TROTTING NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20625, 28 May 1935, Page 12

TROTTING NOTES.

for the Forburv Park Trotting Club’s special meeting are due on Thursday, at 5 p.m: * ❖ * * Acceptances for the Ashburton Trotting Club’s winter meeting will close on June 5. RECOVERING. Although L. A. Maidens was present at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday, he was not in the sulky in either of the trotting events, though he had a horse racing in each of them. Having been laid up with an attack of influenza, he did not feel equal to the strain of race driving. Ilis choice of L. Frost as a substitute proved happy. The New Brighton reinsman was seen to advantage behind Tricliff. He is not an easy horse to handle, but Frost got the best out of him, scoring a narrow win, after he appeared to be beaten a hundred yards from the post. Later in the day Frost also handled Ivan de Oro to advantage, though he did not reach the money. CHANCES OF STAR PRONTO. After his solid performance in winning the Waipa Handicap at the recent Waikato meeting in 3min 24sec, Star Pronto must have bright prospects off 12yds in the Ruakura Handicap at Claudelands. Star Pronto has always been recognised as one of the most brilliant pacers trained at Epsom for some time, but the Australian-bred gelding invariably failed to produce his best on race dav until his owner, Mr B. Dyer, decided to race him without hopples. The gelding has won three races since, and, judging by his latest performance, another success is not far off for the son of Don Pronto. CONSISTENT FORM. Cadiz has had some tantalising fortune since he commenced racing. He made his first appearance at Amberley, where he was twice second, beaten by a head on each occasion. A week later, at Ashburton, he had one start, and after being in front all the way to the straight, he faded into fifth place. On Saturday, at Washdyke. he ran twice, coming home a close third each time. This consistent form should be rewarded with a win soon. His owner, W. Warren, has been out of luck lately, but Cadiz looks like doing good service for him later on. WILL IMPROVE. After filling second place in two races at Cheviot, Royal Palm looked like opening his winning account, when he took the lead a furlong from the post in the Opihi Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday. He had been handy all the way and gradually wore the leaders down. Over the last hundred yards, however, Tricliff came on again to beat him by a neck. Royal Palm was stopping and when he tired he started to bore in, his driver, P. Gallagher, being kept busy to avoid trouble in the closing stages. The I horse had been stopped in his work during the previous week and something better can be expected from him soon The two-vear-old filly, Frisco Lady, has been purchased by Messrs August Bros. She was bred by Mr W. J. Morland, who sold her some time ago, and she went into M. B. Edwards’s stable. ABOUT RAIMA. The trotting gelding, Raima, in J J. Kennerlev’s stable is regarded highly by North Island sportsmen who are in a position to know most about him Raima has two Rowe Trotting Cups to his credit, and his performance on the second occasion made him appear a high grade trotter, for he not only won well, but he defeated such horses as Surprise Journey. Maxegin, Native Star and Writer. Although Raima is 13 years old he has not done much racing. He is a very solid trotter. His darn is Ngaraima. who was by King George; she is also the dam of The Shrew, winner of several good races. There is no record of the breeding of Ngaraima’s dam, a mare who was i purchased by Mr J. 11. Lloyd out of a livery stable in Christchurch after he had driven behind her on a trip to Addington during which she showed a fair turn of speed and good action. He considered she was the best buggy mare he had ever seen. ROCKS AHEAD. The presence of the Wyndhamtrained pacer. Rocks Ahead, at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s winter meeting will create a good deal of interest. She has performed creditably over all distances this season, and has won in saddle and in harness. She ran second to Stowaway in the mile saddle race at Gore on Boxing Day, \nd won the Victory Handicap at A’yndham on January 1. It was a nile and five furlongs race. She also von a mile saddle race at Invercargill, tnd was third to Margaret Bell and Kibo in the Wyndham Trotting Club Handicap. That was a two-mile race, and she registered 4min 33 2-ssec. At Oamaru recently she gave two attractive displays. She won the Papakaio Handicap in harness over a mile and a quarter in 2min 49 2-ssec, and ran second to Directum in a mile saddle event in 2min 13 l-ssec. She is a five-year-old mare by Happy Voyage from First Water, and is owned by Mr F. W. McGill. MUST BE RESPECTED. Having his first race for some tim? in the Improvers’ Handicap at the (recent Waikato meeting. Great Chum J revealed all his old dash, and after I being up among the leaders for a long way his condition gave out over the last furlong and he faded into fifth place. It was a really good effort for a horse who had not done much work. Great Chum claims two engagements at the Waikato meeting, figuring off 24vds in both the Novice and Kaipaki Handicaps. He has progressed a great deal of late and he must be accorded a good chance of rejoining the winning list at Claudelands, as he is a particularly reliable pacer. SAPLING STAKES CANDIDATES. No fewer than twenty-nine two-vear-olds remain in the New Zealand Sapling Stakes of 1000 sovs, to be decided at the Ashburton Trotting Club’s winter meeting on June 8. During the past two months a number of them have been seen in action, but only one, Gaillard, has won. His performance at Timaru on Saturday pleased his connections and quite a number of keen observers of young

horses fancy him for the Sapling Stakes. lie undoubtedly is a good juvenile, but at the moment the form is involved. . Double Great registered two very satisfactory performances at the first and second matinee meetings and if he goes along the right wav he will have more friends than anv of his colleagues on the day. M. B. Edwards has given Frisco Lady a careful preparation and her work at Addington prior to going to Yaldhurst made it plain that she has the ability to take a serious part in the big contest. Casanovas chance is heavily discounted owmg to his having injured himself and thus interfered with his preparation. Celebrity and Pot Luck have trained and raced with confidence and they have speed and stamina enough to sav they will be close up at the winning post Glen Travis created a favourable impression at Timaru on Saturday where he ran fourth in the Beaconsfield Handicap. He is in M C McTigue’s stable. Fine Art. Credit Balance. Chilli Bean. Yaldor and Harlequin have shown speed in their various assignments and although Double Great. Frisco Lady. Gaillard. Pot Luck and Celebrity are most in the public eye. the race bears an open appearance.