METROPOLITAN MEETING

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24914, 29 June 1946, Page 4

METROPOLITAN MEETING

TROTTING

TO-DAY’S PROSPECTS

Betty Maxegin has previously shown good form on heavy tracks, and she should be m her element in the Trial Handicap, the opening event at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting, which will be held at Addington to-day. This Maxegin mare signalled a return to winning form, when, after being forced to a break In the early stages of the Addington Handicap at the Canterbury Park meeting on May 25, she made up her lost ground to finish in third place to Quartermaster and Endowed. She was then taken to the Ashburton meeting on June 1, and gave a fine display to win the Stewards’ Handicap from Calumella and Royal Stone. On the second day of the meeting she was going well when she appeared to strike trouble at the entrance to the straight, and this appeared to® rob her of a winning chance.

Belle Header, Calumella, Great Worth, and Golden Amazon are off the front mark; Belle Header and Calumella both gave encouraging performances at the Ashburton meeting. Golden Amazon was well supported at Ashburton, but he lost his chance on the second day of the meeting when he failed to leave the mark correctly. Some likely improvers will start from the 12 yards mark, but of these Tolerate and Maximum may do best. Maximum is improving with every race, and she looks one of the best place propositions of the day.

Of those further back in the handicaps, Jimmy Wharton and Quartermaster are possibilities; but on her recent form Betty Maxegin should hold this field safely with Maximum likely to provide most opposition. Heavy' rain fell again yesterday, and the track will probably be heavy throughout the programme. “As long as it is fine overhead the meeting will be held,” said the secretary of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club (KTr H. E. Goggin) last evening. “If it is raining in the morning a meeting will be held at 8 o’clock and the position considered.”

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: Starshell, Bonny Clare, Wade Lane. 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.

The following is the programme:— TRIAL HANDICAP, of £425: 3min 56 sec class (trotters); one mile and five furlongs —Belie Header, . Calumella, Golden Amazon, Great Worth scr; Appreciate, Axworthy Star, Maximum, Probable, Rival Chief, Tolerate 12; Blackdale, Jimmy Wharton, King Parrish, Song Bird 24; Betty Maxegin 48; Freckles, Quartermaster, Sure Harvest 60.

LIGHTNING HANDICAP, of £500; 2min 17sec class; one mile.—Elaine Travis, Golden Glow, Jervis Bay, Loyal Nelson, Maalesh, Pocket Book, Sir Julien, Stimulant, Sunny Nelson, Victory Boy, Volo’s Victory scr; Copper Trail, Larry Grattan, Quite Evident, Trevathan, Worthy Prince 12; Bank Again, Grattan Bells, Imperial Grattan, Siege Gun 24. IMPROVERS HANDICAP, of £400; 3min 34sec class; one mile and a half.— Ellery Queen, Gioworm, Sandy’s Selection scr: Ben Ledi, Carisbrook. Confirmed. Darkle Grattan, Mountain Hall, Rey Potts, Robinette, Rose o’ Day, Theabelle 12; Ace of Diamonds. Hanover 24; Count Fosco, Wee Logan 36: Loyal Peg, Scottish Lord 48. MIDWINTER HANDICAP, of £1500; 4min 31sec class; two miles.—Dunmore. Lou Hall, Golden Shadow. Nola Scott, Scottish Lady scr; Fancy Goods. Ingle Belmer, Plunder Bar 12; Imperial Lady. Margaret Hall, Pre-Eminence, Scotch Music 24; Elation 36.

FEDERAL HANDICAP, of £600; 4min 44sec class; two miles.—Bonny Clare, Golden Gaine. Real Nugget, Right Royal. Sir Gaillard, Starshell. Top Line, Wee Jack scr; County Clare, Cumnock, Dyrham Lea 12; Bonny Bridge. News Agent. Wade Lane 24; Ben Adam. Stimulant 36.

LINCOLN HANDICAP, of £500; 3min 50sec class (trotters); one mile and five furlongs.—Cleeve Hill, Invigorator, Worthy Treasure scr; Fighting Friend, Jimmy Dillon. Paul Parrish, Royal Dale, Tall Timber 12; Believe Me, Castigate, Frank Scott, Lee Berry, Nationalist 24; Firewater 48. SELWYN HANDICAP, of £1100; 4min 36sec class; two miles.—Air Marshall, Bien Sur, Doonholme. Tom Gundy scr; Raven. Renown’s Pride 12; Gamble King, Quite Happy, Tenpennybit, Vimy Ridge 24; Bel Hamed, Princess Maritza. Water Ranger 48

FINAL HANDICAP, ot £750; 4mm 40sec class; two miles.—Convincer, Fashion Club, Golden Glow, Huntingdon Lass, Jervis Bay, Lord Peterson, Sir Julien, Sunny Nelson, Volo’s Victory, Windermere scr; Copper Trail, Dandy Grattan, Lanaco, Minmi Boy, Trevathan 12; Dinghy. Worthy Prince 24; Bank Again, Imperial Grattan 36.