ASHBURTON FORM

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 135, 10 June 1942, Page 8

ASHBURTON FORM

BURT SCOTT'S FAILURE

Brilliant track work at Addington by Burt Scott prior to the Ashburton Trotting Club's Meeting' brought him into favour on the day of the races, but though his performance was a good one, he- was beaten 100 yards from home. The start of the race, the AllAged Stakes, was quite good, the backmarkers in particular getting away fairly well, and the field bunched up very quickly, with Burt Scott (V. Albom) in a position at the rear,of the field. As the race progressed it. was obvious, that some of the horses behind the leaders would be in trouble, and V. Alborn elected to go round the field and assume the ~ lead, thereby, putting a breakon the. most dangerous of his opponents, including Ronald Logan, who was pocketed. The judgment of Burt Sqott's driver was borne out when the business end of the race was reached, for a number of the fancied candidates. were, well and truly pocketed with no hope of extricating themselves. The move did not prove successful, however, for Loyal Rey, patiently handled, carried too many guns for the tiring favourite and went on to win full of running in the smart time of 3min 16sec—good going on a dead track. Over the final 100 yards, Burt Scott was a spent force, his long legs being hopelessly out of control, and he was still blowing half an hour after the race. Mac's Jimmy.—Backed down' to 2-1 in the betting in the Mayfield Handicap at Ashburton, Mac's Jimmy gave her supporter's a poor run for their money, breaking down during the' running of the race. Veterinary assistance was sought, and it was found that she had been nursing her left hindleg, with the result that the "strain imposed upon the other hind-leg had taken its toll. She was left in the south-to have lier leg "fired." It is. anticipated that she willbe fit to rejoin D. "Greenhorn's team at the Hutt in about a month's time. It was bad luck for her owner, Mr. D. G. Fraser, of . Petone, that the mare could: not be given a more searching trial before she went south for the race, the state of the track at Hutt Park being against fast work for some weeks with the exception of one day on which the Maxegin mare was given a solid work-out. Disappointed.—Last season the Grattan—Nerissa gelding Reservist proved most consistent, and when he ran a good race at Oamaru at his second outing for the current term his immediate prospects were favourably considered. He was a quiet fancy at Ashburton, ranking 6-7 in the betting, and a nice dividend would have been forthcoming; but, as so often happens, the scoop went astray, Reservist rearing up at the start and taking nq part in the race. Newcomers.—Two additions to the team of H. Styles at Petone are Lois Axworthy and a three-year-old pacer. The former's ©wner-trainer, Mr. E. T. Mac Donald, has gone into camp. The latter, who is owned by Mr. S. W. Kelly, is a good type of a horse, and he is to be converted to the trotting gait. .Stake Winners, —Josedale Grattan, winner of the New Zealand Cup, headed the list of winners prior to toe Ashburton Trotting Meeting, but the £100 won by Burt Scott by his second in the All-Aged Stakes places him at the head of, the winning table for the season with £2360,:. or £75 in advance of Josedale Grattan. Springfield Globe is third with £2118, and then follow Haughty £1786, Clockwork' £1705. Nelson Eddy £1475, Certissirnus £1450, and Pacing Power £1437. Van Derby Sold. —Van Derby, who took a record of 2min 0 3-ssec for a mile at Auckland two years ago and I then returned to Tasmania, has been sold by Mr. E. Tatlow to Messrs. G W. and H. W. Brooks, of South Australia, a State that now appears to be the centre of trotting breeding in Australia. As a sire Van Derby has been particularly successful in siring pacers, but some of his stpck have won as trotters. Up to a recent date he had been represented by 14 winners. A Smart Sort.—-Winner of the Mayfield Handicap off 60yds at Ashburton, Royal Worthy' was always going like a winner, and he had the measure of the opposition half a mile from home He went on to register an easy win in the smart time of 3min 22sec on.a dead track At his previous start, at Addington, he had also won in fast time, and must be graded as one of the best trotters in commission. Tentative. —At a meeting of the committee of the New Zealand Metropoliton Trotting Club it was decided to draw up a programme for a single day's racing in August, the stakes to oe bigger than were offered last year The programme is to be framed with, the object of giving owners and trainers some idea of the stakes and the classes of the different events, but it is to be cleai'ly understood that any arrangements are only tentative, and subject to the approval of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the military authorities,- and - the -Trotting; Con-