CLASH OF FORM

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

CLASH OF FORM

BEN LEDI MAY WIN IMPROVERS’ RACE Several recent winners, including Glowworm, Sandy’s Selection, Ben Ledi, Carisbrook, Confirmed, Darkle Grattan, Mountain Hall, Rey Potts, Theabelle, and Wee Logan will meet in the Improvers’ Handicap , at Addington to-morrow, and they should provide one of the most interesting races on the programme. Ben Ledi, which is trained for Mr D. Blanchard by P. P. Gallagher, Washdyke, won impressively on the first day of the Ashburton meeting, and he may be the favourite when the totalisator closes. Sandy s Selection won at a matinee meetbut raced greenly on the Nelsbn trip, and she should do better with more experience. Glowworm, a winner at Nelson, is improving rapidly and as he gave a good display to finish third from the 36 vards mark in the Lyndhurst Trot at Ashburton last week, he should finish in the money to-morrow. Carisbrook has done everything right for E. A. Berry since winning at the matinee meeting at Addington, and he should develop into a useful pacer. The recent performances of Darkle Grattan have kept her in the limelight, and with the track conditions to suit her the two-year-old filly should not t»e disgraced by the older horses. Confirmed won a division in fine style on the first day of the Ashburton meeting, but at his next appearance he broke at the start of the Tinwald Handicap on the second day and spoilt the good impression he had created.

Making one of his rare safe starts, Rey Potts gave nothing else a chance to win the Trial Handicap at Ashburton on June 15 by 12 lengths from Indigo, which has won since then, and if A. McKenzie can persuade him to leave the mark correctly to-morrow he must be one of the hardest to beat.

Theabelle has been racing consistently for L. O. Thomas to record a win and five minor placings in her seven starts this season, and on form she must be conceded a chance. Wee Logan finished with a late run to win the Waikaura Trot at the Oamaru Jockey Club’s meeting, but at the difference in the handicaps Mountain Hall, a winner at the same meeting, may be preferred, as he Is by Dillon Hall, most of the stock of which handle heavy tracks particularly well. In a race which is full of possibilities, Ben Ledi, Mountain Hall, and Theabelle may be in most demand with investors. Jottings

G. S. Smith took his candidates for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting to New Brighton to work on Wednesday morning, and he will probably follow the same procedure to-day. V. Alborn’s Golden Game has won at her last two starts, and she should race well off the front of the Federal Handicap at Addington to-morrow, Axworthy Star is a newcomer among the trotters in the Trial Handicap at Addington. Trained by B. V. Tully, Lower Hutt, he is an aged gelding by Travis Axworthy from Native Star, and he has four minor placings in his last six starts to his credit. H. J. Smith has improved Wade Lane, and under his guidance this son of Rey de Oro and Margaret Chenault has registered two wins and six minor placings this season. Wade Lane raced well at the Ashburton meeting, and he may get some of the money in the Federal Handicap. Worthy Treasure, which previously raced in the interests of Mr C. Campbell, is now owned and trained by w. L. Harris, Tai Tapu. Both Good C. M. Laing has a useful bracket in Jimmy Wharton and Quartermaster engaged in the Trial Handicap at Addington to-morrow. Quartermaster is now staying on much better in his races, and at his last appearance won the Addington Handicap from Endowed on a holding track at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on May 25. Jimmy Wharton, which is now racing in the interests of Miss P. J. Andrew, who recently returned from overseas, has a win and two minor placings to his credit this season, and he should soon win a race for his new owner. Bred by Miss Andrews’ father, Jimmy Wharton is by Quite Sure from Rose Wharton, by First Fashion from Theda Bara, by Van Coronado from Norice. Brackets The following horses will be bracketed on the totalisator at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting tomorrow:—Trial Handicap, Jimmy Wharton and Quartermaster; Lightning Handicap, Golden Glow and Trevathan, Loyal Nelson and Copper Trail, Pocket Book and Stimulant, Victory Boy and Grattan Bells; Federal Handicap, Cumnock and Wee Jack; Lincoln Handicap, Fighting Friend and Lee Berry; Selwyn Handicap, Air Marshall and Bien Sur; Final Handicap, Golden Glow and Trevathan, Windermere and Dinghy.

Will Have An Advantage Aided by the services of a first-class horseman in P. P. Gallagher, Imperial Grattan should show up from the 24 yards mark in the mile saddle event, the Lightning Handicap, at Addington to-morrow. Imperial Grattan proved that he is in form by leading for most of the way in the Durbar Handicap at Ashburton, and on that performance this speedy son of Grattan Loyal and Craignfeuk should have the edge on most of his opponents. Jack High, which was fired after racing at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting in November, is back in work and is now in Gallagher’s team at Washdyke. He is a six-year-old horse by Gamble from Lady Dunmore. Jack High has not been placed in his four starts this season, but he showed good form last term to record three wins and three minor placings in 10 starts.

Failed to Go Away Much to the surprise of W. D. Scott, who trains Big Ben at Hornby, this pacer was confidently supported to win the Lyndhurst Trot Handicap at the Ashburton Racing Club’s meeting, but he took no serious part in the race after falling to go away correctly at the start. Scott was not sanguine about Big Ben’s chances, and he said that he could not understand what had caused the horse to be so well supported. This massive son of Lusty Volo and Atonement was paraded again in the Winchmore Handicap later in the day, where he repeated his mistake at the start and lost about 100 yards. Once on the journey he showed some speed, and he may improve with racing and travelling experience. Big Ben, which will race at the Cheviot meeting next week, does not like horse-floats and horse-trucks, and to get him to the Ashburton meeting It was necessary to rail him in an open cattle truck. Cheviot Trotting Club Withdrawals for all events at the Cheviot Trotting Club’s meeting at Rangiora on Saturday, July 6, will close today (Friday), June 28, 1946, at the office of Byrne and Company, 193 Cashel street, Christchurch, —Advt.