OPENING DAY AT ADDINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 30, 4 August 1939, Page 13

OPENING DAY AT ADDINGTON

EXCELLENT CARD FOR METROPOLITAN TROTS

(By "Ariki Toa.")

Principal interest tomorrow will centre in the August Handicap by reason of the fact that the class will afford several pacers a last opportunity of qualifying for the New Zealand Trotting Cup. The event can always be relied upon to furnish a first-class contest, and this year's race should prove no exception. Several outstanding improving pacers are likely to be seen out, and the favourite may be Fine Art, whose form last season was bordering on top class. He has previously displayed a penchant for the Addington course, while his ability to compass a fast-run two miles cannot be . questioned. Gallant Knight and Renown s Best are pacers sure to provide the favourite with stout opposition, and reports from the south credit both pacers with being in splendid health. De Soto was a brilliant performer a few seasons back, but he suffers from recurring unsoundness and rarely stands up to a prepara-1 tion nowadays. Plutus and King's Warrior are a pair on the back mark that should attract support, King's Warrior being a very lit horse. SMART SPRINTERS. The International Handicap embraces most of the best sprinters in commission, but should Colonel Grattan start there is little likelihood of the public looking further for a favourite. He is definitely one of the most improved horses in the Dominion, and his record of six firsts, three seconds, and two thirds in his last eleven starts speaks volumes for his ability. He is partial to short distances, and fit and well it will be a surprise if he fails to secure some of the prize-money. Ironside has done a lot of work in the north recently, and he will enter into calculations, as will Blair Athol, a fine beginner and a rare sticker. Icevus is nicely placed in the handicap, and King's Play, Parisienne, and Lucky Jack possess the qualities to effect a surprise. The unhoppled trotters can always be relied upon to provide plenty of interest, and the Introductory and Stewards' Handicaps should prove no exception.' In the latter event Peggotty s and Wahnooka should provide great exhibitions of this gait from the back mark. Captain Bolt, who will be coupled with Wahnooka, is also a fine exponent of trotting, and the coupling may find most favour with backers. Blue Logan and Nell Volo are very capable performers. In a small field of five in the Queen Mary Handicap, the logical favourite is Marsceres, whose form over a period has been most consistent. At the corresponding meeting last year he registered four firsts and a second in five starts, and he is nicely placed tomorI row to extend his already good record. I Horse Power and Sea Gift may be the best of the others. • Southern Chief, as the result of two victories at his last two starts, may be the public choice in the Trial Handicap, and his chances look bright. Great Divide, King Potts, and Acuity look.the dangers, but the race is full of possibilities. FORM AND CARD. Betting will be on the win-and-place system, and the following may be fancied: — Introductory Handicap.—Swift Guy, Swordsman, Escalade Advance Handicap.—Harold Guy Loyal Pat. Salalon. Queen Mary Handicap.—Marsceres. Horse Power. August Handicap.—Fine Art, Gallant Knight, King's Warrior. Stewards' Handicap.—Captain BoltWahnooka bracket, Blue Logan, Nell Volo. Trial Handicap.—Southern Chief, King Potts, Acuity. Selwyn Handicap.—Great Jewel, Windsor Lass, Marlene. International Handicap.—Colonel Grattan, Ironside, King's Play. The acceptances are:— 11.30 INTRODUCTORY HANDICAP, £300; for trotters; 3.34 class; 1& miles. Escalado ser Tonee 12 Gracie Fields . scr Gentleman Joe , 24 King Franz .... scr Manna's Sou ... 24 Native Huon ... scr Swift Guy 24 Reward scr Mohican 36 Violet .Wrack .. scr Sonoma King ... 36 Aircraft 12 Tan John 36 Bill Grattan ... 12 Amonos 4S Shadeland 12 Tinvwortliy .... 48 Swordsman .... 12 Franz Derby ... 84 12.10 ADVANCE HANDICAP, £300; 2.52 class; 1% miles. College Boy scr Quest 12 Doubt scr Wee Wrack ... 12 Harold Guy scr Effle Parrish "... 24 Ivy Peterson .... scr Mankind 24 Loyal Avis scr Morewa 24 Sports Review .. scr Repeal 24 Superior Rank .. scr Salalon 2-4 Ace Hicli 12 Token 36 Loyal Pat 12 12.55 QUEEN JUARY HANDICAP, £500; 4.31 class; 2 miles. Frisco Lady .... scr Sea Gift (T.) . 12 Silver Guy ..... scr Marsceres 24 Horse Power ... 12 1.40 AUGUST HANDICAP, £750; 4.23 class; 2 miles. JEvicus .... scr Renown's Best .. 12 Nerrie's Last ... scr Bonny Azure ... 24 Rey Spec ser De Soto 24 Rocks Ahead ... scr Graham Direct .. 24 War Buoy scr Plutus 24 Fine Art 12 King's Warrior . 4S Gallant Knight .. 12 , 2.20 STEWARDS' HANDICAP, £500; for trotters--4.38 class; 2 miles. Mute Her Pilot Peter 24 Nell Volo scr Royal Romance .. 24 Norman Fox ... scr Bittersweet .. 36 Aristotle 24 Captain Bolt ... 48 Blue Logan..... 24 Peggotty 72 . Helen's Bay ... 24 Wahnooka 72 Lament 24 3.0 TRIAL HANDICAP, £300; 4.37 class; 2 miles. Acuity soi Battlefield ... i*> Gold Salute ... scr Bill B 12 Great Divide ... scr Harlequin ..... 12 Jesse Owens ... scr Treasure Bond .. 12 King Potts .... scr Kincali 12 Wee Potts scr Jackaranda 36 Worthy Need .. scr Southern Chief . 36 3.40 SELWYN HANDICAP, £350; 2.4S class; 114 miles. . Donor scr Waipahi scr Gold Salute .. scr Waitaki Power .. scr Great Jewel scr Walter Gay scr Marlene .. scr Windsor Lass .. scr Neli Grattan .. scr Donald Dhu 12 Philario scr Fremont 12 Red Pigeon .... scr Xervie's Last ... 12 Silver Guy scr Red Ranger .... 12 Subsidy scr Carver Doone ..? 24 Token scr George Rey ... 24 Toorak scr Cantata 36 4.25 INTERNATIONAL HANDICAP, £400; 2.45 class; VA miles. Bingen Palm ... scr Blair Athol ... 12 Colonel Grattan .. scr icevus 12 Frisco Boy scr King's Play ... 24 Gallant Knight .. scr Lucky Jack ... 36 Glehrossie . scr Parisienne ... 4S Ironside scr ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Curious." —The horse in question is Martara. who was sold for India atrout April, 1937. "Baker Boy."— W., £1 14s; T. 0., £1 8s; G.G., £2 3s 6d; S.S., £4 19s. "J.M."—T., £2 3s 6d; A., £2 16s. "J.G.B."—L.R., £1 8s 6d and £1 Is 6d; A.1., £6 Is and £2 0s 6d. "Funds." —The customary rule is that there is no back betting, and therefore you are not on.

The splendid class of light-harness performer engaged is a happy augury for the opening day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's August Meeting at Addington tomorrow, with which National Carnival Week commences in Christchurch, and the stage is set for a feast of first-class pacing and trotting. The fields, with the exception of the Queen Mary Handicap, in which the competitors number only five, are of solid dimensions. The meeting will be continued on Wednesday and Friday, the days in between being devoted to the C.J.C. Grand National Meeting.