TRACK WORK AT TRENTHAM

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27246, 13 January 1954, Page 4

TRACK WORK AT TRENTHAM

MT. DENBY GALLOPS IMPRESSIVELY

BRILLIANT HALF-MILE BY jAponica “The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON, January 12. . The top-weight, Mt. Denby, did the most impressive trial for the Royal Wellington Cup at Trentham today, though he did not record the best time. This went to the credit of Pierre, which beat Coaltown and Gold Scheme.

Akbar and Master Proven were other cup candidates which worked well without recording outstanding times.

Japonica took the honours among the sprinters with a brilliant half-mile. Lord Fort was no less impressive over five furlongs. Other good sprints were performed by Royal Applause, Hot Drop, Wakatu, Seven Bells and Gold Pal. Among the “lesser lights,” Traffic Cop and Bahrein drew attention to their prospects at the meeting. Galloping took place on the outside of the trial grass, which provided splendid going. Winslow Boy (Salisbury), with an advantage in weight, led Mt. Denby (Mackie) and Reformed (Crombie) in the early stages of a mile. Reformed dropped back running to the three furlongs, where Mt. Denby moved up alongside Winslow Boy. Mt. Denby finished full of running and had a length advantage at the post, with Reformed tailed off. Mt. Denby ran the distance in Imin 43 4-ssec. The speed was increased over the last half-mile, which was completed in 50 3-ssec, the final three furlongs taking 36 3-ssec. Mt. Denby hit out with great freedom. Winslow Boy went freely early, but was stopping at the end. Reformed looks far from his best.

_With the best of the weights, Pierre (Eastwood) finished strongly to beat Coaltown (Bowry) by a length, with Gold Scheme (Ellis) only half a length away, at the end of a mile in Imin 43sec. Coaltown made the early pace, but Pierre gathered him in in the final furlong. The last half-mile was run in 51sec. and the final three furlongs in 37sec. Pierre will be ridden by K. Nuttall. Coaltown has come through his racing at Ellerslie extremely well. Gold Scheme did not lose friends by his display. He was under a hold throughout, and had a lot in reserve at the finish. Showed Great Speed Japonica (Campbell) showed great speed when she covered half a mile in 47 4-ssec, the last three furlongs in 35sec. Japonica has won at Trentham previously having beaten a good field in the Fitzherbert Handicap last January. She faces a difficult task in the Telegraph Handicap from 26 at the barrier. Lord Fort (Ellis) showed that he is at his best for the Telegraph Handicap when he shaded Bahrein (Biggs) at the end of five furlongs in Imin 2 2-ssec, the last three in 36 4-ssec.

Lord Fort looks trained to the minute. Bahrein did well for a horse of his class. Akbar (Wilson) and Overboard (Crombie) were companions over seven furlongs in Imin 30sec, the last three furlongs in 37 2-ssec. Overboard was eliminated from the Wellington Cup, but will contest the principal handicaps on the later days. Master Proven (Long) was restrained to be half a length behind Roka (Mudford) at the end of a comfortable mile in Imin 45sec, the final three furlongs in 38

Master Proven was fifth in the Auckland Cup and has trained on well since. Roka is making a- good recovery from the injuries he sustained on the trip down, and hit out freely this morning. z The two-year-old, Royal Applause (Campbell) was not troubled to run half a mile in 48 3-ssec, the last three furlongs in 35 4-ssec. Wakatu (Wilson) and Seven Bells (Mudiord) were together, three lengths in front of Elcano (Crombie), after running half a mile in 48 2-ssec. the final. three furlongs in 35 3-ssec. Though the Ellerslie iorm of Seven Bells was not in keeping with his .best, his condition cannot be faulted. Gold Pal (Salisbury) was too good for Karessa (Messervy), finishing two lengths in front, with Ruletta (Toki) well back, at the end of half a mile in 48 4-ssec, the final three furlongs in 36 4-ssec. Gold Pal is not a certain starter in the Telegraph Handicap, Ruletta was in a mulish mood, and would not raise a gallop, but she galloped brilliantly on Saturday. Traffic Cop (Messervy) was doing better than Gay Revel (Salisbury) at the end of six furlongs in Imin 18sec, the last three furlongs in 36 6-ssec. Traffic Cop, a winner at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, may race prominently in the Camp Hack Handicap. Idaho (Nuttall) was a length in front of Travesty (Curtis) at the end of an easy mile in Imin 47sec, the last three furlongs in 39sec. Travesty has a big weight in the Temarua High-weight, but his Ellerslie form was good. Nepquex (Campbell) ran the last haff of a mile in 53 l-ssec.

Rio Negro (Shaw) and Ferdinand (Nathan) were together throughout an easy half-mile in 53 3-ssec, the final three furlongs in 39sec. Te Kooti Improving Tallarook (Mackie) was doing better than Te Kooti (Eastwood) over seven furlongs in Imin 31 l-ssec, the last three furlongs in 37 l-ssec. Tallarook is not engaged on Thursday. Te Kooti did not do well early on his northern trip, but he appears to be picking up again now. Takatu (Messervy) galloped boldly over six furlongs, the last four being run in 50 4-ssec, and the last three in 37 4-ssec. He looks well for engagements on the later days. Star Sapphire (Carbin) was two lengths in front of Mainlander (Nuttall), after running seven furlongs in Imin 32sec„ the last four in 53 l-ssec.

Mainlander had something in reserve at the end. A last-start winner, he should race prominently in the Te Marua HighWeight. Zingabo (Eastwood) pulled hard over half a mile in 49sec, the final three furlongs in 36sec. Paper Strip (Wilson) covered five furlongs in Imin 3 2-ssec, the final four in 48 4-ssec.

Windsor (Nathan) finished on and shaded Poetical (Nuttall) at the end of a mile, the last seven furlongs taking Imin 31 4-ssec, and the final three 38 3-5 sec.

Operashah (Campbell) was a length in front of Crusoe Bay (Noanoa) at the end of_ five furlongs, the last three, in 37 Sawdust did not have to do his best to cover half a mile in 51 4-ssec. Beaverbrook (Nuttall) was under a good hold, half a length ahead of Highland Lassie (Carbin), after running a mile in Imin 44 2-ssec, the last three furlongs in 37 4-ssec. Highland Lassie moved scratchily ! throughout. Kingship (Finlayson) was doing better than William Hyde (Eastwood) throughout six furlongs in Imin 18sec, the final three in 37 3-ssec. Glenkay (Eastwood) was travelling comfortably alongside Chattan (Biggs) at the end of half a mile in 49sec, the final three furlongs taking 36sec. Both have done well since they were successful at Wairarapa. Golden Orders (Clark; finished solidly to be half a length ahead of Gold Command (Toki), with Precious Lady (Biggs) well back, at the end of seven furlongs in Imin 32sec, the final three furlongs in 37sec.

The two-year-olds had the use of the course proper from the six furlongs chute. On this track, Hot Drop (Campbell) and Tutanekai (Mudford) were responsible for an excellent effort when they ran half a mile in 48 l-ssec. They finished together and ran the final three furlongs in 35 4-ssec. Nottingham (Biggs) and Mystery Trap (Eastwood) were not bustled to rAord 39sec for the last three furlongs of half a mile.

Fourteen Carat is an unlikely runner in the Pencarrow Hack Handicap.