TROTTING MAIN RACE FOR TROTTERS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31167, 17 September 1966, Page 6

TROTTING MAIN RACE FOR TROTTERS

Johnny Gee Picked At Addington

Although beaten the last time he raced Johnny Gee probably will be a firm favourite for the Ern Smith Handicap at Addington Raceway today.

Johnny Gee will try for his second win this season and his fourth from his last five starts for his Templeton ownertrainer, W. R. Butt, in the main event for trotters at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s September meeting.

Johnny Gee’s winning sequence was broken when he was tried as a sprinter at the New Brighton Club’s spring meeting a fortnight ago. He ran his usual honest race for second, but could not muster the finishing speed to peg Towser back in the Spring Handicap. Johnny Gee, which has shown his best form over middle and longer distances, will run a mile and five furlongs today. But he might not find it easy to give a 12-yard start and a beating to Dispense and Gen Dee. These two well-performed trotters

will try to keep winning records intact. Dispense began her five-year-old racing with a stylish win over Globe Direct in the Addington Handicap, her only race at the national meeting last month. Glen Dee made amends for two faulty beginnings at the national meeting by trotting solidly all the way for a comfortable victory in the Oxford Handicap a fortnight ago.

The consistent Karen Brigade—she has been only once out of a place in five starts this season—will also have solid backing but, perhaps not as strong as that for the

Leeston stablemates, Asia Minor or When. Victory for When might not be the easiest of tasks from the back mark of 54 yards, but Asia Minor could be a major contender if W. J. Doyle produces him at his best.

If Cuddle Doon has more luck in the running of the A. E. Laing Handicap than he did in the Johns Handicap a fortnight ago, he could fare best in the first leg of the T.A.B. double. Courtier, a talented sprinter, is almost certain to be a firm favourite for the Seaview Handicap, the second leg. Atanui and Nocatchem are a fancied combination for the on-course double, the Pacific Handicap and the Bowhill Stakes. Continued fine weather is forecast so the track will be firm and fast.