NOT YET EXTENDED

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 137, 6 December 1935, Page 6

NOT YET EXTENDED

BIG AUTHOR'S PROMISE

(Special to the "tveniin Post.")

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day,

Big Author's widely-anticipated sue-, cess under saddle at Forbury Park qualified him for the limit, of the Mace Memorial Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club's Meeting tomorrow He has done everything asKed of him like a champion, and there is no reason to doubt his staying ability We have yet to see him extended since he has been trained by O. E. Hooper A big, carty gelding, Big Author is yet a good pacer, and one bred to co two miles in the best of company He is by Author Dillon, 4min 21 4-ssec the champion of his time, from Dot Robbins, by Prank Bobbins (imp) from a mare by Geo. M. Patchen a son of Rothschild. The double at New Brighton is not beyond Big Author Apart from Big Author and Dollie Derby, the saddle horses for the New Brighton Meeting are much of a muchness, and not much at that. Some of them are genuine antiques, and others arc merely no class. If one had to make distinctions, the best of the others might be regarded as All Sunshine, Ayr Lass, Betty Wrack, and Great Thought.

Mr. J. R. McKenzie's American-bred stallion Gallant Knight is an acceptor for the Improvers' Handicap at New Brighton First trained at the trotting gait, Gallant Knight showed an inclination to pace, and he has been trained as a "side-wheeler" ever since He is a grand type of horse, and his racing career will be watched with particular interest by breeders who H ave ual^, eatl y. Patronised him. Although double-gaited. he is the most royally-bred trotting stallion now in service, and that breeders have recognised this is shown by the fact that Worthy Queen, 2min 3 3-ssec, the New Zealand trotting champion. Escapade 4mm 27 l-ssec, champion trotter of her time, and Nell Volo, 4min 26 2-!>sec the Auckland champion, have been mated with Gallant Knight this season

A LIKELY IMPROVER. FoL Luc£ changed ownership after the New Zealand Derby, and he will be raced by M. Holmes for Mr H Stafford. Pot Luck will be one of the favourites lor the Improvers' Handicap. He has done most of his training at New Brighton, and goes better there than elsewhere.

Maltravers has not raced since the baplmg Stakes, in which he ran a fine race and was. just touched off for four Hi money' by Valdor, who has proved a good three-year-old •by his two successes this season. Maltravers has received a careful preparation, and looks a classy individual. The maiden trotters engaged at New Brighton are mostly well-tried horses who have reached an age that suggests them as something below the average. Among those who have done little enough racing still to be considered good prospects, in their class at least, are Royal Romance and Winnow.

Royal Romance had her first race at Methven in October, and she trotted solidly to fill second.place to Bon Chance. She next raced at Oamaru on Labour Day, and beat all except Calm Queen in the maiden event. She has impressed more by her solidiarity than her speed, and she will have the services of that astute .reinsman/'M. Holmes; who has been "on the wings of a dove" since the beginning of November.

Winnow raced for the first time last season, and in seven starts she could not manage a place. This looks far from promising, but the truth is that she would not repeat her track work, which was good enough to win. any maiden' event in the land. Winnow recently worked a mile and a half in 3min, 30sec, and only in very rare eases:have winners of maiden races had tb, go "as fast as this. Winnow, who is an aged mare by Sonoma Harvester from a Nelson Bingen mare, is trained "by E. C. McDermott.

Grand Mogul's connections have

taken the judicious course in leaving the Mace Memorial Handicap alone. In this event Grand Mogul was set to 3ive Big Author 36yds, and, good horse though he is, he did not look quite capable of the task. Grand Mogul is well placed in the Bowhill Handicap, of a mile and a quarter, and it looks as though Subsidy will again prove to be the hardest for him to beat.

There is a strong field for the Wainom Handicap, but when speculators get down to business they. are bound to pay most attention to Casanova and Carrageen. The former has gradually become solid, and his connections do not hide the fact that they consider Casanova one of the very best pacers bred at Durbar Lodge. The colt ran a great race in the Derby under conditions that'plainly had him in trouble, and it would seem that firm going is all he needs to make good. Carrageen is a-horse of a different coat. His form has been impossible to follow, but his track work shows that he is good. There must be some explanation when a horse trains like a trump and races like a moderate The Derby winner Double Great has been rid of his most dangerous opponent in the Saltaire Handicap by the non-acceptance of Sports Review, who is the best novice pvoduced this season. Double Great is a perfect racehorse, and the right kind to go on winning. Bay Flier won exceptionally well at Forbury Park, but lie is not the best of beginners, and in this respect both he and Gaillard will be at a disadvantage with Double Great. Valdor is in the same race. There are no potential stayers of distinction among the unhoppled trotters who will have to go two miles in the New Brighton Handicap. It is almost certain to be a falsely-run race, in the event of which Sister Mary and Isabel Patch are entitled to most consideration. Prince Harvester may be a surprise ' packet, but when Sister Mary finished fourth at Oamaru on Labour Day she was seriously checked in the straight, or she may have won.