MANDRAKE BACK AGAIN

Southland Times, Issue 25796, 6 October 1945, Page 9

MANDRAKE BACK AGAIN

FRECKLES AGAINST THE PACERS Nominations for the Oamaru Trotting Club’s spring meeting will close at 8 p.m. on Monday. Nominations will close next Thursday for the Invercargill Trotting Club’s spring meeting.

Forbury Withdrawals Withdrawals for the Forbury Park meeting will close at 7 p.m. on Monday. Princess Maritza

Princess Maritza, which was previously trained by R. Townley, jun., at Nightcaps, is now being trained for Mr J. Ferguson by W. L. Harris, at Tai Tapu. Harris has been connected with trotting for many years, and last season paid expenses with the aged trotter Beethoven. Useful Form

Fire Water’s Auckland form points to her racing prominently at Nev/ Brighton today, where she is well placed off the front of the Stewards’ Handicap. Will Not Start

David Dryden, which was shown as an acceptor in the Stewards’ Handicap, at the New Brighton meeting, will not start as he was withdrawn before closing time on Tuesday. Stopped Quickly After leading the field for nearly a mile and three furlongs in the Riverbank Trot, at Methven, Calumella began to tire and she was a long way back in seventh position at the finish. Not a Sprinter Knave of Diamonds has a very slow rating as a sprinter compared with his two mile mark. Over a sprint journey he meets Gallant Knight, Scott Axworthy and Night Beam on 60yds better terms than he does over the longer journey.

Dundee Sandy With opportunities to suit him at Nev/ Brighton today and at Forbury Park next week Dundee Sandy has a chance to improve his handicap to within an ace of New Zealand Cup rating. The Grattan Loyal gelding will be eligible to contest the better class races at Addington in November, when rich prizes are the order. In The Money

Bancor, who won in good style at Methven and is engaged at New Brighton again today, ranks as a half brother by Calumet Axworth to a highclass winner in Fine Art. He is trained by M. C. McTigue, who has had little luck in recent seasons. At Methven McTigue won a race with Bancor and secured three seconds and a third with other members of his team. Mandrake Back Some interest will be shown in Mandrake’s reappearance at Forbury Park next week. The Dillon Hall gelding started only twice last season, winning the Winton Juvenile Stakes in good

style in one of these. Mandrake is a young pacer of decided possibilities as h£ has impressed as one likely to develop into a sound stayer, although he will probably require racing to be seen at his best. Back in Form

The New Zealand Derby winner, Air Marshal gave a splendid performance to lead all the way to win at Methven from Gamble King and Plunder Bar. Air Marshal has developed into a good-looking colt since his win in November, and judging by his performance on Saturday fie will take high honours on the race-track. The Jack Potts colt has been driven in each of his races by R. Donald, and the combination should carry on to further successes. Deserves a Win

Gamble King’s record since he started racing reads as follows:—4, 1,0, 3, 1,0, 2,0, 4,2, 3,2, 2. The Gamble gelding started well from the 12 yards mark last Saturday to follow Air Marshal, Top Line, Grattan Bells and Plunder - Bar with a mile to go, but although he ran into second place in the straight he could make no impression on Air Marshal over the last 100 yards. An honest, everyday performer, his consistency should soon earn its reward.

Against the Pacers Freckles, whose fine form last season stamped him as one of the outstanding square-trotters ■ raced in Southland, will tackle the pacers at Gore. The Quite Sure gelding is on a mark which will give him few opportunities in Southland classes, and like the majority of the best pacing and trotting horses bred in Southland he will probably be sent to Canterbury before long. Freckles should more than hold his own against the hoppled brigade, although it is a task which proves beyond the majority which attempt it. Mixed Luck

Renown’s Pride started smartly in the first division of the Westward Ho Handicap, at Methven to follow Gold Winner, Direct Medium, Good Review, Leeston Lass, and Nelsonova when the field settled down, and she finished on well in third place about a length and a half behind the winner. On this performance she was well backed when she paraded in the Mount Hutt Handicap later in the day, but her supporters did not get a run for their money as her sulky and Sand Maid’s, another well-fancied candidate, became locked together at the start and they took no part in the race. In trying to avoid these horses Playwright also struck trouble and a buckled wheel soon put him out of the contest.