FAVOURITES REMAIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 60, 8 September 1937, Page 15

FAVOURITES REMAIN

BOLLARD MEMORIAL

WHAT THE FORM INDICATES

(By "Ribbonwood.")

The few that dropped out at- acceptances made little difference to the complexion of the Bollard Memorial Handicap, and U. Scott is in no danger of losing his position as a firm favourite over Lady Fame and Gold Dredge. U. Scott, who is now a six-year-old, has the record of a pacer outstanding in his class, and he can stay as well as show brilliant speed. He has the reputation of not always be^ng reliable, but he is a genuine, game racehorse once on the journey, and in eleven races last season he was five times first and four times placed. At, Addington in August he won over a mile and a quarter after a slow beginning in 2min 41 3-ssec—time seldom approached considering his selfimposed handicap—and his win over two miles was quite as impressive. By all the accepted standards, U.. Scott should be a Cup horse. BELATED TWO-MILEIt. Lady Fame won the August Handicap on a slow track at Epsom in 4min 34sec. She won from some good twomilers, including Nervie's Last, and has evidently improved in staying power. Last February she finished third to Star Pronto and Lucky Jack in the Otahuhu Handicap, a good effort against such horses as these. In the same race Frisco Lady was fourth. The Jack Potts mare has yet to prove herself a true stayer, but she is young enough, and her only twomile race at Addington held distinct promise. In the meantime, however, she is preferred over shorter distances and in firm going. Gold Dredge, whose two-mile credentials are above suspicion, must have a good chance on actual form. At the Waikato Meeting in December she finished second to King's Guide in the President's Handicap, and at Auckland in February she/finished second to a good one in Lucky Jack. In April she won over two miles in; heavy going, among the unplaced lot- being Lady Fame.\ Gold Dredge knows nothing' wrong. ' SELDOM TWICE ALIKE. Casanova has been an in-and-out customer, and from 60yds in a two-mile event at New Brighton on Saturday he was unplaced. He was set a big task, however, as Blair Athol was in the field. Casanova won at Addington in 4min 23 3-ssec. and was second to U. Scott in 4min 27 2-ssec. On the handicaps he will find U. Scott just as hard to beat again. Iraq's only placed performance for some considerable time was his second

to Frisco Lady over a mile and a quarter at Addington. In subsequent races he went badly,, and tehwr been only fair at two miles. At one stage, though, he looked like reaching the b6ISt isTffi time since Ironside was Memorial Handicap at Auckland in June held just a shade'of encouragement. Southern Smile and Navy Blue are others whose recent form has not furthered their reputations as twomilers, and there was nothing inspiring about Little Nelson's exhibitions at Addington last month. It is a field full of possibilities, especially if U. Scott should make his usual- slow beginning, but the possibility of this may not deter backers from sorting out tJ. Scott, Lady Fame, and. Gold- Dredge^