NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 103, 28 October 1939, Page 21

NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP

LAWN DERBY WELL PLACED, QN BACK MARK

(By "Ariki Toa.')

The appearance of the final payments for the New Zealand Trotting Cup will stimulate interest in. this richly-endowed; lightharness event, to be run at Addington ten days hence, and particular attention will be paid to the progress of the respective candidates during the next week of training.

In order to make the Cup a true test of stamina the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club framed new conditions for the race, and as the result of the new 4.25 limit the back-marker will now concede up to v 36yds, which should allow, every horse an equal opportunity. The committee exercised its prerogative of refusing the nomination and acceptance of qualified horses, and at the final payment eliminated, two pacers in Pot Luck arid Renown's Best. However, the remaining twelve contestants represent the best available talent, while it. is interesting to note that the field includes the Australian champion Lawn Derby, who- is ' expected to arrive in the Dominion next week.

Lawn Derby, who is the. only horse in the Southern Hemisphere' to, regis-, ter better than two minutes'for a mile, makes direct appeal. He might easily have won the Trotting Cup last year but for striking interference at a crucial stage, which sent him off his balance. He had made a phenomenal run on the outside of a bunched field from the half-mile, and the pace at which he was travelling left the impression that he would have carried on to a comfortable victory.

Lawn Derby has previously won over two miles in the Dominion, annexing the President's Handicap at the Auckland Meeting in 1938 and registering 4min 17 3-ssec for the distance. On this occasion he has been let up on last year's assessment and comes in on 24yds better terms. With reasonable luck in the running he .should take a power of beating.

Fine Art's rise to Cup class has been meteoric, for at the start of last season he was handicapped on a 4.40 mark and won a race from that assessment last November. In the interim he has worked his way back to the best class by some sensational performances until he is now regarded in some quarters as certain to win ■ the big ■event. That he is at the top of his form he showed by running a, splendid second at Oamaru on Labour Day, after being the actual pacemaker for the greater portion of the journey. He will be driven by M. C. McTigue. who was successful last year -with Morello.

Should the going be on the heavy side one of the fancied candidates will be Marsceres, who has. few peers when conditions are unfavourable He qualified for the event last August with two convincing victories, and has since been given a special preparation for the two-mile contest. He is a wonderful beginner and a rare stayer, and will probably be driven by M. Holmes, who was behind Wrackler when he scored in 1930: b

Of the remaining five horses on the limit the best prospects. may ba held by Plutus and Gallant Knight. Plutus has been given a special preoaration with a view to having him right at the peak next month, and he is a quiet fancy in well-informed'circles. There is no doubt regarding his speed, but with the pace on from the start he may find the distance a shade beyond him. The same remarks apply in some measure to Gallant Knight, who has made rapid improvement this season. He has won several races over • two miles, but has yet to impress as a dyed-in-the-wool stayer, even though he is aristocratically bred, in .this direction.

Blair Athol has not shown up too well in his races this season, but it is well to remember that he has never been in the first flight of sprinters, and it is probable that he would ha\-e appreciated a longer distance. He is one of the most reliable horses in commission, and. will probably be handled by M. Stewart in the Cup. Lucky Jack won the Cup in 1937 and last year registered', a sensational performance to act as runner-up to Morello. He met with serious interference when Ironside's sulky wheel collapsed with a round to go, and at the half-mile he was well back. However, he showed a wonderful burst of speed over the concluding stages and got up to be second. According to private watches that day he covr

ered the two miles in 4min 12sec, which should have won any Cup. He has taken time to reproduce the same form but showed at Oamaru that he was not far off his peak. He will probably be driven by his trainer, R. B. Berry. . - ■.'.-' _. ; King's Play is undoubtedly the best horse in New Zealand at the moment, and his stamina has never been quesr tioned. In the early stages Of his career he was inclined to-be erratic at the start, but care and attention have eliminated this tendency, and he is now most reliable. He was ;the leading stake-earner last season, and his three appearances this term have yielded two first placings. He' lias, a' placed record of 4min 15sec ior two miles, and although he will need to' be at the peak of his form he is certain to be one of the prime fancies.... - : The list is completed by "that grand little mare Parisienne, who'is without question the greatest pacer: of her sex bred in the Dominion. She won the final of the Inter-Dominion Championships at Addington last year, and since then has established a world's racewinning record for mares by scoring at Forbury Park in 4min 15 3-ssec. She has been* given a. judicious- preparation for this race, and at her best would make matters interesting for the other competitors. She will probably be driven by D. C. Watts. It is possible that the training work next week will throw further light on the issue, but at this stage a trio likely to be favoured are Lawn Derby, Fine Art, and King's Play.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "New Zealand."—F., £2 17s; 0.J., £3 12s and £1 13s 6d; T.G., £6 8s 6d and £1 12s 6d; 8.R., £4 3s 6d and £1 10s 6d.