TROTTING Lordship And Asia Minor Favoured

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31462, 31 August 1967, Page 4

TROTTING Lordship And Asia Minor Favoured

Lordship and Asia Minor could form the favourite combination in the T.A.B. double at the New Brighton Trotting Club’s spring meeting at Addington Raceway on Saturday.

Lordship will be opposed by a topclass field in the first leg, the Johns Free-for-all, which will be his first appearance this season.

Lordship has usually had a race or two at trials after a let-up, but he has not been seen at trials since he finished fifth at the Canterbury Park meeting in May. Lordship has drawn splendidly at No. 4 for a flying start from the 10-furlong post. Lack of hard racing experience should not stop the champion running out a merry 10 furlongs and it will be most surprising if he fails to acquit himself to advantage. Rocky Star paced two splendid races at the national meeting for a fourth in the Louisson Handicap and a dose second, beaten by a long neck, to Julie Hanover in the National Handicap last Saturday. In the latter race Rocky Star led for the last 10 furlongs and a half and it was only in the last stride that he was caught He showed he had taken no harm from those races when he paraded at the Hororata trials on Tuesday. In his present form he must be considered as one of the better prospects. Disband has drawn the second line behind Rocky Star, which could help her secure a splendid run. She was involved in mix-ups—not of her own making—in her races at the national meeting. She was most impressive last Saturday when she finished seventh in the National Handicap after being one of the

tail-enders early in the race. If she secures a reasonable run, she could just about win. She has some fine sprinting efforts to her credit Buchanan showed outstanding sprint form last term. He races well when fresh and could upset calculations. From Auckland Viking Water has shown sound sprint form in the past and he could get into the finish. He looks a picture after his third in the Louisson Handicap and eighth in the National Handicap.

The flying start will suit Thunder Royal, which usually breaks from a stand. He won impressively at the Hororata trials on Tuesday and could surprise. Julie Hanover, which has drawn wide, Cuddle Doon, Happy Ending and Chequer Board all raced well at the national meeting and they, too, could be prominent But if Lordship, Rocky Star and Disband reproduce their best form, they should dispute the finish.

Asia Minor will meet the whole field on more favourable terms in the Spring Handicap, run over 10 furlongs, than he did in his two starts at the national meeting. He will be on 12 yards this week and will only have to make a reasonable beginning to win. He trotted a fine race for fifth in the Christchurch Handicap on the first day of the national meeting and last Saturday he finished ninth in the Winter Handicap. In both

races he started from 36 yards. Asia Minor looks ready to win at short notice and he should do well on Saturday. The two Auckland trotters, Mountain Pride and Immortal, are assured of solid support. Mountain Pride recorded a third and a fourth at the national meeting, while Immortal gained a fourth and a win.

Mountain Pride seems to be able to maintain a prominent position throughout his races and he should be capable of another good run. Immortal will not be set an easy task from 24 yards, but his form at the national meeting entitles him to respect Direct Globe should do best of the horses on the limit, and Gala Song and Tronso should be improved sufficiently as a result of their racing at the national meeting to. be two of the better prospects among the remainder. Russell, which was just caught by Immortal last week, is in fine form and he should make another bold showing. However, he will find Asia Minor hard to beat at level marks.

Four Horses For Sydney Peterson, Medico and two unraced horses trained by R. L. Taterson at Templeton for Mr C. L. Rhodes, of Christchurch, are booked to travel to Sydney In the next 10 days. All four horses will join the team of the leading Sydney trainer, K. Newman. Peterson, winner of the Two-Year-Old Stakes at Mehven In the autumn at his first race start, could be a leading contender for classic honours tn Sydney. He has shown great ability but has been wayward at the start.