TROTTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 83, 10 April 1939, Page 13

TROTTING

KING'S PLAY SCORES

ADDINGTON TROTS

VAN DERBY FAILS TWICE

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

CHRISTCHURCH, April 8

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club had ideal conditions for the opening of its Easter Meeting, and there was some exceptionally good racing. A new condition was attached to the chief two-mile event to ensure it being run at a fast pace. The stake was £750, with an additional £250 if the winner's time was not bettered in any other event. The time, 4min 21sec, was equalled, but as it was not bettered the stake will be increased to £1000. The Auckland pacer, Van Derby, showed wonderful speed in two races, but failed to keep to his, gait -in either of them.

In the Wilkin Handicap there was an inquiry into interference with Bill B. by Van Derby, but it was decided to take no further action.

GERFALCON UNLUCKY.

Listowel, Bill Grattan, and Gerfalcon went off badly in the Preliminary Handicap. Mohican soon took charge, but broke after two furlongs, Swift Guy going on from Violet Wrack, Indolent, Mohican, Prince Harvester, and Shadeland. Shadeland took the lead from Violet Wrack and Indolent along the back, where Gerfalcon was moving up. He was third to Shadeland and Swift Guy three furlongs from home. Shadeland broke nearing the straightI', and though Gerfalcon finished strongly. Swift Guy beat him by a head. Four lengths back, Indolent stalled off Listowel by a head.

LED ALL THE WAY.

Though Great Jewel led all the way, the Fendalton Handicap was a ■ fine race, the field being in a bunch most of the journey. The rest were in close , attendance on Great Jewel when they settled down, with Three Belts and Moana Tama handy, while Agil-, ity and Golden Moness headed the others. Acuity; after tangling at the start, also moved up to be handy after six furlongs. Quest finished well but Great Jewel stalled him oq by a head. Great Divide, two lengths back, beat Moana Tama by half a length. Jovial, Twenty Grand, Salalon, Acuity, and Parauri were next.

VAN DEEBY BREAKS,

Token headed Mankind after going two furlongs in the Wilkin Handicap, with Windsor Lass and Labourman nexi. Van Derby then put in a sprint and was close to the front lot with half, the journey gone, but he broke badly, tailing the field a furlong further on. However, he commenced a great run on the outside at the three furlong's. Labourman led Jesse Owens and Token to the straight, with Marlene and Van Derby closing up. A little further on Marlene took charge and she stalled off Token by half a length, with Van Derby half a length away. Labourman and Bill B. were next.

KING'S PLAY IN FORM.

In the Easter Handicap the field ran in single file for the first mile. It was a good race till three furlongs from home, where King's Play was a length in front of Bonny Azure and Plutus, with Ironside, Graham Direct, and Parisienne in line close up. King's Play led Parisienne and Plutus to the straight, King's Play winning decisively. Parisienne tired and Plutus beat her home by two lengths. There was a gap to Lucky Jack, clear of Bonny Azure, Graham Direct, and Ironside, these three being almost in line.

SECOND ON END

In the Belfast Handicap Colonel Grattan took charge after going a furlong, with Isabel T)erby, Marsceres, Our War, .Donald Dhu, and Southern Smile next. There was no further change for a mile and a half. Donald Dhu then moved up and three furlongs from home he was just behind Colonel Grattan and Marsceres, with a gap to Our War, Southern Smile, and Big Author. In the run down the straight Colonel Grattan easily held his place and won by three lengths from Donald Dhu, while two lengths back Marsceres held off Our War by a head.

PEGGOTTY TRIUMPHS

The five horses on the limit of the Autumn Handicap raced in line for nearly a furlong, when Walter Wrack and Amonos dropped back, Royal Romance going on from Mute and Franz Derby. This was the order at the end of half a mile, where Peggotty had made up a lot of ground in fifth place, Captain Bolt and Pilot Peter also being handy. Mute led round the turn, with Peggotty, Captain Bolt, and Pilot Peter close up, while Aristotle was putting in a fast run. Once in line for the post Peggotty took the lead, and in a good finish she stalled off Aristotle by half a length, with Captain Bolt close up, just in .front of Mute.

AN OVERDUE SUCCESS

The Express Handicap produced a great finish between four horses. Half a mile from home Icevus dasheq. up fast and'joined Dark Hazard and Ferry Post with Nell Grattan and Fine Art next, while Horse Power and Sandusky were improving their positions. Ferry Post, Fremont, and Icevus dropped out in the straight and in a great finish Horse Power beat Fine Art by a head, with Nell Grattan and Sandusky heads away.

VAN DERBY AGAIN FAILS

Van Derby, a raging favourite, spoilt his chance in the Oxford Handicap by breaking badly at, the start and again when in the lead, less than a furlong from home. Aircraft took charge from Morewa, with Connenora, Esplendor, and Walter Gay next Van Derby started to move up fast at the half-mile and he was second to Morewa when Aircraft retired, three furlongs from home, Walter Gay and Esplendor being next. Van Derby ran past Morewa when the straight was reached and seemed to have "the result in safe keeping when he broke. Lightning Lady came with a late rush to beat Morewa by a length,.Walter Gay being a length, away, with a gap to Van Derby, who headed the others.