METROPOLITAN TROTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 21, 25 July 1939, Page 13

METROPOLITAN TROTS

AUGUST HANDICAP.

FINE ART HIGHLY RATED

(By "Ariki Toa.")

The opening of the new light-harness term at Addington on Saturday week naturally invests the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's August Meeting with increased interest, but an additional attraction in itself will be the fact that the chief two-mile events afford several pacers further opportunities of qualifying for the New Zealand Trotting Cup, to be run at Addington in November. Two of the most-discussed horse* down to contest the August Handicap are Fine Art and Colonel Grattan, and there seems little doubt at this stage that the pair will dispute favouritism. Both horses have had a phenomenal rise to the tightest classes, and the capable manner in which they have run out two miles creates the impression that they are not likely to be troubled by long distances. There is a good deal in common between the two pacers, and one interesting point in particular is that they are each credited with covering a mile and a half in the same time, 3min 12 l-ssec. Fine Art commenced the season from a 4.40 mark, and since has registered seven firsts and four sedonds, the re-' . suit of which he is now handicapped on a 4.27 mark. He has shown to best advantage on the Addington track, and there is every reason to regard his prospects next week with optimism,. Reports from the south credit the gelding with being in first:class condition, and it will not be on this score should he fail. Colonel Grattan has been a model of consistency, and his last eight starts have yielded six firsts and two seconds. He has won over all distances, and although in some instances he has found two miles a shade too fay for him it is worthy of note that he has scoi'ed over the journey on two occasions. He opened the season on a 4.35 mark and is now back oh 4.27. As in the case of Fine Art he \i-ill require to win at least one race ai the Addington Meeting to qualify for the Cup. Another horse worthy of'"strong consideration is the American-bred Gallant Knight, whose form?over a period has been most encouraging. He has been accomplishing his tasks in a most taking manner in track trials recently, and there is a big possibility that he will upset some of the better-fancied candidates. He is one of the best-bred horses in the country, and he appears certain to further augment^ his winnings in the future. Evicus. Nervie's Last, W«r Buoy, and Rocks Ahead all possess a fine turn of speed, and they at least iwill be in the picture for the greater portion of the journey. Nervie's Last has been four times second this season, but it is possible that he would be seen to better advantage over a shorter distance. Renown's Best has been a good stakeearn er this season, and a fine illustration of her ability was furnished when she defeated Logan Derby and King's Play in the Louisson Handicap: at Addington last November, the two miles occupying 4min 17 3-ssec, which, at the time was a world's record for a mare. She is a fine stayer by Gi-attan Loyal from Renown, a more than useful trotter. Plutus is one of the smartest horses in the country over distances up to a mile and a half, but he is not a real dyed-in-the-wool stayer. He has been placed over two miles on several occasions, but requires nursing for the greater portion of the journey. De Soto is more or less unsound, but his recent track essays have er/couraged the belief that he will stand up to a preparation. At this stage a trio that may find favour are Fine Art, Ooloiiel G'rattan, and Gallant Knight. .-