MERRYMAKER RETURNS TO HIS BEST FORM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26980, 15 January 1949, Page 5

MERRYMAKER RETURNS TO HIS BEST FORM

Merrymaker, a three-year-old halfbrother to a promising improver In Demetrius, showed a return to his best form by winning twice at the Greymouth meeting. Last season he showed great promise and was four times placed in seven starts. At his first start he ran second to Chamfer in the Timaru Nursery Stakes. He ran third in a novice race at the South Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting to Glenrowan and Last Wrack, and the went on to run second to Tradition in the Juvenile Handicap at Addington, covering the mile and a-quarter journey in 2min 46 4-ssec. At his last start of the season he went a good race to run second to Perpetua in the New Zealand Sapling Stakes at Ashburton. At his first five starts this season Merrymaker ran prominently without getting in the money. Now that he is back to his best he can be expected to race well at the Forbury meeting, where he has been nominated to race against the improvers. Merrymaker is by Lucky Jack from Arietta, by Adonis—Queen’s Own, by Sir Hector —Country Queen, by Kentucky. Arietta was a winner, taking a mile and a-quarter record of 2min 44 4-ssec. Jottings Withdrawals for the first day of the Forbury Park meeting are due on Monday. Stirling Castle, who has just completed a light stud season, is to reappear at Forbury Park. Dillon Hall Gelding The Forbury Park owner-trainer, J. Richardson, whd has raced Belmont Hall with some success this season, has Ebony Hall in training. A four-year-old gelding, Ebony Hall is by Dillon Hall from Seamstress, who is by Royal Silk from Little Lorna, a mare tracing back to Kentucky. Attempt on Record Highland Kilt, who is a brother to Highland Fling, will attempt to lower Todd Lonzia's mile record for two-year-old trotters of 2min 22 2-ssec, which was established in 1930, at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on February 12. Highland Kilt is owned by Mr J. R. McKenzie Change of Stables Aerial Scott has had another change of stables. Before going into J. Young’s stable he passed through the hands of L. F. Berkett, D. Greenhorn and J. B. Pringle. Now he has been transferred to M. W. Dickie’s stable at Springston. Aerial Scott has won £13.215 in stakes, most of it while in Young’s team. Tatsydale’s Record Tatsydale, who was a double winner at the Canterbury Park meeting, has shown a liking for the Forbury track, winning here at the spring meeting. She has been lightly raced this season for three Wins and one placing in six starts. Tatsydale is an aged mare by Sandydale from Scientific, a Wrack mare from the Harold Dillon mare, Tatsy Dillon. Her best performances to date have been on heavy tracks, although she has raced prominently when the tracks have been hard. Josedale Grattan Pacer* Horses sired by the 1941 New Zealand Cup winner, Josedale Grattan, filled the places in the Improvers’ Handicap at Cambridge last Saturday. Josedale Direct beat his stable-mate, Josedale Pointer, with Albert Grattan, who finished very fast, close up third. Josedale Direct is a five-year-old gelding from Dainty Direct, by Dan Direct from Queen Betty. Josedale Pointer’s dam, Gallant Pointer, is by Gallant Knight from Daisy Pointer, by Logan Pointer from Dayspring.