EPSOM TRACK WORK

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25995, 24 December 1949, Page 4

EPSOM TRACK WORK

TROTTING

VICTORY DALE IN FORM ’’The Press’* Special Service _ , AUCKLAND, December 23. The half-mile training record for the outside of the course proper at Epsom, established by Van Derby 10 years ago, was equalled by the Oamaru-trained pacer, Victory Dale, when he returned 2 2-ssec this morning. He finished orilliantly over the concluding stage of two miles *to overhaul Sahara Queen which was responsible for the fast pace and stayed on courageously to record Imin 3sec. The track was in excellent order. A good deal of interest was taken in the work of visiting horses engaged at the Auckland Trotting Club’s summer meeting, which will be opened on Tuesday. Captain Sandy again drew attention to his prospects in the £5lOO Trotting Cup when he finished alongside Coliseum at the end of two miles, registering Imin 3 l-ssec for the last half mile, his stablemate recording Imin 3 2-ssec. Coliseum was just as impressive as Captain Sandy. Another cup candidate, Dundee Sandy, worked soundly, although he failed to hold off the Epsom-trained Caledonian Gold, which ran the final two furlongs in 30sec. The North Island Challenge Stakes and Great Northern ,Derby colt, Harkaway, attracted particular - attention in defeating Hillsborough and running the final section in Imin 4 2-ssec. The South Island trotter, Two Step, which ran his half mile in Imin 7 3-ssec, the brothers, Concord and Ripcord, Vinceremo, Sure Money, and the local representatives, Sandyetta and Ginger Joe, all gave solid displays. Sahara Queen (J. Bain) jumped away at the two miles about three lengths ahead of Victory Dale (J. Bryce), but while the former was still clear and going splendidly at the distance, she could not hold off Victory Dale, which ran the distance in 4min 53sec, the last two furlongs in 31sec. Sahara Queen, which is trained by C. G. Isaacson, is a good type of mare. Victory Dale, a plain-looking gelding, possesses a rare turn of speed. There was little between Two Step (G. O’Connor) and Calando (J. McLennan) at the conclusion of a mile and a half in 3min 41sec. Two Step, which trailed the pacer, gave a fine trotting display, showing speed over the last two furlongs in 33sec. Two Step, a four-year-old by Light Brigade, is a consistent performer. Old Scotch (McLennan) jumped, away from the two miles, but after passing the mile and three-quarters in 4min Msec, was eased. Re ran the first mile and a half in 3min 40sec, and was not overtaxed. Old Scotch has made appreciable progress of late. Coliseum (Bain) led Captain Sandy (Bryce) for the major portion of two miles, but the cup candidate, with his customary final dash, was alongside his companion at the end in smin 1 l-ssec. The pace was solid over the latter part of the journey: Captain Sandy running the last mile in 2min 21 l-ssec, the final quarter in 31 l-ssec. Coliseum also worked attractively, and made' friends for his St. Helier’s Handicap engagement on Tuesday. Both pacers are in splendid racing condition. Fortuna (R. August), Dundee Sandy (V. Alborn), and Caledonian Gold (I. R. Morrison) were associated over a mile and a half, the first-named leading to the mile in 2min 33sec, where Dundee Sandy took charge to be shaded at the finish by Caledonian Gold in 3min 38sec after running the last half mile in Imin 4 4-ssec. Caledonian Gold and Dundee Sandy both put dash into the finish. Golden Game (Alborn) covered a mile and a quarter in 3min 1 3-ssec, the last half mile in Imin 9sec. The Gold Bar mare paced smoothly, sprinting the final quarter in 33 3-ssec. Aqua Lady (P. O’Reilly) and Novacord (Grant) worked an easy two miles, the last half-mile in Imin 13 3-ssec, being the fastest section.