COPPER TRAIL

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24903, 17 June 1946, Page 7

COPPER TRAIL

SOLID EFFORT IN ACTON HANDICAP The four-year-old Copper Trail recorded his first success for the season when, after being one of the slowest to begin in the Acton Handicap at Ashburton, he finished strongly to win by half a length from Wade Lane, with Cumnock another neck away in third place. Copper Trail had nine horses in front of him at the end of half a mile, but D. Todd, who trains him at Mataura, gradually reduced *his handicap to follow Cumnock, Dyrham Lea, Scottish Lord, and Wade Lane into the straight. Once the field straightened up for the run down the straight. Copper Trail stretched out in fine style to carry on and win in 3min 20sec. Last season Copper Trail was hailed as one Qf the best three-year-olds produced in Southland when he recorded two wins in his first three starts, but unfortunately he was injured in an accident in the New Zealand Pacing Stakes at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting, and had to be put aside. He did not race again until the Gore Racing Club’s meeting on October 22, and since then he has gradually improved. Saturday’s performance was a good one and he should now carry on to much better company. Bred oy Mr M. F. Flynn, Invercargill, Copper Trail is by Quite Sure from June Nelson, the dam of other winners in June Tide and Kid Wolf. June Nelson was bred by Mr J. O'Brien, Oamaru, and is by Nelson Bingen from an O.Y.M- mare. Jottings Betty Maxegin was trotting well in the Mayfield Handicap at Ashburton when she struck trouble and lost a gopd winning chance. Excalibur, a son of Swordsman and Worthy Queen, failed to go away correctly in the Longbeach Handicap. He showed some ability in his preliminary and he should be well worth the trouble being taken with him. Gaillard’s Son, which is now trained by F, C. Walker, Riccarton, for Mr J. M. Denham, was too slow away in the Trial Handicap to have any chance. Driven by W. Lowe, a son of the wellknown owner, Gloxanla gave two solid displays at Oamaru, and she should soon win a race. C. M. Laing is at present on holiday at Plcton, and his horses were driven by O. E. Hooper at Ashburton on Saturday. If Doublq Peter had been able to get a clear run at the finish of the All Aged Stakes at Ashburton he would have gone close to winning. Driver Suspended After the Acton Handicap at the Ashburton meeting the Stipendiary Stewards met to consider a charge of interference by M. B. Edwards, the driver of Scottish Lord, to Bonny Clare, which was driven by P. P. Gallagher. After hearing evidence it was unanimously decided to suspend Edwards’s driving , licence until August 31, 1940. Another Big Dividend

Confidently driven by his trainer, A. McKenzie, Rey Potts returned a dividend approaching a century when he won the Trial Handicap at Ashburton by 12 lengths from Indigo. Rey Potts,- which had Phown encouraging form on the first day Df the meeting, beg_an well to follow Rural Lady, Abel Tasman, and Harold Jinks when the field settled down. After always being handy, his driver left nothing to chance when the straight was reached, and his winping margin was the biggest of the day. McKenzie has im- £ r ° ved l he so ” 1 o£ J i P ot »s and Millie Rey, and on this display he should soon win againstarted Well N. Berkett, who recently set up as a trainer at Temuka, drove Wee Logan to win the Waikaura Trot by a neck from Emondale at the Oamaru Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday. Wee Logan, which started from the 24 y*ards mark; did not appear as a possibility until about a furlong from home. Emondale was gaining on him at every stride as the post was reached, liut he hung on to win narrowly. Berkett brought Lucky Scott, a winner of two races this season, and a sister to Bulldozer, from Nelson with him. Consistent Royal Stone won her first race since bemg trained by N. C. Pricq at New Brighton for Mr W. Deyell,' when ahe gradually overhauled Maximum in the straight in the Mayfield Handicap at Ashburton on Saturday, and carried on to win by a length. Royal Stone was cap; ably handled by L. Frost, who drives her in most of her work at New Brighton. Starting smoothly from the 24 yards mark, she was following Beverley Volo. Maximum, Belle Header, Great Worth, Blackdale, and Walter Jingle with three furlongs covered, and she improved her position in the back -straight to be handy to Beverley Volo. Belle Header, and Maximum. Royal Stone was under, pressure a furlong from home, but she stuck to her gal”, in fine style to register a welldeserved win. Bred by Mr J. Maurer, Methven, Royal Stone is by Nobleman from Coppiestone, which is by Author Dillon frem Sea Spray, by Wildwood Junr. from Wild Wave, by Viking from Linton by Bundoora. Won Well After his good effort to finish fourth to Water Ranger, Task Force, and Tom Gundy in the Durbar Handicap on the first day of the Ashburton meeting. Battle On was sent out 3-2 in the betting on Handicap on Saturday. He justified his confident support by beginning smartly and leading all the way to win by a length and a half from Gamble King. Battle On appreciates the sting out of the tracfc, and he should do well at the winter meetings. In Steady Work Q. S. Tasker had hopes of racing Sir Michael at the Auckland meeUng this week, but as the classes do not suit, the will not make the trip. The Ltisty Volo colt is being kept in work and will make his next appearance at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting in August. May be a Bargain Making his third appearance since being purchased by Messrs R. T. and A. Sr Johnston, News Agent made a quick return of his purchase price when he conceded starts of up to 24 yards in the Tinwald Handicap at Ashburton, and finished strongly to win by a length from Ace of Diamonds, with the favourite, Theabelle, in third place. Driven by D. Morland, News Agent began well, and with four furlongs covered was followed Monqymate, Veritas, Theabelle, Great Show, and Ace of Diamonds. Morland was content to remain in this position until the straight was reached, where he quickly put the issue beyond doubt. A five-year-old gelding by Grattan Loyal from Emily de Oro, News Agent was previously owned and trained at New Brighton by L. Davidson, who sold him a short time after he won two races at the Marlborough Trotting Club’s meeting in March.

Winning Milford Girl, a two-year-aid filly by Dillon Hall from Sister Polly, has been sold to Auckland. On breeding this youngster should go far, as her dam, Sister Polly, was a smart pacer, taking a mile and a half record of 3min 17 l-ssec. By Wrack, she is from Our Nurse, a producer of a winning family which includes well-known performers in Probationer, Chevalier, Sure, Salalon, Night Nurse, and Come Away. To be Retired

"He takes a lot of work," said D. Teahen when discussing Desmond's Pride- at Ashburton on Saturday, "and I think I will retire him after tp-day.” Desmond’s Pride gave a good exhibition of trotting in the Mayfield Handicap, where he began quickly from the 48 yards mark, and after being in the first four at th« entrance to the straight, finished solidly to earn the fourth prize of £l5. A handsome horse, Desmond’s Pride is by Quite Sure from Roydon’s Pride, the dam of Certissimus. The Half-hopple The half-hopple was first used over half a century ago at Tahuna Park (writes, "Sentinel” )• It consisted of loops on each foreleg, connected with a line running through a ring fastened to the back of the noseband. It was used by the late Mr W. McKewen when he trained at Tahuna Park. Another short-lived invention tried at Tahuna Park was a onewheel sulky, with the driver sitting over the wheel. Growing Team Lady Baltimore, a Gamble mare, and Westland Lady, a U. Scott mare, are recent additions to J. Purdon's growing team, which includes Golden Glow, Trevathan. Canny Scott, and Air Spray. Private Track V. Aiborn, who has been training his team at Addington for many years, is laying down a private track on his property at Riccarton, and when this is comoleted his horses will be transferred there. Aiborn believes in giving his horses plenty of fast work, and the absence of his team from Addington will rob the training there of much interest. Late Dividends Arrangements have been made by the Ashburton Trotting Club for late dividends to be paid at the totalisator department of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, 90 Armagh street, Christchurch, to-day, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (Christchurch patrons only). —AdVtN.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Entries for all events at the N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club’s winter meeting, to be held oh the 29th tnst.. will close at 5 p.m. to-morrow (Tuesday). —Advt.