SPORTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 25, 30 January 1943, Page 10

SPORTING

SABU'S PROSPECTS

BACKMARKER AT TRENTHAM

(By "Binocular.")

Whereas at the December Meeting at Trentham the big race on the Wellington Trotting Club's programme attracted a field of six, of whom one did not fulfil her engagement, the Summer Handicap, the principal event on the same testing ground, next Saturday, promises to find 16 runners waging issue. Sharing the back mark are Sabu and Te Roto, who have already tried conclusions on at least four occasions this seasota. It was at the Auckland Meeting in October that Sabu brought himself very much into the limelight by winning three races. In the Jellicoe Handicap, \\ miles, he won off the front, with Te Roto, 24yds behind, unplaced, and the Man o' War gelding again scored in the Electric Handicap, 1J miles, with Te Roto third, both horses having left from the 12yds mark. On the second day Sabu added the Labour Day Handicap, 2 miles, beating Te Roto by two lengths when in receipt of 12yds from the Ashhurst-trained gelding. On ' returning south Sabu ran second to Ronald Logan in the N.Z. Sprint Championship, but was unplaced in the Metropolitan Handicap, Te Roto filling the same role also. This pair were off, the back mark on that occasion, and they will thus have a further opportunity to test one another in the Summer Handicap at Trentham today week. May Improve.—Early in his career Diamond Jim, who figures in the Wc~ burn Handicap at the Wellington Trotting Meeting, was given classic outings, and at his first start as a three- j year-old he was bracketed with Walter Moore in the New Brighton Chal- ! lenge Stakes. However, whereas Diamond Jim has been a disappointment Walter Moore wound up the term with four successive wins. Diamond Jim did not race last season, but at the Cambridge Meeting' in December he showed improvement by running third to Suffragette and Escobar in the Cambridge Handicap. To Return.—At her first start this season the aged Jack Potts mare Dianus was backed down to a cramped price in the Sharpe Handicap at the Wellington Spring Meeting, and she won very nicely. On that showing she promised to go a long way, but she has failed in her five subsequent starts. However, it is not improbable thatjshe will again show her appreciation^ the roomy Trentham course. , '&ss&> Duly Scored.—At the ®offlOLgton ' Trotting Club's Summer Meetftig in December Motto was accorded Wo outings, and in his second start the Rey de Oro gelding showed a torrent of speed only to compound in the straight. Immediately following his return south he won the Domain Trotting Handicap at Waikouaiti on grass very comfortably, and he should show improved form at his second visit to Trentham.