Duncraig Looks Due For Early Success

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26916, 30 October 1948, Page 5

Duncraig Looks Due For Early Success

Duncraig, who is now trained by V. Alborn at Addington, was seen to advantage at the recent Forbury Park meeting, where he finished second both days in the 3min 22sec class mile and a-half events. He was disqualified for interference during the running on the first day, his time of 3min 14 3-ssec being 7 l-ssec better than his handicap mark. On the second day, he was less than a length behind the winner. Scholarship, an exceptionally brilliant horse, at the finish of the Victory Handicap, and did not appear to be particularly lucky. Duncraig is engaged in the Final Handicap at Addington to-day, in which he will meet several well-performed pacers, and he should not be out of his class. Etta Bingen, Duncraig’s dam, was bred by Mr J. O’Brien, at Oamaru, being by Nelson Bingen from the Rothschild mare, Henrietta, and traces back to King of Clubs. Dillon Hall, sire of Duncraig, won seven free-for-alls In America before coming to the Dominion, and has produced a host of winners here, including Acropolis, Snowflake, who holds the three-year-old record of 4min 18sec for two miles, Dragoman, Aberhall, Direct Medium and Scottish Emperor.

Auckland Trotting Cup The Auckland Trotting Cup, of two miles, to be run at Epsom on December 28, will carry a stake of £4OOO and a gold cup valued at £IOO. The limit will be 4.24, against 4.26 last year, but horses assessed on 4.25 will be eligible. This is a record stalje for the Auckland Trotting Cup, being an increase of £SOO on last year.

Single Direct’s Sire Bill B, sire of Single Direct, and the Oamaru winner, Single Task, was not a prepossessing-looking racehorse, but he was a smart performer over all distances, and has a record of 4min 23sec for two miles. His dam, Marie Worthy, was by the Axworthy horse, Dale Axworthy. Dale Axworthy was also the sire of Estella Amos, dam of Indianapolis, and of Marie Axworthy, dam of Worthy Bingen,

Brilliant Trotter Bellisima created a new Epsom two miles’ trotting record when she won the Whitford Handicap from 72 yards at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting in September. This will probably ensure her favouritism in the Spring Handicap, a 3min 46sec mile and five furlongs race at Addington to-day. Most of those engaged in this race are not noted for their steadiness, and this Certissimus mare may add to her already Impressive record.

Addington Prospect , •There are a number of Improving horses in the Final Handicap at Addington to-day, and one of those likely to be well supported Is the Brilliant Globe gelding Worthy Dick. Worthy Dick was a winner at the Centennial meeting at Forbury Park in May, and won the Victory Handicap on the same track last month.

In which he Improved on his handicap time by over 13sec. On that occasion he was handled by M. Holmes, but his previous good form was overlooked by the public, and he returned a double-figure dividend. In Good Order ' *’ Everything Is In tip-top order," explained the Te Awamutu trainer. Edgar Kennerley, when discussing the prospects of his candidate, Single Direct, in the New Zealand Cup, with the Christchurch Press on Thursday. He added: ", My horse is well, he has done everything I have psked him to do and, I expect that he will prove hard to beat.” Single Direct, one of the favourites for to-day’s race, worked free : legged at Addington on Tuesday, and pulled up well after covering two miles In 4min 35sec. Cup Horses Work The New Zealand Trotting Cup candidates, Aberhall, Nyallo Scott and Loyal Peter showed up In their final trials at Addington on Thursday. Nyallo Scott was going easily alongside Grattan Drive at the end of a mile and a-half in 3min 25 2-ssec, the last four furlongs taking lmin 2 2-ssec. Aberhall, who also went over a mile and a-half. the last four furlongs being run in lmin 8 2-ssec. Loyal Peter had no difficulty in going two miles in 4min 28sec, his last half-mile taking lmin Bsec. The Oamaru winner, Acclamation, trotted two miles in 4min 50sec, the last half-mile in lmin 8 2-ssec. Likely Favourite

Backers will probably make the Novelda-Notus bracket favourite for the opening event at Addington to-day, the Victoria Handicap, a 4min 33sec class, two mile event. Novelda is one of J. B. Pringle’s team, and in the Islington Handicap, on the opening day of the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s August meeting, ran second to the .Forbury Park double winner, Minoru. She was also second to County Antrim in the Improvers’ Handicap at the same meeting. Notus, who is a brother to Novelda, won the Farewell Handicap at New Brighton In September, but failed at Forbury Park. Beaten on Post

Landlight showed form as a three-year-old In Southland last season and was well supported in the Knapdale Trotting Handicap on the opening day of the Gore Racing Club's meeting. He was in charge with seven furlongs to go and then ran out from the rails when tackled by Amarant. Landlight and Amarant then settled down to an interesting duel and just as Landlight gained the upper hand Black Puzzle snatched victory on the post. Landlight is engaged in the second division of the Novice Handicap at Invercargill to-day.

Integrity Although started In the Hannon Memorial Handicap at Oamaru, Integrity, winner of the 1946 New Zealand Cup, is missing from to-day’s field, as he had to be spelled for some months. Integrity finished third in the Oamaru race, there being less than a length between him and the winner, Navigate. At the entrance to the straight, Integrity was in the lead, but was overhauled in a fighting finish. This race may have worked some improvement in Integrity, and he may still have to be reckoned with later at the meeting. Loyal Peter Loyal Peter, who finished third to Highland Fling and Knave of Diamonds in last year’s Cup, was responsible for a good track trial at Addington during the week. He has both brilliance and stamina, but the black Grattan' Loyal gelding is not always reliable at the start. His best effort last season was his win in the first heat of the Pacers' Championship Qualifying Handicap at the Inter-Dominion Championship meeting at Auckland in February. . Those who finished behind him included Knave of Diamonds, Dundee Sandy, Aberhall and Highland Fling. This race was run over a mile and aquarter, but he was out of a place in the mile and a-half heat, which was won bv Highland Fling, who returned to form after several disappointing performances.

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