TROTTING Golden Oriole To Race Late In Spring

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30818, 2 August 1965, Page 5

TROTTING Golden Oriole To Race Late In Spring

Golden Oriole, one of the top-ranked three-year-olds of this season, is unlikely to resume racing until late in the spring, according to her trainer, W. R. Butt. She has been back in light work for some weeks, but is not being hurried. One of her main missions in the coming season could be the Auckland Cup in December.

Golden Oriole appears to have grown considerably since last she raced. That was in the Recovery Stakes at Addington Raceway on January 2. She came with a great run to dead-heat with Aiblins, but became the outright winner when the last-named was relegated. Golden Oriole took time to strike form last spring, but reached her peak about Christmas when she won the New Zealand Champion Stakes at Ashburton and the Great Northern Derby Stakes at Auckland.

Golden Oriole is on a 2:13 mark and will meet spirited opposition in open handicap events. That is one of the reasons why she is not being hurried. She has displayed great stamina and courage in her racing and should be one of the outstanding handicap performers of the season. Butt will have his two New Zealand Cup representatives, Van Rebeck and Anarca Direct, at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s national meeting next month and will have several horses ready to resume racing in September. Van Rebeck and Anarca Direct both enjoyed successful innings this term. Van Rebeck, a pacer inclined to be under-estimated, won £2710, the result of three wins and two placings. He will be on a difficult mark in most of his races in the new season, but could still pay his way. The Auckland-owned Anarca Direct, too, showed splendid middle-distance form this term, gaining three wins and four placings for £3OlO in stakes. The Smokey Hanover mare is a most reliable beginner and might not be long striking form in the spring. Fundamental, Contour, Petronella, Meadow Dance and Hal’s Delight are expected to be on hand for mid-spring meetings. Fundamental, which is

raced by Mrs Butt, was lightly raced this season and gained two wins and one placing worth £1290. He looks to be capable of further promotion. Showed Promise Contour, a rising three-year-old gelding by Johnny Globe from Meadow Rani, failed to finish in a place in four starts this season, but showed considerable ability. With more experience, he could develop worth-while form. Petronella, a rising five-year-old mare. by Whipster from Ronella, will be prepared for early maiden events. She was unplaced in three starts last season, but did not start this term because of unsoundness. This appears to have been remedied. Meadow Dance, a useful winner from Butt’s team in the 1962-63 season, has been lightly raced since because of recurring soreness. He has shown no signs of soreness after light training runs, but it remains to be seen whether he will stand up to a searching preparation. Hal’s Delight is a newcom-

er to Butt's team. He showed useful form in Southland this season when he gained one win and nine placings from 17 starts. He is a half-brother by Hal Tryax to Lady Cook, a useful winner a few years ago when trained by Butt. Hal’s Delight is on 2:17 and he will have plenty of opportunities in Canterbury early in the new season.

Butt has only one rising two-year-old in work at present. That is a filly by Johnny Globe from Bonny Meadow, by Meadow Chief from Bonny Brigade, a member of the same family as Lookaway, Adorian, Morano and many other top-class winners. Johnny Gee, winner of the New Zealand Trotting Stakes in the autumn, is still turned out and is unlikely to resume work for another month. This highly-promising young trotter is expected to develop top form later.