TROTTING Light Oak Back In Work After Unscheduled Foal

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31772, 31 August 1968, Page 7

TROTTING Light Oak Back In Work After Unscheduled Foal

A former top-class trotting mare, Light Oak, which 11 months ago produced a colt foal from an unscheduled mating, may race again, says the Auckland correspondent of “The Press.”

Mr It. Baker, whose wife owns Light Oak, said: “Light Oak is in light work. We will just have to wait and see how she shapes before we can consider her returning to racing.” Light Oak is now 12, but she did not start racing until she was four. All through her Career she has been only lightly raced. When she turned six, she had only 21 starts and won eight times. Also back in work at Ascot Park. Mangere, is Nurse Brigade, which had a promising racing career cut short two years ago after it was discovered she was in foal, too. The “villain” of the piece in both cases was Ascot Prince, who was then a two-year-old. Light Oak and Nurse Brigade foaled on the same day, September 23. Nurse Brigade, which is also owned by Mrs Baker, produced a filly. Ascot Prince, a richly-bred son of Garrison Hanover and Sandra Kay, topped the list at the standardbred yearling sales at Addington in 1965. He showed plenty of speed in his races last season and some keen judges believe he will develop into a good winner. Mr Baker has only two horses of his own in work at Ascot Park. They are Roseland Ring and a two-year-old filly by Dick Adios from Scotch Step. Roseland Ring, who is 10, has not raced since he broke down after a race at Alexandra Park in October, 1965. He has seemed sound for some time, according to Mr Baker. If he stands another preparation, Roseland Ring will be an acquisition to the thin ranks of tight-class pacers in the Auckland area. For a while, he held the Cambridge record for two miles. Mr and Mrs Baker’s horses are being looked after by D. E. Nightingale, who has applied for a trainer’s licence If it is granted, he will be the Bakers’ private trainer. Nightingale, who is 38, was with the Pukekohe trainer, H. M. Allen, for three years in the early 19505. He later was a private trainer in Wellington for about two years and he has also worked for several trainers in the Auckland province.

$742 LOSS A loss of $742, compared with a profit of $1229 last year, was reported at the an-

nual meeting of the Timaru Trotting Club earlier in the week.

Considering the increased costs, the economic conditions in New Zealand, and a clash with the InterDominion Championship meeting in Auckland, which resulted in a loss on the club’s February meeting, the result was not unexpected, says the report of the president (Mr J, R. D. Clay). WELL RECEIVED The official reports of a week earlier were included in the race book for the second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s national meeting last Saturday. The innovation came in for favourable comment It is expected that all clubs will include the official reports from meetings held nearby during the week preceding their meetings. The scheme is similar to one in operation in New South Wales and other Australian States. FEW FOLLOW Few clubs have followed the lead of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club and said that they are going to increase stakes this season on the anticipation of increased income from the extra 2.68 per cent levy on doubles betting. Stakes at the Metropolitan Club's remaining meetings will increase by $17,000, while the Auckland club has announced increases of $lO,OOO. Too few clubs appear interested in diverting this extra income towards stakes. LONG ABSENCE Toby Brigade, which raced prominently at the Methven trials on Tuesday, has not competed at a totalisator meeting since September 17, 1966. That was his only start that season and his first since he started twice at the cup meeting in November, 1964. A 10-year-old by Light Brigade from Eileen Lillian, Toby Brigade showed great promise as a four-year-old, but he injured himself at a matinee meeting at five years. He has been jogged for many months, according to his trainer, J. L. Behrns, who is hopeful that he will stand up to the faster work necessary to fit him for racing. BRED IN N.Z. New Zealand-bred stallions were widely patronised in New South Wales during the 1966-67 season. Thirty-three served 10 or more mares, the list being headed by Gentry with 75 mares. He was followed by Scottish Brigade, 73; Student Prince, 60; Blue

Prince, 51; Congruent, 47; Adroit, 38; and Chamfer, 30. Fifteen imported stallions are on the list, including eight which were in New Zealand for varying periods. They were Smokey Hanover (80), Stormyway (78), Deep Adios (60), Flying Song (53), Ike Frost (47). My Chief (31), Hal O Matic (13), and Thunder On (10). POOR SUPPORT

All trials and matinee meetings of six races or more have to include a race for probationary drivers. A few minutes before entries closed only one nomination, that of Arkle, had been received by the Mid-Canterbury Owners and Breeders’ Association for

its race at trials held on Tuesday at Methven. The president of the association (Mr W. E. Lowe) and a vice-president (Mr D. J. Townley) then entered two and five horses respectively;' Eventually there were six starters.

The inclusion of such races was brought in by the New Zealand Trotting Conference at the request of the New Zealand Owners’ and Breeders’ Association, the bulk of whose members declined to support the race at Methven. It is expected that the association will alter conditions governing such races at future trials to ensure that fields of reasonable size are obtained.