AN EARLY

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24904, 18 June 1946, Page 6

AN EARLY

TROTTING

COUNTLESS IN FQm, AGAIN I After being one of the sloweat u gin in the All-Aged Stakes arjNhtawtiE* Countless gave a fine display tSfiSBC?* neck behind Turco in second * the field settled down. only Dundee Sandy and Tfirco Kpi?* him, and with three furlongs cover*?*?* was at the rear of the field. A G rT lison, his trainer-driver, gradually* proved his position, but it was not well into the straight that he possibility. Vigorously driven, Counu 4 revealed his best form to pass anH Turco; and on his performance he shnTu be an early winner. Countless has not won a race for • than 17 months, his last success vf* over Happy Man and Integrity in the terbury Handicap at the Canterbury Trotting. Club’s meeting on 1944; but he is racing in classes whai.’ the stakes are big, and his six minor ings this season have earned him An aged gelding by Jack Potts ’ Purple Patch, he races in the interest 5 his breeder. Mr P. A. Watson, Methvw? who also bred other winners in Rey and Ingle Belmer from the mare. Purple Patch was bred by Mr v Goulding, Christchurch, and is by Ret Oro from a Logan Pointer mare, wh ; rh is Advance from Papilla, a , Jottings Flame’s prospects looked bright in ik. Longbeach Handicap at Ashburton wjS she took the lead with a mile to go- hm after following Silver Volo at the furlongs peg she did not finish on as hi? been expected, and was sixth to cross tS line. Emondale was giving the leaders ab'nn 36 .yards start in the Waikaura aUOamaru with half a mile to go, butfi sustained a fast finishing run over last three furlongs to finish in mmS place to Wee Logan. This was a partfeu larly smart effort, and, better placed m the handicaps, he should be an early wfa. ner. To win a race. Bay Jack would neea to show a lot of improvement on his per. formance in the Trial Handicap at iSburton. W. R. Butt had Shadow Maid.wellplaced early in the All-Aged Stakes at Ashbur ton, but she appeared to lose her hahSL with three furlongs to go and was likely afterwards. Wore Heavy Shoes “He surprised me,” said W. L. Harris, the owner-trainer of Beethoven, that trotter had finished third in the Lombeach Handicap on Saturday. *T not intend to start him, and told blacksmith to put road shoes on him when he was shod during the week. Thev didn't trouble him at all, and he W a really good race.” Bred by Mr J » Dack, Spreydon, Beethoven is by Michael Galindo from Connie Audubon, and Is now 15 years of age. Age rests lightly on him. however, and his three third placings in his three starts this season show that he still has a fair turn of speed. Struck Trouble The supporters of Imperial Grattan, which was sent out favourite for tha Winter Handicap at Ashburton, were rocbed x>f any chance they had, when the Grattan Loyal gelding struck trouble as the barriers were released and lost valuable ground. F. P. Gallagher has Imperial Grattan looking well, and, after his good performance to lead for most of the journey in the Durbar Handicap on the first day of the Ashburton Trotting Club's meeting, he should soon atone for this defeat. Ashburton Racing Club Withdrawals for thd winter meeting ue due with the secretary, Ashburton, at 8 to-night. —Advt