WELLINGTON TROTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 64, 13 September 1943, Page 8

WELLINGTON TROTS

A SUCCESSFUL DAY

TOTE HANDLES £58,000

With the weather taking a turn for the better, a large crowd was attracted to the Trentham racecourse on Satur-| day for the Spring Meeting of the Wellington Trotting Club. Unfortunately the course was holding, but highly interesting racing was witnessed, some of the finishes being particularly close. Favourites had an indifferent innings, only one fulfilling expectations, and one complete surprise resulted in a dividend of over half a century being posted, David Derby returning his 'handful of. backers the magnificent reward in the Belmont Handicap. Despite the reverses, speculation was brisk, and £58,437 10s was handled by the totalisator staff, an increase of £10,911 over last year. The southern owner Mr. J. RMcKenzie experienced an excellent innings, winning three races. May Scott took the Sharpe Handicap, Scottish Emperor the Wellington Stakes, and Light Brigade the Railway Handicap. The success of Scottish Emperor> in 'the three-year-old classic was fully merited, for he was at the rear throughout the running right to the straight entrance, but he then finished very courageously to wear down Acropolis, the favourite. The pair were two lengths clear of Plunder Bar, who proved a little lively-at the starting point, with Paul Collette. winner of the Canterbury Stakes, beaten into fourth. It gave Mr. McKenzie his third win in the classic since 1937.

AN ERRATIC COURSE

Favourite for both the Wilford Memorial and the Wellington Handicap, Sports Guide threw away a win^ ning chance by his tendency to bore out under pressure. In the distance race he was in the van practically throughout, but in the run to the post he veered over towards the outer fence, and Black Label, who had followed the shorter route along the rail, beat him by half a length, with Folow Me weakening into third. Sports Guide showed the same tendency m the sprint event that wound up the programme and it almost appeared that he would • ruin Follow Me s chance also. However, the latter overcame the check to put in a spirited burst and beat the favourite quite comfortaby over the last 100 yards. Kewpie's Jewel and Jerry Parrish finished close up in third and fourth places.

SAME TRIO IN MONEY,

Following a keen tussle all the way up the straight in the Nai Nai Handicap, Believe Me put .in a late dab tOi recover the lead from Teddy Gregg and win by a head, with Sure Lady four lengths away and ahead of Flying Scott, who trotted very steadily throughout on this occasion. At their second appearance, in the Taita Handicap, which was run over an additional half-mile, Sure Lady showed definite improvement to score narrowly but well from Teddy Gregg, with Believe Me, who had been rehandicapped 60 yards, three lengths back. It was a splendid performance on the part of the last-named, for within five furlongs of home, and when she was drawing up to the leaders, the Quite Sure gelding went into a bad break that cost him many lengths. ' . .:

WON IN GOOP STYLE.

Although he gave a first impression of being a trifle robust, Light Brigade proved capable of winning the Railway Handicap, a mile,and a quarter, very comfortably. IJe was content to allow Volterra and Sea Max to set the pace, but when asked the question the Volomite horse drew right away. Sea Max, the one trotter in the field, although his action was very similar to that of a pacer, if minus the straps, ran a creditable second. Indeed, he might have run the winner closer but for being cramped for room 100 yards from home. Sir Victor, who was badly checked at the start, losing considerable ground, ran round his field on the turn, only to weaken into fourth over the final pinch. The attractivelooking Volterra .showed plenty of pace, but failed to go on with it. lure la/y,Bcr Sg(R. Young), 8. .Set.: Strummer. Head; four lengths. Times: 3.36 4-5, 3.34, 3.39 4-5. Sharpe Handicap,,£2so; 3.5 class? 1% miles —7 7 May Scott scr (G. B. Noble), 1, S-& 7oushav scr (L F. Berkett). 2; 1-1 Atawhero, scr fj BrSe jun), 3. Scr.: Lady Marine, Kaitake Boy. Length; half. Times: 8.1. 3.1 2-5, 3.1 4-5. SIR 'THOMAS WILFORD MEMORIAL HANDICAP, £500; 4.39 class; 2 miles. 4 _4_Black Label, 24 (L. N. Vernall) .... 1 l_l_Sports Guide, scr (G. Cameron) .... ■ 2 2—2—Follow Me, 12 (W. W'tfletts) .•• ••. • • » Scr.: Star Ace. Half a length; three lengths. Times': 4.44, 4.46: 1-5, 4.47 1-5. s

WELLINGTON STAKES, £600; for three-year-olds; V/ 2 miles.

3—4—Scottish Emperor, scr (G. B. Noble) 1 I—l_Acropolis, scr (R. B. Berry) ...... 2 4—3—Plunder Bar. scr (M. C. McTigue) 3 All started. Neck; two lengths. Times: 3.40 2-5, 3.40 3-5, 3.41 2-5. Taita Handicap, £250; 5.7 class; 2 miles.— 3-3 Sure Lady, ser (R. Young), 1; 1 : 1 leddy Gregg, GO (C. Devine), 2; 4-4 Believe Me, rehcp. 72 (R. Townley), 3. Scr.: Flying Scott, Redmond's Pride. Half a length; three lengths. Times: 5.0 2-5, 4.56 3-5, 4.54 2-5.

Belmont Handicap, £250; 3.43 class; 1% miles —10-10 David Derby, scr (C. Moran), l; 5-5 Kaitake Boy, scr (D. G. Nyhan), 2; 3-4 Atawhero, scr (J. Bryce, jun.), 3. Scr.: Sypland May Scott, Lady Maxine, Johnny Boy, Max Baer, Plunder Bar. Three-quarters of a length; two. Times: 3.35 2-5, 3.35 3-5, 3.36.

Railway Handicap, £300; 3.1 class; I*4 miles. —1-1 Light Brigade, scr (G. B. Noble), 1; 6-6 Sea Max, scr (W. J. Doyle), 2; 2-2 Sir Victor scr (¥. J. Smith), 3. Scr.: Atawhero, Rivette, Dinghy. Derby Lu. Three lengths; one. Times: 2.56 3-5, 2.58, 2.58 1-5. '

WELLINGTON HANDICAP, £350; 2.51 class;

114 miles. 2—2—Follow Me, 12 (W. Willetts) ...... 1 I—l—Sportsl—l—Sports Guide, scr (G. Cameron) 2 6 —6 —Kewpie's Jewel, scr (A. McGregor) .. 3 Scr.: Black Label, Belfast Jack, Gold Flight, Star Ace. Three lengths; one. Times: 2.52 4-5, 2.54 4-5, 2.55. ' •