TROTTING No Early Favourite In N.Z. Trotting Cup

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32142, 11 November 1969, Page 4

TROTTING No Early Favourite In N.Z. Trotting Cup

On most occasions there is a pronounced early favourite for the New Zealand Cup, but in today’s contest, the claims of half of die field of 16 are strongly advanced.

It will not surprise if the favourite in what is expected to be an even betting race is the bracket of Diarac and Leading Light, which will be paraded by the Templeton training combination of J. Grant and D. G. Jones. The bracket is favourite for the TA.B. two-cups double.

Grant and Jones have enjoyed a tremendous run of success this spring in doubles races and'they will have a host of supporters from one end of New Zealand to the other.

Not only that but they have two of the runners with the strongest form backgrounds. Diarac has won at Addington, Ashburton and Qamaru this season, while Leading Light has been successful at Alexandra Park, Hutt Park and Kaikoura. Twelve months ago Humphrey won the Kaikoura Cup eight days before he was suc-i cessful in the New Zealand' Cup, a race for which he was a commanding favourite. There will be solid support, too. for last season’s “horse of the year,” Garcon Roux„ the first pacer outside the United States to record better than two minute* for one mile u a three-year-old. Stella Frost will have a host of admirers as she attempts to beat the record book and become the first mare to win the race for 20 years, while Chequer Board, Holy Hal, Lords, Wipe Out and Tobias will be among the bet-ter-backed runners. Jones and Grant will also have a great chance of further success in the Worthy Queen Handicap, the second leg of the T.A.B. double. They will have the much-improved Light View to represent them. She has not had a bad race this season and looks ready' to extend her record at this meeting. Johnny Gee and Cleome

are expected to offer more than token opposition to Light View, Johnny Gee having been successful in the event 12 months ago when handicapped on the limit Today he will start from 12 yards, a mark not expected to trouble him greatly. Highland Flight and Single Cash, the backmarken on 18 ( yards, are expected to be worthy North Island representatives.

Highland Flight it completely recovered from the injury he received at Alexandra Park on October 25 and his owner-trainer-driver, E. Lockyer, of Raetihi, is hopeful that the hone will show Addington racegoers his true form. Single Cash has shown splendid form on previous visits to Christchurch. His trainer-driver, P. T. Wolfenden, has him looking better than ever. Waterloo, Tasman, Stylish Major and Briganelli are other Canterbury trotters certain to acquit themselves well

The scratching of Local Lie has robbed the Empire Handicap of much interest In her absence Young Danny will firm in favour, with Irish Whispers, Prosper and El Caballos also in favour. Leroy will be a abort-priced favourite in the Canterbury Free-for-all, a race in which his meeting with the brilliant three-year-old, Sam Tryax, will be a highlight of the day. Pun, Worthy Guest and Heidelberg appeal most in the second leg of the oncourse concession double. The other supporting races have drawn outstanding fields and the efforts of Beau Winter (Introductory Handicap), Radiant Globe (Spring Handicap) and Royal Count (Addington Handicap) are certain to create interest. Fine weather is forecast and the track will be fast.