TROTTING Meth ven Trials Win To Frontier Maid

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31248, 21 December 1966, Page 4

TROTTING Meth ven Trials Win To Frontier Maid

Frontier Maid recorded a sound trial for the Christmas Handicap at the New Brighton meeting on Saturday when she won her heat of the free-for-all at the Methven trials yesterday. The other heat was won by Guyfa, which will race next in the Boxing Day Handicap at Ashburton on Monday.

J. L. Ferguson had Frontier Maid in the first four or five until late in the first heat of the free-for-all.

She moved through to challenge about a furlong from the finish and came on to win decisively by a length after recording 3:40 for the 13 furlongs, the last halfmile in 1:5, a smart run considering the strong wind and that the horses raced about 12 feet out from the rails. Third Chief, a candidate for the Yuletide Stakes on Saturday, was close up all the way and held on for second, half a length in front of the Auckland Cup candidate, Rocky Star, which was shaken up about the furlong post. He ran on fairly well, but will have to show improvement to be a real danger at Auckland. Lochgair paced a pleasing trial for the Ashburton Cup

when he finished solidly for fourth without being pressed. Then came Maudella, Doug’s Choice and Battlefield.

Lordship finished eleventh. He raced free-legged and broke at the start, losing half a furlong. He showed up wide out with . two furlongs left, only to break again. He looks a picture, and should be a fit horse for the Canterbury Park meeting. Guyfa, another likely im-

prover, finished solidly to win the second heat by half a length from the Auckland candidate, Richard Hanover, which looks to have freshened up well. Guyfa won in 3min 38 4-ssec, the last halfmile in Imin 5 l-ssec. Break Through, which led over- the last six furlongs, was not pushed to finish third. He looks to have freshened up well since the cup meeting. Money Wise was a fair fourth, ahead of Linkwood Lady, Stormy Petrel, Dieman Lad, and Cardinal King. The last-named, a candidate for the New Zealand Champion Stakes last Tuesday, paraded in a lather of sweat. He appeared to collide with another runner and was last on settling down. He was still at the tail of a spread-out field with slightly more than two furlongs left, and did well to finish so close. He is the horse most likely to extend Holy Hal on Monday.

Two-year-olds Keep Smiling advanced his claims as a place prospect in

the New Brighton Two-year-old Stakes at Addington Raceway on Saturday when he won his heat of tfie two-year-old parade over one mile. He began splendidly from a stand, and was in front throughout. The Robert Dil-lon-Modern Smiles gelding was pacing easily all the way,

and he won by three lengths in 2min 17 l-ssec, the last half-mile in Imin 6 l-ssec.

Johnny Dhu (Johnny Globe —Chappelet) finished a useful second, ahead of Shepherds Delight, which was not hurried after a slow start. Light Globe (Johnny Globe —Lady Biddy) finished a useful fourth, ahead of Ran Chief (Chief Rainbow—Reality), which drifted early. Royal Walk (King Creed— Stroll) led throughout the second heat and won in 2min 23 l-ssec, the last half-mile in Imin 8 l-ssec. Waratah (Johnny Globe . Queen Ngaio) finished pleasingly for second, ahead of Khandallah, which lost 72 yards at the start. Special Form and Santa Claus were next, but they were a fair way back.

Sound Run Royal Court, a winner at Rangiora, showed his fitness for the Mitcham Handicap at Ashburton next Monday when he won the first heat of the 2:20 class trot in 3min 49 1-5 sec, the last half-mile easily in Imin 7 4-ssec. Royal Court looks capable of further wins. Glen Bell, a candidate for the same race, gave a Sound display to finish a head from Royal Court, with Coronet Peak and Bertha Jo following.

Free Globe, now trained at Templeton by D. G. Nyhan, gave away starts of up to 120 yards and a sound beating to her rivals in the second heat. She took 3min 41 1-5 sec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in Imin 6sec. The maiden trotter, Worth Seein’, trotted a useful race for second, ahead of Super Glow, Markalan and Single Way.

Flight Adorian, a candidate for the McLean Handicap at Ashburton, finished solidly for a narrow win over Corwar. Fort Worth and Finesse in the first heat of the 2:19 class pace. The leaders took

Imin 5 l-ssec for the last half-mile.

Loyal Friend, which looks improved, won the second heat in 3min 45sec, the last half-mile in Imin 6 4-ssec. Sonny Jim shaped like an early winner when he finished second from 36 yards, with Double Step and Prospector next.

Only five runners proved capable of recording the required 3:28 or faster in six qualifying heats. Fastest time of 3min 24 2-ssec was returned by Curragh Dan (Flying Song—Cuidado), winner of the first heat. All four place-getters qualified in this heat, Johnny Fiord being the only other qualifier.