EPSOM TROTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25084, 23 December 1944, Page 9

EPSOM TROTS

VISITING CANDIDATES DISCUSSION OF PROSPECTS BY ABAYDOS It is many years since so many visiting pacers and trotters have been seen at Epsom for the Auckland Trotting Club's Summer Meeting. Their presence should lend colour to the racing at Alexandra Park next week. The form of the Cud candidates Labour Day, Lady Dawn, Sea Born, Worthy Cross. Catalpa and Parrish Lad lias been reviewed previously. They are also engaged in the St. Metiers Handicap and their earlier showing will have a bearing on their sprint prospects. Claremorris, ltarangi and Captain Morant are South Island horses with an engagement in the St. ileliers Handicap. Claremorris .and Karangi also appear in the Dominion Handicap, oi two miles. Claremorris was the only horse able to extend Hilda Potts in the Electric Handicap at Epsom in October and a repetition of that effort would make him difficult to beat. Knrangi, whose earlier form in the South was high class, failed badly when here in the spring and he fared no better at AJdington last month. Should he return to his best Karangi would have line prospects. Captain Morant, who was a brilliant two and three-year-old, has not revealed any form since he won the Four-year-old Stakes at Aldington in August. 1913, after being purchased by Mr J. R. Mckenzie at a good figure. Characteristic, who is engaged in the Grandstand Handicap, showed fine form when at Epsom in October she won the Insulation Handicap with a good final run and may have added the Alexandra Handicap to her credit had she not bored out in the straight. Characteristic finished second to Dunkirk, who last month won the Waikato Handicap at Claudelands Vimy Ridge Useful Sir Claillard, Keenah. Lady Bligh and Vimy Ridge are also in the Grandstand Handicap. Sir Gaillard was third to Blue Horizon and Loyal Nurse in the Landon Handicap at Oainaru on Labour Day. Keenah, who has had only one race this season, won Iho Fairlie Handicap at Timarii in May, defeating by a head Caledonian Girl, who was in receipt of 24 yards. Ladv Bligh, without winning, has raced consistently this season, her last six slarls producing four Ibinls. Her last placed performance was in the lnvercargill Trotting Cup in October, when she was beaten by Come Away and Liberty Bond. Vimy Ridge has recorded two wins this season, deadheating will) Radical in (lie Washdyke Handicap at Tiinnrn in 3.2: i I-«"> off 3.38, and the Hedcaslle Handicap at Oainaru in the same time off Scottish Emperor, who is nicely placed in the Akarana Handicap, is a four-year-old by L Scott from Princess Napoleon and in four recent starts finished third on three occasions. Last season he won the Wellington Stakes, defeating Acropolis by a neck, and Ihe New Zealand Futurity Stakes at Addington, when ho beat Acropolis by two lengths. Provided he can handle the Epsom course, Scottish Emperor should race prominently. In the trotting section the visiting contingent is strongly represented. In the Bridgens Memorial Handicap, the prelude to the Rowe Memorial Handicap, of £IOOO. on the second da.v, i Echoist, Jock McGrath, Steel King. Worthy Treasure, Cockney. Fan t-orn and Firewater are engaged. Firewater also appears earlier in the Oak Handicap, where she is on her right mark. After finishing third last year to Forewarned and Steel King in the Epsom Handicap,- Fantom won ihe Rowe Memorial Handicap in 4.35 '2-5 off 4.4!). His latest displays have not been so solid, but should the U Scott trotter strike form he should be very difficult to beat on either day. Form of Cockney Cockney created a .good impression iri j October when he ran second to Koine in the Mountain Handicap and waif narrowly beaten by Forewarned in the Hillsborough Handicap. A very solid trotter. Cockney should go well in the Bridgens Memorial Handicap j on Wednesday. Worthy Treasure, who won ! races in this area before going South, showed good form last, season for a win and three ! placings. In his only start this season he ran third to Teddy Gregg and Ordnance in the Stewards' Handicap at Addington in 4.35 2-5. Echoist has been a consistent performer at Alexandra Park. He was second in the Rowe Memorial Handicap last year and when here for the spring meeting was third in his two starts. A solid trotter. Echoist is always a possibility Jock McGrath was second to Modest Maid in the Royal Oak Handicap in August, after being slow awav. At the same meeting Firewater won the Trial Handicap and the Grey Lynn Handicap. Few trotters have left u better impression when visiting Auckland than did Sure Lady at the October meeting. She just failed to concede Fighting Friend GO yards in the 1 Waitemata Handicap, and was a good second i to Casabianca in the Greenlane Handicap. : Returning to Addington Sure Lady separated j Blue Horizon and Forewarned at Ihe finish 1 of the Christehnreh Trotting Stakes. Her i consistency should soon be rewarded. Steel King has made many visits to; Epsom, but it is some time since the grey j trotter won a race. In three races at Auck-! land last season for W. Head, Steel King j was in a minor place. He was third in the Rowe Memorial / Handicap, going 4.35 off I 1.48. Since being trained in Canterbury Steel King has not reached the money. RIDING ENGAGEMENTS JOCKEYS AT AWAPUNI TODAY (0.c.) PALMEHSTOX NORTH, Friday Riding engagements for the first day of the Manawatti Racing Club's Summer Meeting at i Awapuni tomorrow include: —W. J. Broughton, Longs word, John Gay, Controller. Malawene. Magnus S. Waddell, Rink, Sir Bradbury, Virtuoso. 'Valley Boy; W. E. Carter, Bay Robe, Golden Tide; A. G. Waddell, Queen's Charm, Nighean, Dunbar, Swift Jay; A. S. Ewan, Broielicld, Theiolyn; M. Andrews, Gyration, Step Ear; L. J. Clutterbuck, Lady Spiral; W. J. Stevens, Alethea. Gold Bridge; V. Sellars. Good Scout, Kaitoa, Yasda, Don Mac; R. B. Ireland, Sovereign Lad, The Rail; L. Johnson, Nurmi, Finalist, Junior; F. Buchanan, Alchemy, Vernon. Gnrdanej Scholar Bill; W. L. Aitken, Vera Lynn. Happy Climax. Persuade; J. Campbell. Flying Ace, Yogi, Seropnri, Merciful; J. fiowness. Financial, Havildar, Phoenix, True Friend; H. Pearce. Silver Ball, Merger. RECENT WINNERS SMART IMPROVING PACERS An interesting feature of the December Handicap to be run on the first, day of the Auckland Trotting Club's Summer Carnival will be the meeting between six pacers who won divisions of Ihe maiden events of Claudelands recently. They are Auto Bell, Crossroads, Lord Brooklyn, Red .Ace, Floradale and To Taonganui. Auto Bell and Lord Brooklyn won the respective divisions of the two miles Bruniwood Handicap, a good test for novices. Auto Bell registered 4.38 and Lord Brooklyn 4.42 3-5, both being assessed at 5.1. In spite of the time margin in favour of ~\uto Bell, who won by five lengths. Lord Brooklyn scored decisively and looked capable of going faster if required. Te Taonganui, Crossroads, Floradale and Red Are won at a mile and five furlongs, and whilo Crossroads and Red Ace won their divisions in 3.41 3-5 and 3/-I2 2-5 respectively, they were doing their best to score by narrow margins. Te Taonganui took 3.14 2-5 to win, but he led all the way and was never troubled. Lord Brooklyn, Auto Bell and Te Taonganui should add a lot of interest to the race. Ngaire's Pal, who registered his first success in winning tho second division of the Hautapu Handicap and extended his record hv scoring in the two miles Claudelands Handicap, will make his first appearance at Epsom next week. Now assessed at 4.-IS, X era ire's Pal will meet much stronger opposition in the Grandstand "Handicap, but he may prove capable of extending the best in the class. ANNIVERSARY DAY RACES Tho Auckland Racing Club's Midsummer Meeting will be held at Ellerslie on Anniversary Day, January 20. when i'oooo will be distributed in stakes. The principal race will be the Takapuna Cup, of 11500, one inilo and a -ha It'. The Wellington Racing Club's Patriotic Meeting at ■ Trenthain is scheduled for January 27. VERSATILE HORSE The palm fur versatility can be awarded to Betlerman, says a Wellington writer. At Cambridge, on Labour Day he was fourth over a mile and a-quarter. Then he finished second I oyer six furlongs at the Levin meeting. At I his next, start, iie was second over hurdles (his ; first attempt) at Woodvilie. and his latest effort wns second, beaten a head, over seven j furlongs, at Otaki, on Saturday, after running t unplaced in the mile and a-quarter earlier in the day. JACK HIGH ARRIVES Tho To Rapa trotting trainer M. Stewart arrived at Epsom yesterday with Jack High, War Guard, Rita Grattan, Gallant Navy and Lady Moness. When the horses were exercised Lady Moness showed signs of soreness, and she may have to forgo her engagement in the Akarana Handicap.