WEEK-END RACING

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 77, Issue 6558, 27 August 1948, Page 5

WEEK-END RACING

TROTTING AT ADDINGTON GRATTAN DRIVE FAVOURED (By “Old Rowley”) The racing public, or rather that section who are adherents to the light harness sport, will be keenly interested in the outcome of the events to be decided at Addington to-morrow, when the N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club will open its national meeting. Indian Triumph, owned locally, but now trained in the South Island, is an acceptor for the Islington Handicap, to be run at 11.28 a.m. She proved a very honest mare when trained in the district and, despite the stronger opposition which she will meet at Addington, she should have prospects if she returns to her best form.

Being the first meeting of the new season in the South Island there are few horses which have competed since June, the exceptions being the trotter, Mine Host and Josedale Audobon. Some of the acceptors have not raced since 1947 and consequently the only form upon which any reliance can be placed is that displayed at track trials which have been held recently. Among the faster class horses there are some whose connections hope to qualify them for the New Zealand Cup and as a consequence they are likely to be very prominent in the running. A keen watch will be kept to see how the three-year-olds perform, for although it is early in the season to expect much from them, especially where pitted against seasoned pacers, those which show ability must be marked down for future reference-

The track is likely to be slow although there are hopes of fine weather for the day’s sport. First race on the programme will be the Intermediate Handicap and the Lightning Handicap, scheduled to start at 3.58 p.m. will conclude the meeting.

Public fancy will no doubt embrace a wide range, but the following horses could command most respect in their engagements:—

Intermediate Handicap, trotters, limit 3.48, 1 mile, 5 furlongs: Java, Keen Blade, Excalibur. ** Islington Handicap, limit 4.36, 2 miles: Super Globe, Sir Vivian, Captain Sandy. Heathcote Handicap, limit 3.38, 1 mile, 5 furlongs: Good Review, Scholarship, Gough’s Pride. Louisson Handicap, limit 4.24, 2 miles: Grattan Drive, Local Gold bracket, Ingle Belmer bracket. August Handicap, limit 4.28, 2 miles: Free Fight bracket, Right Royal, Ace of Diamonds. Stewards’ Handicap, trotters, limit 4-37, 2 miles: Belmoral bracket, Castigate, Mine Host. Canterbury 3-year-old Stakes, 1 mile, 5 furlongs: Josedale Audobon, Black Diamond, Tradition. Lightning Handicap, limit 2.44, U miles: Grattan Drive, Local Gold bracket, Maudeen. RACING AT NEW PLYMOUTH CONCLUSION OF COMBINED HUNT MEETING Good fields have been carded for the concluding day of the Taranaki Combined Hunt Club meeting at New Plymouth to-morrow when the contest for the Taranaki Hunt Cup is expected to provide a bright spectacle for spectators. It was deemed advisable last week, after several of the runners in the Trial Steeplechase had come to grief, to replace the hen-coop with a standard hurdle before the main event of the day was decided, and this proved an improvement, for no horses fell or hesitated overmuch. No doubt th? hurdle will remain, and this should ensure most of the field negotiating the obstacle if they are proficient jumpers. The Opunake Stakes, in which three scratchings are necessary to eliminate divisions, is something in the nature of a preliminary to the Wanganui Guineas, and should provide a line for three-year-old prospects in the spring. After his third placing last week Exponent is expected to race prominently, and Taranaki trackmen are predicting Luminous as his most serious opponent, but the latter is drawn nearly off the course (22) if the race is not divided, and he has not yet reached a stage where it would be fair to expect too much of him. Beau Flight, Scholarship, Herowin and Betterboy are reported to be looking very well. A race which should be a pleasure to watch and profitable as a source of future reference, the issue is too open to warrant risks being taken. Track conditions may be more holding than last week, but unless a wet day is experienced should not upset form unduly. The fifrst race starts at 11.2 a.m., the meeting concluding at 4-17 p.m. with the race for the Urenui Hack Handicap. The following horses have been showing dash in their work and performing well at recent meetings—they are expected to find favour with the public in their respective engagements:— Hunters’ Hurdles, about li miles, 100 yards: Tightline, Rockery, Old Mack. Opunake Stakes, 6 furlongs: Exponent, Scholarship, Beau Flight. Waihi Hack Handicap, 7 furlongs: Folkestone, Baffles Plate, Mr Pym. Taranaki Hunt Cup Steeplechase, about 2i miles: Prince Dolomite bracket, Aga Kay, Murphy. A. H. Halcombe Memorial Handicap, 1 mile, 2J furlongs: Hydrangea, Young Trent, Flying Jim. A. R. Standish Memorial Handicap, amateur riders, 1 mile, 2i furlongs: Balintore, Malimint, Johnnie Boy. Stratford Handicap, 6 furlongs: Tommy Gun, Mignonette, Dymondy. Urenui Hack Handicap, 6 furlongs: Our Dink, Luminous, Farrier.