RACING AND TROTTING

Grey River Argus, 22 August 1944, Page 3

RACING AND TROTTING

At Victoria Park: With the approach of the October meeting local trainers are beginning to set their charges more serious tasks, and from now on there should be much to interest followers of the light harness sport. Most of the horses in work are youngsters, bred locally and it is a long time since so many promising novices have been in various stages of their education. Three bf M. B. Edwards’ team worked at tt the week-end show a lot of ability. A three-year filly by Grattan Loyal from Huia Potts is a fine upstanding sort, who gives the impression that she will make a good stayer later on. She will probably be given an outing among the maidens at October. A two-year-old halfbrother to this filly by SandyUole has not done much, but in a short sprint or two has shown that he knows how to pace. The filly by Gamble out of Belle Derby, also a two-year-old, is a lovely mover. Owned by her breeder, MT Jas Steel, who raced her dam, she appeals as one likely to come early. J. . McLure is educating a two-year-old grey gelding who claims Great ißingen as his sire. It is intended to try and make a trotter out of him. J. R. Coburn is working a five-year-old mare by Quite Sure from Bonny Betty for Messrs C. Archer and C. Hodgetts. This mare has a fine style of trotting, and if her present rate of progress is maintained,_ she should -rove a payable proposition. Another in Coburn’s charge is a wellmade three-year-old by Calumet Axworth from Betty Dillon. This gelding is related through his dam to Treasure Bond and Neil Dillon. He has made many friends by his manner of going, and he should be found holding his own in the maiden classes at some of the mid-summer meetings. Loyal Bonista is also an active member of Coburn’s team. The Truman Direct gelding has benefited by his spell. Endowed with plenty of speed, Loyal Bpnista should work his way out of the novice class this season. Ramsay Reid has Dawn Grattan and her full sister, Dawn Patrol in splendid fettle. If Dawn Grattan can be produced in the same form as when she won at Westport last summer, she may get some of the money in the chief events at the October meeting. The full-sister to this mare promises to be bigger than her relative. She has already shown that she has the ability, and many will be disappointed if this fill-' fails to reach good class. Loyal Lu has wintered well under her owner, G. Kirk. So far she has not been asked to do much, but she is in the right order to undergo a solid preparation. F. Higgins is giving the aged gelding Sonoma Jack another trial. Age has done a lot for the Sonoma Harvester breed, and this fellow would only need to come solid to win races. T. Lalor has two under his care, Surrey Park and Wait-a-Bit. Surrey Park bears a bright apear.ance and is carrying a lot of condition. When this gelding won at Methven two seasons ago, a good future was predicted for him, but he quite failed to reproduce that form. Only a six-year-old there is yet time for him to make good his early promise. Wait-a-Bit,* by Logan Fraser, and a half-sister to Noble Reta, is on the small side at present. She will probably take time. Slow Away: Jackie Guy was very slow’ in the early stages of his race at Addington on Saturday, but he came with a great burst over the last half-mile to finish outside of the money. There is no doubt as to his speed and stamina and as racing will sharpen him up, he may be the one to give Slavonic most trouble in the Derby. Not at Best: Owing to a hip injury Bomb&r was not at his best on Saturday. The future of this well performed gelding is doubtful, as if the injury con- . tinues to affect, him, he may be rei tired. ' Looked Well: . Nothing at Addington looked bet- • ter than Indian Clipper. Perhaps the most pleas ng feature about his effort was that he began well. Indian Clipper can both sprint and stay, and he should be cherry ripe for Saturday’s Free-for-All.