METROPOLITAN MEETING

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24913, 28 June 1946, Page 4

METROPOLITAN MEETING

TROTTING

TO-MORROW’S PROSPECTS

Dunmore and Margaret Hall, which have both shown outstanding form this season, will probably carry most support in the Midwinter Handicap, the main event at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting to-morrow. All hopes of the track drying out were dashed when rain fell yesterday, and, at best, the going will be holding.

This will definitely suit Margaret Hall, which revelled in the heavy going at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting in May to win three races at her last three starts. A five-year-old daughter of Dillon Hall and Tondeleyo, Margaret Hall has a record of six wins and five minor placings in 21 starts this season.

Dunmore, which will receive 24 yards’ start from Margaret Hall, has made a spectacular rise from maiden company this season. His first win was over Tony Grattan in the first division of the Trial Handicap at Oamaru, and his second was over Honest Peter in the McLean Handicap at Ashburton on Boxing Day. At nls next start he beat Plunder Bar in the Lyttelton Handicap at the Canterbury Park meeting, and followed up with a win in the Belfast Handicap at the New Brighton meeting on February 16. Dunmore’s last success was in the Papanui Handicap on the second day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Easter meeting, and in that race he gave a high-class display to win by three lengths from Chinook, with Water Ranger another two lengths away in third place, followed by Imperial Grattan. Dunmore started in the Durbar Handicap at the Ashburton meeting, and with the benefit of that race he should be at his best tomorrow.

The back-marker, Elation, is one of the proved mudlarks of the field, and as he has won his last two starts in heavy going he must be respected. Plunder Bar, Scotch Music, and Ingle Belmer look the pick of the remainder. Ingle Belmer has some smart efforts to her credit, and she may test Dunmore, Margaret Hall, and Elation over the final stages. The following may be well supported:—10.47 a.m.—Trial Handicap: Betty Maxegin, Maximum, Jimmy Wharton. 11.27 a.m.—Lightning Handicap: Imperial Grattan,- Worthy Prince, Jervis Bay. 12.7 p.m.—lmprovers’ Handicap: Ben Ledi, Mountain Hall, Theabelle. 12.52 p.m.—Midwinter Handicap: Dunmore, Margaret Hall, Elation.

1.37 p.m.—Federal Handicap: Bonny Clare, Wade Lane, Dyrham Lea. 2.22 p.m.—Lincoln Handicap: Jimmy Dillon, Believe Me, Nationalist. 3.7 p.m.—Selwyn Handicap: Gamble King, Doonholme, Raven.

3.52 p.m.—Final Handicap: Minmi Boy, Copper Trail, Fashion Club.