Yardgar, Irish Ace School Well At Trentham

Press, Volume C, Issue 29557, 5 July 1961, Page 4

Yardgar, Irish Ace School Well At Trentham

•'Vne Press* Speewt Service WELLINGTON, July 4. The Wellington Steeplechase candidate, Yard gar, was associated with Irish Ace in a splendid school over 10 fences at Trentham this morning. It was a searching but necessary test for both horses as* neither had a real race at Hastings last week, both falling early.

They showed in their school that their confidence had not been impaired. Of the two Yardgar gave the better exhibition. Irish Ace is engaged ih the Mariri Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase on Saturday. Irish Ace (Gibbs) led Yardgar (Mudgway) over the first fence, a boards at the seven furlongs, and maintained his advantage till Yardgar, with a magnificent leap, drew on terms at the second last obstacle. The latter conceded ground at the final fence when he dipped on landing. Irish Ace also lost his footing on landing. but regained it quicker than his companion. The bout was over alternate board and brush fences. Irish Ace ran about at the first and second and Yardgar followed the lead, but not to the same extent. Irish Ace did likewise at his second attempt over these fences, but Yardgar had then settled to his task and took the obstacles truely. , Both blew after their work, which was to be expected after their short-lived outings at Hastings. Vardgar’s only success this season was in the Greenlane Hack Steeplechase, in which he beat Musketeer comfortably. At his next start he was fourth in the McGregor Grant Steeplechase, won by Fend; at Kllerslie, and then

when well fancied he fell at the fifth fence in the Hastings Steeplechase. Irish Ace. winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase in 1958. resumed racing after a long spell at the Hawke's Bay meeting where he fell in his two outings. His showing this morning suggested that he 'will give a better account of himself this week Little Fast Work Most of the northern team is at Trentham but there was little fast work. The visitors include Drumhirk, Speedwell, Mark. Royal Dragoon. Otara. Firenze, Rauloch, Sambula. Special Terms. Duriray. Phoenician, Cretan, frish Ace. Deesse. Persian Fair, Yardgar, Malways. Valuation, Rosina Ann and Climbing. The Matamata trainer, L. W. Ford, has the biggest representation at the meeting, with Phoenician. Special Terms. Deesse. Cretan. Irish Ace and Persian Fair. Phoenician, top-weight in the Whyte Handicap, has freshened well since his unbeaten record in three attempts at the Great Northern meeting. He did light work off a lead this morning. Cretan also looks well. A good type for a hurdler, he has shown promise in the north. He is engaged in the Vittoria Hack Hurdles. Deesse lightened up after

her close second to Erldon on the first day at Hastings, which accounted for her bypassing her engagement last week. She will have had time to recover before contesting the Stewards’ Handicap on Saturday. Persian Fair is an unlikely starter in the Woburn Hack Handicap. She will be reserved for the Trial Plate on the second day. Dunray (Potter) completed two rounds at a solid pace, revelling in his task. He looks in better condition than when he paraded at Hastings last week and he pulled up well. He has excellent prospects bf winning his second Wellington Steeplechase. Dame Jolie's Sprint The best of the few fas’ gallops on the trial grass, which was holding, was performed by Dame Jolie (Wilkins). Carrying a solid weight she left half a mile behind in 54 2-ssec, the final three furlongs taking 38sec She is a candidate for the Trial Plate on Wednesday. Royal Leigh (Wylie) sprinted three furlongs behind in 41sec. He shows pace in training. but his race-day efforts have not been in keeping. Crusoe (Veitch) was six lengths ahead of How's Elsie (Ackland) at the end of five furlongs, the last four in 55sec and the final three in 41sec. El Jildi (Blutcher) was left off with half a mile at threequarter pace. He looks improved with his recent racing and has a good chance of repeating his win of last year in the Te Aro Hack Handicap. Sambula (Mudgway) showed he has done well since racing at Hastings, where he recorded a second and a first, when he ended, two rounds of pacework with three furlongs in 39 3-ssec. He is iikely to be .xme of the favourites for' the Vittoria Hack Hurdles. Fend, one of the favourites for the Wellington Steeplechase, is quartered at Otaki. Truella. an acceptor for the Woburn Hack Handicap, did not accompany W. Winder’s other representatives Valuation and Rosina Ann. to the meeting.