ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 48, 26 February 1938, Page 22

ARMSTRONG MEMORIAL

There is form in plenty for the R- A. Armstrong Memorial Handicap, the principal event to be decided at Hutt 1 ark next Saturday, when the Wellington Trotting Club will hold its Autumn At New Brighton last Saturday Blair Athol ran second to Renown's Best. It was a poor second, but Renowns Best has been in superb form lately. Blaii Athol finished second in the Islington Handicap at Addington on New Years Day in 4min 28 l-sscc, and was third in the John Hole Handicap at Timaru. It took Plutus and Renowns Best to beat him in the Mace Memorial Handicap at New Brighton in December and at the New Zealand Cup Meeting he won brilliantly over two miles from Renown's Best and Eighteen Carat in 4min 22 3-ssec. That was a very fine effort. .. -i , „-„t, Frisco Lady is a particularly highclass pacer up to a mile and a halt, but over longer journeys she has not been outstanding since she reached her present company. Her best performance over two miles this season was to finish second to Ironside in the Bollard Memorial Handicap at Hutt Park in September. The track was slow, and she registered 4min 43sec. METHVEN CUP WINNER. Morello has not raced over two miles this season, but he gave proof of stamina by defeating Reporter in the Methven Cup last term. He has given Renown's Best two great battles recently, and when last they met, from the same mark, he ran her to half a length over a mile and a quarter in 2min 41 4-ssec. Fernbrook Lass and Willie Derby followed Nervie's Last home in the Alexandra Handicap at Epsom this month. Agile returned to the winning list in the Boxing Day Handicap, of a mile and a half, at Ashburton, pacing the mile ,and a half on a heavy track in 3min 24 3-ssec. He ran a sound two miles when he finished second to Rongomai in the John Hole Handicap at Washdyke in January, registering 4min 31 l-ssec. Kewpie's Triumph is a solid stayer on any kind of track, and he recently finished second to Kenworthy in the principal two-mile event at Epsom. DIVIDED GOOD ONES. Lady Fame has been unplaced at her last three starts, but before that she showed consistent form, and her best performance over two miles was to divide King's Play and Big Author in the Le Lievre Handicap at the New Zealand Metropolitan November Meeting. Recess has run some good races this season, but not over two miles. The longest distance, however, is not beyond her, for last season at Hutt Park she finished second to Bonny Azure in the same event, the R. A. Armstrong Memorial Handicap, in 4min 28 sec. She has won over two miles, and is a determined finisher.

Nervie's Last, who put up an unhoppled record of 4min' 21 l-ssec at Addington in August, has a' very consistent record for placings. From 60 yards he won the Alexandra Handicap at Epsom this month from Fernbrook Lass and Willie Derby. He can handle all sorts of going, and is a splendid beginner.

Nominal favourites are Blair Athol, Lady Fame, and Nervie's Last.