TROTTING Fielder May Win At Forbury Park

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31360, 4 May 1967, Page 5

TROTTING Fielder May Win At Forbury Park

Feilder could take the final step to New Zealand Cup class with a win in the Leo Fahey Handicap on the second night of the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s winter meeting on Saturday.

Fielder looks favourably placed on the limit. Last Saturday, after starting slowly from 24 yards, he made up quite a lot of ground for sixth behind Co Pilot. Had he not been forced extremely wide at the straight entrance, he might have finished closer. At his previous start Fielder had finished boldly for second behind Master Alan at the Gore meeting, after a good third behind Great Adios and Master Alan in the Easter Cup Final at Addington Raceway. Fielder will only have to make a smooth beginning to gain a well deserved win.

Chequer Board will be in demand and may start favourite. He was a disappointing fourth in the Easter Cup Final and then finished third behind Great Adios over one mile at the Manawatu meeting on April 18. Chequer Board showed that he was close to his peak with a dashing win at the Adding-

ton equalisator meeting last week. If he races with the same dash, he should make Fielder work hard. Lordship looks reasonably placed on 48 yards, but he will have to contend with a capacity field. Lordship beat all but Great Adios over one mile on April 18 at his most recent start, and finished ninth in the Easter Cup Final after breaking at the start. Lordship will not find his task easy, but he could take beating. Master Alan will be one of the favourites. He deserves solid support after his second in the Easter Cup Final and a win at Gore. Master Alan is one of the most capable pacers in commission and it would be unwise to take his chances lightly. Co Pilot won narrowly but well in an open handicap last Saturday. Few of last week’s rivals will oppose him once more, but one of them, Fielder, will meet him on 24 yards more favourable terms. This does not mean that Co Pilot has little chance. He is still at the improving stage and could make a bold bid to gain his seventh win for the season. Humphrey, runner-up to Co Pilot last week, and Admire, third behind Master Alan at Gore, appeal most of the others on the limit

Disband, Cuddle Doon and Lochgair finished sixth, seventh and eighth respectively at Gore recently. Dis-

band, in particular, looks a likely improver, and Cuddle Doon is always worthy of consideration in this type of race. However, they will need to improve considerably to beat Fielder, Chequer Board and Lordship. Meadow Bank, which is raced and trained by G. J. Morrison, a steward of the Forbury Park Club, will be a firm favourite for the second leg, the Victoria Handicap. Meadow Bank has been a model of consistency recently. He won the Roxburgh Cup before beating all but the speedy Royal Fame in the J. McCloy Memorial Handicap at Methven. Then, at Gore, he beat all but Guyfa over two miles, finishing boldly from fifth at the straight entrance. Meadow Bank’s ability to maintain a handy position throughout his races ensures that he will be one of the better chances. The grand three-year-old, Fort Nelson, is an interesting candidate. He finished third behind Cardinal King and Governor Frost over 12 furlongs at Hutt Park a fortnight ago. He is certain to have improved as a result of that race, and he must be respected. Dryden Smoke has raced well enough lately to be given a better-than-average chance of success. Last week he finished well to beat all

but Merry Morning in the Hororata Cup, and two starts earlier he won the Cheviot Cup. Dryden Smoke is certain

to be finishing more strongly than most of his rivals. Garrison Girl and Glenda Hanover have both shown fine form at times, and they should give Southland stables strong representation. They appeal more than any of the others on the limit Atanui, Guyfa, Merry Morning and Vantage are four fine pacers on 12 yards. Atanui received a poor run from the second line in Julie Hanover’s sprint on the first night of the meeting. She could win. Guyfa failed from 24 yards in the Hororata Cup, but after her win at Gore at her previous start she cannot be overlooked. Merry Morning won the Hororata Cup, and while he is in such fine form he must be respected. Vantage was a solid third behind Julie Hanover last week, and if he receives a reasonable run he could easily take part in the finish.