Scotch Notch not disgraced in main trotters’ event

Press, 9 November 1983, Page 55

Scotch Notch not disgraced in main trotters’ event

By

JEFF SCOTT

The champion Australian trotter, Scotch Notch, was beaten but not disgraced when she was second to the outsider, Para’s Star, in the No Response Handicap at Addington Raceway yesterday.

Scotch Notch’s trainers driver, Graeme Lang, was pleased with the mare’s showing after the problems that she had had over the last week. “She hasn’t had a serious workout for just over a week. She missed a couple of days’ work when she pricked her foot and, of course, she hasn’t been eating,” he said. “Now that she’s had that race, hopefully she will pick up,” Lang added.

Scotch Notch was a little slow early, which is “natural for her” according to Lang. She began to race into contention nearing the 500 m and was handy enough on the home turn. However,

she was unable to master the free-going pacemaker, Para’s Star, in the straight. Para’s Star, after a run of outs, surprised his driver, Robert Cameron, with his performance. The Lauriston-trained gelding was unchallenged for the lead for most of the race and responded well over the closing stages to win by a length and a half.

Para’s Star returned 3min 28s from 10m, while Scotch Notch recorded a favourable 3min 25.6 s for second after starting from 45m. Scotch Notch returned 3mnk 6.8 s for her final 2400 m, her last 800 m in 57.8 s and the closing 400 m in 30s. Last season’s InterDominion Trotters’ Grand Final winner will race again on Friday as a prelude to the $50,000 Dominion Handicap on the final night of the meeting on Saturday week, in which she will start from 10m. Basil Dean was scratched

yesterday morning after injuring a hind leg, which required veterinary treatment.

King Alba entered calculations for the $15,000 Matinee Three-year-old Stakes Championship Final on the last night of the meeting when he finished strongly to win the First Matinee Three-year-old Stakes.

Part-owned and trained at Waikaka (near Gore) by Ken Mcßae, who races the Alba Counsel'gelding with a neighbouring farmer, Jock McQueen, King Alba settled five back on the outer, was up wide on the turn and finished well to win by a length.

The southerner showed ability last term as a juvenile and has improved with each outing this season. He recorded a respectable 3min 25.7 s to beat Reiver, which trailed, with Kanturk, which settled four back on the outer but was handy but wide at the 400 m, fighting on solidly for third. The warm favourite, Lo-

gan Dryham, was slow but safe to begin. He was tracking the winner when King Alba made his move at the 650 m and met a check soon after. He recovered to be very wide into the straight and ran on without looking a winning chance for fifth. Timely Play, the runnerup behind Mighty Me in last season’s Great Northern Derby, received a charmed rails run from four back on the inner, into the straight, to take out the Shipley’s Video Stakes.

The Timely Knight gelding, capably handled by Mark Smolenski, finished best to beat Light Lord, which was three back on the inner to the turn and charged to the lead at the 150 m, by a head. Lopez Mac Faber ran on late wide out to get up for third, shading the second favourite and a stablemate of the winner, Harvest Gold, which had the trail but could not quicken in the straight.