N.Z. TROTTING CUP

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 36, 6 November 1943, Page 7

N.Z. TROTTING CUP

Review Of Today’s Fields At Addington (By Overcheck.)

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting opens today. The Cup field is particularly strong, and never before have the claims of the various competitors been so keenly debated. It is generally thought that the winner will come from among the horses contesting their first New Zealand Cup, but should one of the older brigade score, that one may prove to be Haughty. Betting will be wln-and-place. The card 1b ; r Of those on scratch and 12 yards in the Spring Handicap, Cockney and Imperial Jade look the most likely. The former ran second to Worthy Treasure last month over 13 furlongs, and now meets this horse on 36 yards better terms. Imperial Jade has not lived up to her breeding, but showed somewhat improved form last season, ending up with a dead-heat, with Eehoist at the South Auckland meeting in May. Imperial Jade now receives another 12 yards. Sea Max makes a stronger appeal than either Robie or Range Finder. At the recent New Brighton meeting Sea Max failed to gain a place. She lost ground at the start, but had ruii Into a winning position about three furlongs front home, but then broke —a most unusual thing for her. She should not be condemned for her failure on that occasion. aud she may again be favourite. Robie lias a record of 4.33 2-5, and has more than once defeated Home Guard when conceding the latter 24 yards; now Home Guard has to concede 36 yards. Eehoist baa been racing consistently and must bo respected. Ordnance raced well last season, but may not yet be at. nis best. Favourites may be Sea Max, Cockney and Eehoist. Of those in the Victoria Handicap, Gold Flight at Addington'in August won the Islington Handicap from Sports Guide aud Oregon, Sports Guido conceding the other pair 4>B yards. The las-named now meets the others on much better terms. Lady Dawn was a winner at New Brighton over 13 furlongs, while Tokalon won over a mile and a half. Both would appeal more over a shorter distance. Highland Scott and Burnham have each demonstrated ability to go two miles, the latter regis taring 4.26 1-5 when he ran third to Golden River and Courier at Wellington in April. The order of favouritism' may be Sports Guido. Oregon and Highland Scott. In the small field for the Riccarton Stakes the two likely to find most support will no doubt be Imperial Lady and Plunder Bar. ' Tho Cup promises to be the greatest In the history of the race, as never before has such a strong and evenly matched field been entered. The records of the past point to the winner coming from the younger and improving horses —Pacing Power, Shadow Maid, Parshall and Countless. On stamina the first-named has ths stoutest credentials and, providing he strikes a dry track lie is going to be a particularly hard horse to beat. In a recent trial over 13 furlongs Shadow Maid defeated several other cup horses, running tho distance in 3.27 3-5 seconds, wjiich is only 2-sth of a second outside the winning race record established by Gold Bar. Pacing Power, who was slow away, was a length away, and had the distance been greater would probably have defeated Shadow Maid. As between Countless and Parshall, the former may be favoured, and those who support him have a strong second string in Loyal Rey. Pacing Power, too, will form a bracket with Springfield Globe, if both go to the post. Berry has usually held the reins over Pacing Power, but he will have to drive Springfield Globe as he is the owner. It is not certain who will pilot Pacing Power, and the. absence of his usual driver may be a handicap. Of the older division, Haughty may prove to be the best, but it is thought that the greatest support will bo accorded Pacing Power-Springfield Globe bracket, Shadow .Maid, and . the Countless-Loyal Roy bracket. If the going is firm it will occasion no surprise to find new records being established notwithstanding that 4.14 was broken by the first three horses last year. Of those engaged in the Canterbury Handicap, Gold Chief, Watcher. Catalpa, Follow Me, and. Ronald Logan are ail lilie.lv to be well supported. In his early racing days Gold Chief gave promise of reaching high class, but luck has been against him. He raced only on four occasions' last year, winning, one race and being third in another. In the latter he followed Braw Lass and Poker Face home in tbc Trial Handicap, recording 4.21 1-3. Watcher was successful at Addington in August, Follow Me being second. Both started from the same mark. Catalpa was twice placed at Addington in August, registering 4.21 2-5. Follow' Me has won two races this season and been placed in two others. In the Introductory Handicap in August he defeated Sports Guide by half a length when in receipt of 24 yards. Ronald Logan has shown his best form over shorter distances, but he is possessed of a great burst of speed, and on breeding there is no reason why he should not see out. two miles in the moderate company he will be racing against today. It is an open race, but Gold Clief, Catalpa and Ronald Logan may have most friends. Manian. Dark Hazard, Douglas MeElwyn and Within are four likely to be in strong demand in the Dominion Handicap. Tn the Avon Handicap at Addington in August, Margin. 60yds., Manian, 21yds., and Dark Hazard, 36yds.. finished in that order, a neck and a head being the margins between the throe. Now Margin has to concede Manian 60yds. aud Dark Hazard 4Syds. Witbin raced in improved form last season though she won only one race of one mile and a half. Her last placed performance was in the High Class Handicap at Addington, in April, when she ran third to Jimmy Drusus and Douglas McElwyn, to each of whom she was conceding 12yds. She has not raced for some time, and this may prove to be a handicap in a race of tivo miles. Royal Worthy has the speed but cannot 'be depended upon to race solidly. Margin is set a difficult task from 72yds. Favourites may be Dark Hazard. Manian and Douglas McElwyn. This is a strong field in the Empire Handicap, and Integrity, Purveyor, Happy Man, Loyal Friend and Braw Lass have all displayed form entitling them to respect. Integrity was not out of a plnce last season, and has already recorded two thirds this season over 10 furlongs. Purveyor won' over two miles in August and has been placed in the other two races he has contested. Happy Mau separated Indian Clipper and Parshall at Addington last mouth, while Loyal Friend, and Braw Lass finished first and second in the Advance Handicap in August. Integrity, Happy Man and Purveyor may lie preferred. The Metropolitan Challenge Stakes promises to be .another great race, but on past form the best supported may be Acropolis—Trusty Scott bracket, Bel Hamed, Bay Machine. Paul Collette and Scottish Emperor. At Addington in August Paul Collette created somewhat of a surprise by* capturing the Canterbury Throe-year-old Stakes from Acropolis, and Bel Hamed, but lie failed later at Wellington, losing ground at the start through boring across the course. Bay Machine will represent Auckland, but has yet to prove Ins ability to head off the southern horses. The order of favouritism may bo Acropolis—Trusty Scott bracket. Bel Hamed, and Scottish Emperor. The fields are:—

13.0, SPRING HANDICAP, of £500; trotters: -1.51 class. Two miles.—Chateau, Cockney. Imperial Jade, scr.; Judgment. Windsor Lad, 12yds. behind: Range Finder, Robie, Sea Max, 24yds. behind; Eehoist. 36yds. behind; Ordnance, Worthy Treasure, -ISvds. behind: Home Guard, 60yds. behind: Allie Audubon. 120yds. behind. Bracket: Chateau nnd Worthy Treasure.

12.40— VICTORIA HANDICAP, of £5OO : 4.40 class. Two miles.—Gold Flight, Highland Scott. Ladv Dawn. Loyal King. Peters Find, 'scr.; Tenpennyibit, Oregon, 12yds. behind; Great News, Jack Spratt. Sports Guide. Stylish Wilkes, 21yds. behind; Burnham, Tokalon, 36yds, behind.

1 ,sr ItICCARTON STAKES, of £550: for tliree-year-ohls. One mile and a quarter. Imperial Ladv, Plunder Bar, Extra Special, Bonny Bridge, Navy Queen, Loonin. 2 1(1— NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP, of £5100: -1.27 class. Two miles. Bayard set Hardy Oak ■■■ 1Bronze Eagle . scr Pacing Power . PI Hl.sk v Sound . scr Peler Smith .. 1- <;<,!.] Bar ser Springfield Parshall ser Globe 12 Shadow Maid . ser Loyal Key ... *- Countless .... 12 Nelson Eddy . 21 Fine Art 12 Haughty .... <A> Brackets: Dusky Sound, Fine Art., and Peter Smith; Countless and Loyal Ley,

Hardy Oak and ■ Haughty; Pacing Power and Springfield Globe. 3.0— CANTERBURY HANDICAP, of £600: 4.36 class. Two miles.—Courier. Crucible, Gold Chief, Jacose, Star Ace. Belfast Jack, scr.; Mongolian, Watcher, 12yds. behind; Catalpa, Erinack, Follow Me, Josette, Kinawley. 24yds. behind; Gold Bank. Ron-, aid. Lqgan. Worthy Cross, 36yds. behind. Brackets: Courier and Josette, Crucible and Belfast Jack, Erinack and Worthy Cross. 3.45—

DOMINION TROTTING HANDICAP, of £1800; 4.37 class. Two miles.—Timworthy, Bomber, scr.: Manian. Parrfeh Guide, 12yds. behind: Bush Laddie. Dark Hazard, Jimmy Drusus, Witbin, 24yds. behind; Douglas McElwyn. Mohican, 36yds. behind: Gerfalcon. Royal Worthy. 60yds. behind: Margin, 72yds. behind. Bracket: Bomber nnd Within'. 4.30—

EMPIRE HANDICAP, of £750.: '4.32 class. Two miles.—Happy Man, Integrity, Lament (T.j, Purveyor. Regal, scr.: Golden River, Battle Colours, Braw Lass, Gold Pot, Lady Carol. Loyal Friend. Special Edition. 12yds. behind: Accountant, Indian Clipper. Lady Milne, 24yds. behind; Great Blaze, Pleasant,Guy. 36,vds. behind; Joan Conquest. 48yds. behind. Brackets: Accountant and Great Blaze, Lady Milne and Joan Conquest. 5.15—

METROPOLITAN CHALLENGE STAKES, of £900: three and four-year-olds. One mile aud a quarter.—Na live Scott, Paul Collette. Netiierby, Acropolis, Bay Machine. Bel Hamed, Scottish Emperor. Imperial Lady, scr.: Gold Sheik, Wee Logan. Gold Peg, Radical, Nola Scott. In tbo Mood. Lucky Gem, Trusty Scott. Volusta, Pocket Book, Golden Shadow. Voiferra. 24yds. behind. Brackets: Acropolis nnd Trusty Scott, Bel named and Netherby, Scottish Emperor and Nola Scott, Voltcrra and Volustn.

Nominations for events at the Levin Racing Club's spring meeting, to be held at Otnkl on November 20, close at 8 p.m. on Monday.