GOOD DAY FOR DONALD STABLE

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31393, 12 June 1967, Page 6

GOOD DAY FOR DONALD STABLE

(From Our Own Reporter? NELSON.

Supporters of the Belfast stable of C. S. Donald had a change of fortune when he produced three winner* on the first day of the Nelson Trotting Club’s winter meeting.

The bracket of Sherwood Queen and Johnny Fiord was backed as unbeatable in the Belgfirove Handicap and they duly obliged by winning both divisions. Even then, the return was, small on the win totalisator. They paid £2 18s 6d, and for a place the return was £2 Is.

Sherwood Queen followed up some promising racing with a very easy win in her division but Johnny Fiord, raced by the president of the Nelson Club (Mr A. K. Greens lade), had to wait until late before asserting his superiority. Johnny Fiord is by Johnny Globe from Fiord, a halfsister by First Lord to the champion. Rupee. Sherwood Queen, too, has good breeding to recommend her. She is by Newport Chief from Queen’s Honour, the dam of King Hal, Quesnel and others. Sherwood Queen is raced by her breeder, Mr C. E. Dillon, of Riversdale, who also races Single Way, the surprise winner of the Tahuna Handicap, the second leg of the on-course concession double. Single Way, an aged mare by Stonnyway from a fine trotting mare of 15 years ago in Single Task, has been in work with Donald for some years but she has never stood up to much racing or work because of recurring soreneaa. She fought on best in a keen finish -iA hMt Dillade hv a

length with a neck to Say Diana. At Good Odds Single Way was the 10/11 favourite and paid £37 5s 6d for a win. The first leg, the Foxhill Handicap, resulted in a decisive win for Patriarch’s Son. A good third behind Golden Fleece at Ashburton a week earlier, Patriarch's Son won easily from Cheribon and Safe Light The Patriarch’s Son-Single Way combination paid £342 15s 6d. The Patriarch’s SonDillade concession combination paid £47 for £l. One of the moat impressive wins of the day was that of the three-year-old, Lucky Wood, In the Stoke Handicap. A filly by Flight Adios, she gained her first win on the same course in 1965. She is out of Silver Wood, a good winner at the pacing gait foi Lucky Wood's Ashburton owner-trainer, D. G. McCor mick. Smart Effort Lucky Wood trotted the 12 furlongs in the very fast time of 3min 27 2-ssec. She ,w<m by half a length from the consistent Dillade, with a length and a quarter to the promising Promite, which was responsible for all the pace. Globe Bell was beaten off fourth. The hot favourite, Doctoi Scott, again wrecked his chances by galloping. Although he paid £27 7s for a win, Final Chance’s victory in the Probationer’s Handicap was well received. He gave his Blenheim-owner-trainer, P. H. Hope, his first winning experience. He was driven by R. L. Gibbons, who earlier in the year drove Last Round to win at Blenheim and pay more than £lOO for a win. Final Chance is one of few foals sired by Reprimand, a top trotter which was subsequently sold to England.