TROTTING NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25797, 19 March 1945, Page 7

TROTTING NOTES

By Sentinel

Tom Gundy, the winner of the Redcastle Trot at Oamaru in 3mln 27 2-ssec, is a four-year-old gelding by Lusty Volo from a Jack Potts mare. Peter Dale, who led the field in the Redcastle Trot until reaching the straight, is a three-year-old gelding by Sandydale from Margaret Bingen. Sally Dale, who finished fourth, is a three-year-old filly by Sandydale—Gold Pointer. Jackie Guy, who won at Oamaru with a strong finish, is a three-year-old colt by Jack Potts—Lottie Guy, by Real GuyProlific, by Harold Dillon. He was second in the Wellington Stakes in 3min 31sec, and third in the Riccarton Stakes in 2min 56 l-ssec. Jackie Guy was sent back 60 yards in the Redcastle Trot and finished second in 3min 23 2-ssec. - It is a pity Highland Fling is not engaged in the Sapling Stakes, Champion Stakes, New Zealand Derby and other South Island classics. He is so immeasurably superior to others of his age at the moment (says “ Kibbonwood ” in the Trotting Calendar) that he might have made a clean sweep of all classic races. He had made such an impression in his track work at Washdyke that one experienced trainer, who has had good two-year-olds and three-year-olds himself, exi pressed the opinion before the race that Highland Fling would be first and " the rest nowhere,” That was a reasonable assumption, as things turned out, because Highland Fling put in a break, lost about eight lengths at the start, and then outclassed the field. He was a good deal more forward and mature-looking than any of his rivals, and when stretched out in the back straight, and later when challenging Local Gold, he gave an impression of great facility and speed. Although not so fashionably bred on the dam’s side as many others, he is by an early-speed sire in U. Scott, and his immediate maternal lines boast the blood of Frank Worthy and Logan Pointer. Highland Fling has been nominated for the Welcome Handicap, a mile event for two-year-olds at Addington at Easter, and from 24 yards he is the only colt considered capable of bringing this big contract to a successful conclusion.