he was well back in a far too unwieldly field at the end of the first quarter. He had to work hard for the final six furlongs and over the last 50 yards was much too good for his rivals. Courtier will race next in the £lOOO New Zealand Welcome Stakes at Addington Raceway on April 17 when he will be opposed by a strong field of form runners, including the winners of two races to be decided on the opening nights of the Easter meeting. Courtier is a fine-looking black colt by Morano from a classic winner in Tradition, a mare which was a sister to a dual New Zealand Cup winner in Haughty. Courtier has been lightly raced and has recorded two wins and a fourth from his three appearances. He has been much more lightly-raced at trials than most others in his age group and looks as though he will show considerable improvement before the Sapling Stakes come up for decision.

Johnny Chappelet’s performance at Methven was more in keeping with the high opinion formed of him before he failed rather badly at Washdyke earlier in the

month. He showed courage in a hard finish and should not be troubled to extend his record later in the season.

By Johnny Globe

Like Courtier and Phillmark, Johnny Chappelet is by a colonial-bred sire. He is a son of Johnny Globe, which is enjoying his most successful season to date, with winners in all age groups and at all gaits. Phillmark probably has more brilliance than most in the race at Methven, but does not seem to be quite as solid as Courtier. She was a shade slow to get under way and took a long time to become properly balanced. She tangled slightly at the end of a furlong and added considerably tb her task. She did not stall her run as soon as Courtier or Johnny Chappelet and appeared to have to work much harder than the other two to get past the big leading division. Although Phillmark had no chance of putting Courtier to the test, she recorded an outstanding effort and if she can be made to race more solidly could run Courtier close later in the season. Goldmount’s close fourth was another most encouraging pointer toward future classics. He had experience at trials, but had not started previously at a totalisator meeting. He is a bright chestnut colt by Garrison Hanover from Paramount, and is a brother to a smart three-year-old in Paranova. He is trained at Methven by A. L. Kerslake for Mr W. F. Woolley, of Lyttelton. Roydon Prince, from G. B. Noble’s team, ran on strongly

for a fair fifth. He was a good way back approaching the straight after meeting trouble when another runner dropped back quickly inside the final half-mile. Roydon Prince was the only representative of Thurber Frost in the field and might have been a shade unlucky not to have returned a dividend.

Belle Byrd, Inky Boy and Lucrative were a shade disappointing at Methven, but might have disliked the track conditions. Belle Byrd stopped over the final quarter and finished eleventh, with Lucrative thirteenth and Inky Boy fifteenth. All three look to be well endowed with stamina and should soon make amends for those rather disappointing efforts.