ICEVUS IS POPULAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 22

ICEVUS IS POPULAR

TOORAK BADLY PLACED

; (Special from "Irvington.") CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 26. The manner in which. Icevus scored at New Brighton pointed to further wins coming his way. J. Young has spent a great deal: of .time in instilling confidence in Icevus away from the barrier, and :a big improvement has been noted. r ■'-, Toorak has been badly placed in the handicaps in his. recent races, with the result that he has failed to extend his winning record. However, he has been • responsible for some excellent performances; and the first time he is favourably placed: he should be seen in a better light. . . Not a great deal has been asked of Diversion since she last raced, and she has taken on a much brighter and more robust appearance. This • mare appears to be a difficult pacer to keep' in form, and ' she needs careful handling to be seen at her best. When Homeward Lass first began working at Addington she attracted attention as a likely trotter, but since then she has developed the habit of breaking badly for no apparent reason, and she will need to improve a great deal to pay her way in Canterbury. Although she has been located at Addington for a few weeks, Gold Tinge ran badly at New Brighton last Saturday, and it will not surprise if. she is given another . change of trainers. She is a hard mare to get right, and even harder to make race generously. . Since he returned to the tracks Gold. Country has . failed to get into the money in his few races,.but he has been noticed always close up to the leaders, and it will not surprise to find this one-time good performer back among the winners in the near future.. .In all his recent races Guy Junior has been pulling too hard to stay on, and until he learns to go more kindly he is not likely togo a strong two miles. There are few better sprinters in commission, but he is becoming a difficult, horse to manage in a field. CHANGE FOR MOCAST. Until recently trained at Belfast by C. S. Donald, Mocast has been given a change of stables and he is now under J. Davidson at Addington. This pacer's local form has not been suggestive of any great improvement, and he will have the hardest part.to do to pay his way in Canterbury, but he has raced

well at Epsom, where the different going and racing in the opposite direction to local tracks has suited him better. : ' , -.., • Grattan Girl, : a maiden ■ who has shown a good deal .of ability at different times' on the clay track, at. Addington but-has failed to succeed in her-few attempts'in public, has-been sent north to'enter"F...J. Smith's. Takanini stable, and she has impressed as a pacer who will .'-provei an early, winner in the Auckland Province. A pleasing feature of. Air -Flow's New Brighton success was • that she stayed on; much better; than is usual with her, while she was also devoid of the numerous boots and weights she carried in all her early races, suggesting a big improvement in her action;: Gaillard has not been*on the tracks since he last raced," but he is not being allowed to slip'back in condition, as he is .doing, his/usual amount of road work. Although still . showing occa: sional signs of -soreness, his legs appear to.be better now than for a long time, andr there is every indication that he is becoming more sound; There is no doubt that if he survivtes the necessary work he is destined to reach the best classes.