AN IMPROVED PACER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 31, 6 February 1945, Page 8

AN IMPROVED PACER

VOLUSTA'S OVERDUE WIN

(By "Ariki Toa.")

A pleasing feature of the Wellington Meeting on Saturday was the improved form shown by Volusta, who won the Roosevelt Handicap and finished second to War Form in the Victory Handicap. In the past this chestnut son of Lusty Volo has been reckoned one of the brightest prospects in his class, but his race-day displays have not been in keeping with track efforts, and as a result his record has suffered. However, at Trentham he displayed both courage and stamina in both of his two outings, and in his present form he should not be long in winning again. He was well handled in each event on Saturday by R. Donald, who had him in a handy position throughout and timed his run to a nicety.

Plenty of Speed.—There is no gainsaying that Royal Dale possesses as much speed as the average maiden trotter, but he will require to develop stamina before he can be supported with confidence. At the moment he begins well and is assured of being in the firing line for the greater portion of the journey, but he does not fight on, and invariably has. to be content with one oi the minor placings. The class racing at the' present Wellington Meeting as far as the unhoppled trotters are concerned is not particularly strong, and the Sandydale horse should again get some of the money next Saturday.

An Improver.—Although he failed to make any real impression in either of the two maiden -events at Trentham last Saturday, Uominator did not run such poor races, and on the second occasion, in the Air Force Handicap, he came from a long way back to finish fifth. He is a 1 nice type of pacer by Jack Potts from Lady Bountiful, and impresses as likely to be all the better ior the experience he had last week.

Broke Badly.—There was a fair measure of support for Pony Express in both of his two outings at Trentham last Saturday, but the Royal Worthy gelding failed to act up to expectations, bad breaks in the early part of his races soon putting him in a hopeless position. There is no doubt that he possesses speed, and when he learns to control his gait he will be a much better proposition.

Fine Performance.—One of the best performances registered among the novices at Trentham last Saturday was that of Nellie Fraser in the Air Force Handicap, for which she was at a sur-. prising good price. Actually, this mare has always held a big reputation, but this had been tarnished by her breaking on three consecutive occasions. Even on this occasion she broke and lost, fully 60 yards at the start, but once into her gait she paced in great style, and half a mile from home it was apparent she would get some of the money. She launched a strong challenge over the final furlong, and really outstayed her opponents to win decisively. It is a pity that the daughter of Logan Fraser is not solid, for she possesses speed and stamina above the average intermediate pacer.

No Excuses.—Bonny Bridge was generally looked upon as a bright prospect in the U.S. Fleet Handicap at the Wellington Patriotic Meeting, but no excuses could be offered for his defeat. He made a smart beginning, and at no stage of the journey was he further back than third, but, once asked for a little extra in the straight, he failed to respond, and, even though he broke, he would not have done any better than secure the minor money had he retained a level gait. The effort was not in keeping with his previous promising showings, but it may be wise to await a further performance before passing judgment.

Consistent.—ln each of her two outings at Trentham on Saturday Hidden Note was responsible for solid exhibitions of straight-out trotting, and she would not require to show a great deal of improvement to win a race soon. She displayed plenty of speed early and hung on very determinedly on each occasion. A winning break for the daughter of Maxegin is not very far away. ,

Broke at Start.—On past performances, Loyal Peter would have been expected to perform prominently at the Wellington Patriotic Meeting, but m each of his two outings he failed to begin correctly and more or less took no part in the contests. The form was too bad to be true, arid it would be wise to wait until he leaves the mark before discarding the Grattan Loyal gelding altogether.

A Bright Prospect.—The manner in which Lord Brooklyn accounted for a sound field of pacers at his last outing augured well for his future prospects as a stayer, and it is interesting to note that he is again a candidate over two miles at Epsom on Saturday. He figures off the front of the handicap and seeing that the field does not include anything outstanding, G. T Mitchell's pacer possesses a fine chance of making it two on end. One thing appears certain, that he will be a staunch favourite.

Number of Visitors.—The attractive stakes on offer at the Auckland Meeting on Saturday have resulted in a big influx of visiting candidates, and it is interesting to note that some promising improving intermediate talent from the south is to compete. Among the wldfV ar/? Native Sc°tt, Loyal King, Worthy Cross, Sure Lady, Suzerain! and Karangi. It would not surprise to find the greater part of the spoils going south.

Will be Favourite.—-Aucklanders will not hear of the defeat of Doctor Ted in the Great Northern Trotting Stakes on Saturday, and there is no gainsaying that the Josedale Grattan two-year-old appears to stand out. The field is by no means strong, and it would not require anything out of the ordinary to win.

Disappointing.—Considering that at his previous start he covered a mile and a half in a shade worse than 3 31 it was not surprising to find Lord Grattan confidently expected to win a race at the Wellington Meeting last Saturday, but he gave two inglorious displays. He broke badly at the start on each occasion and more or less took no part in the.races, so much so that he would require to improve 100 per cent before he could be recommended again as a betting proposition.

Lseful Effort.—Beau Bingen, having his first start, went quite a promising race to finish fourth in the Air Force Handicap on Saturday. He is an aged gelding., by a little-known sire in Lambeth Walk, a son of Guy Parrish and Bell Bingen, who also produced other winners in Parrish Belle, Belle Axworthy, and Pearl Parrish.