TROTTING NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23527, 16 June 1938, Page 17

TROTTING NOTES

By Sentinel A Name G. Mouritz is handling a two-year-old filly by Grattan Loyal from Golden Bond, the dam of Fine Art and Wakari Jack. The Golden Bond and loyalty suggest Wedding Ring as a name for the filly. At Oamaru Although the light-harness racing season is practically finished, good fields have been engaged in the two races on the Oamaru Jockey Club's programme. Early Speed The New Zealand Sapling Stakes has been run 20 times, and fillies have won half that number. A northern writer states that the success of the fillies is due to the fact that they are easier to train than colts, although the latter may train on best. By way of comparison in the way of early speed, it may be interesting to point out that since 1879 the Welcome Stakes has been run 58 times and 22 wins scored by fillies. Stamboul It Is reported that Stamboul, a gelding by Frank Worthy from Trix Pointer, the dam of Wrackler and Arethusa, has been moving attractively in his work at Addington, and he has given indications of being improved. As a two-year-old last season he was regarded as a pacer of great promise, but failed to race up to expectations, and his nine outings this season have not seen him placed. Sold at the Easter sales for a small amount, he was placed in A. Cranston’s care, and he Is again pleasing with his private work. It is possible that he will make his next appearance at the Greymouth Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday. Light Harness Classic Now that Tasmania has decided to conduct the 1939 championships, it is likely that an Australasian Derby will be instituted. Three-year-old races have been conducted by most of the leading clubs in Australia and New Zealand for many years. Adelaide had a Derby last year, but Tasmania has not had a classic event for some time. Tasmania could stage a great comeback by being the first to conduct an Australasian Derby. In view of the fact that three-year-old trotters from now on will be of much better calibre than formerly, it would not be too much to make the race a divided one, and perhaps with the proviso that, if trotting entries did not come up to expectations, this division could be deleted. Variety is everything on the programme, and if the best three-year-olds in the Commonwealth and New Zealand were to meet at Launceston, what a boost it would be for the InterDominion carnival.

All-aged Stakes It may be only a coincidence that the winners of each of the three Allaged Stakes decided have also contested the New Zealand Sapling Stakes in their respective years, being regarded as possibilities for honours; but (says the Star-Sun) the fact remains that after good showings they have all been beaten for first place. The initial contest was won by Pot Luck. He was a candidate for the big event for two-year-olds in the previous year, and was considered good enough to dispute the issue, if he left the mark correctly This'he failed to do, and finished out of a place. Later, he was purchased by Mr H. Stafford, and under the guidance of M. Holmes, Pot Luck won the All-Aged Stakes by a neck from Graham Direct. In 1937. Frisco Boy won the All-Aged Stakes by a length from Dark Hazard. Along with another candidate from M. B. Edwards’s stable in Zincali. Frisco Boy was rated as a likely winner of the Sapling Stakes in the previous year, and did well to beat all but Parisienne. Then at the recent meeting of the Ashburton Club another three-year-old in Horsepower which occupied third place in the two-year-old classic in 1937, won the AllAged Stakes by a head from Ginger Jack. The special handicaps adopted in connection with the race have brought about fine contests, and exciting finishes, and although three-year-olds have so far gained all the honours, none of them has had anything to spare at the finish.