TROTTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 195, 17 July 1935, Page 10

TROTTING.

A CONSISTENT PERFORMER. The little grey pacer, Blue Mountain; did yeoman service when in the care of E. Todd, Southland, J. S. Shaw, at Addington, and L. A. Maidens, Ashburton, and now J. Dell, junr., is faced with the tank of winning further races with the Southland-bred gelding. Blue Mountain is rising eight years, an age at. which lie should be really showing bis best, form, and after a good spell it is quite possible lie will come back to improve still further on a very good record. During the prosent season he has been consistent, and lie lias not been kept in cotton wool. In his first start for the racing year lie won tho August Handicap, in 4.16 2-5, in the hands of J. S. Shaw, and after two unplaced performances he was driven by L. A. Maidens into second place behind Silver dc Oro in the Weston Handicap at Oamaru. Receiving 84 yards from Harold Logan, be won the New Zealand Cup Trial at Wellington, and in Lhe New Zealand Cup be registered 4.17 to finish second to Indianapolis. He was second to Sir Guy in the liaglcy Handicap, and unplaced in the Froo-for-Ail and Christchurch Handicap. From August to November he started in nine races and won £9OO in stake money. Blue Mountain was third to Roi l’Or and Worthy Light in the Auckland Cup after registering 4.18 4-5, and in the Kia Ora Handicap at Wellington he was narrowly defeated by Mountain Dell, after which he was given a spell and handed over to J. Bell, junr., in whose colours he appeared twice at the recent Canterbury Park meeting. Ho looked in ideal order to commence a serious preparation, and by August he should ho again at the top of his form. He still has the hardest part to do to win a race in tho company he is now asked to meet, hut he has been given every chance during the last few months. Three times during the season he has beaten 4.19 for two miles.