Thursday’s Best Training Runs

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30633, 26 December 1964, Page 7

Thursday’s Best Training Runs

The brilliant filly Trial Offer consolidated her place as favourite for today's Great Northern Derby with a fast mile at Takanini on Thursday. Visiting horses were also impressive at Awapuni and Wangitui, where horses engaged at the Manawatu and Dunedin Cup meetings did their final trials. Best gallops at the Takanini. Ellerslie, Awapuni, Riccarton. and Wingatui are given below.

Takaniui Trial Offer led Blue Heather by nearly a length with Ravenwood (Staveley) close at the end of a mile on the No. 1 grass against the rails in Imin 43 3-ssec. Trial Offer ran ahead of the other two near the three furlongs and was timed to go the last six in Imin 13 4-ssec. Thunderhead, which will be meeting Trial Offer and Sobig in the Derby, started easily from the mile and quickened speed to run the last six furlongs in Imin 13 4-ssec and four in 49sec. That was a fine gallop taking into account that he worked alone. Bandon settled his stablemate Tillv Light very quickly in the dying stages of a mile in Imin 44sec. In the last 100 yards Holland allowed Bandon to stretch out so that

he put a couple of lengths on Tilly Light. Sobig (Medcalfe) cantered from the mile and put on the pace to run the last half in 48 3-ssec. Pipe Dream, out for a “working” gallop, dashed over five furlongs in 60 4-ssec. Wandering Minstrel (Jury) ran three furlongs in 35sec. The horses able to make that time over three furlongs ending up the straight have been few and far between. Ellerslie With the poles out 45ft on the course proper, Blyton ran a mile in Imin 43 4-ssec, the last six furlongs with her stablemate, Clipjoint, in Imin 17 3-ssec. Arakhan also went a mile, taking Imin 44 3-ssec for the full distance and 51 2-ssec for the last half-mile with Baloo. Baraboo impressed over five furlongs. He was assisted over the last half-mile by the two-year-old Happy Jan but finished full of running to complete his task in Imin 1 l-ssec—an exceptionally good gallop with the poles so far out . The Hastings jockey. Kevin Cullen, has been engaged to ride Baraboo in the Newmarket Handicap. Awapuni On the course proper. I Count Carmel and Colonel

Flack were too good for Great Affair at the end of five furlongs in 1:3 3-ssec, the last three in 38 2-ssec. Gymkhana impressed over five furlongs in 1:4 l-ssec, the last three in 37 3-ssec. He looks ready to show improvement in the Boron Handicap. Acapulco impressed alongside Gallant Knight over a half a mile in 50sec, the last three furlongs in 37sec. Straight Irish, Sundeed and Apa finished in line over seven furlongs in l:33see, the last three in 40sec. Straight Irish worked in improved fashion on the firmer ground. Hi-Minx impressed to beat Customs easily over six furlongs in 1:18 2-ssec, the last three in 39 2-ssec. Riccarton

Pawnee and Apache ran a mile on the plough, which gave excellent going, in 1:43 4-ssec, the opening half in 50 2-ssec. Apache is a form runner in the St Andrews Highweight at Washdyke on Tuesday. Aoudo was going well alongside Sir Limond ending six furlongs in 1:18 l-ssec, the last half-mile in 51 4-5 sec. Aoudo runs in the Albury Stakes at Washdyke. Magic Ring impressed in running seven furlongs in 1:30 l-ssec, a time that had

eluded several horses tested in company. Fastest over half a mile were Frolicsome and Last Dip. They were on terms at the end in 49 2-ssec, the last three furlongs in the fast time of 36sec. Wingatui On the course proper, 40ft out Llanmai sprinted six furlongs in l:18sec, the last half-mile in 51sec. Taking advantage of a light weight Valuate drew away to beat Kumai, Great Howe, and The Slug by five lengths over six furlongs. Valuate recorded l:l7sec, the last half-mile in 51sec. The “beaten” division in the gallop took l:2osec, but the trainers of these horses, H. A. Anderton (Kumai and The Slug) and R. Heasley (Great Howe) were satisfied. Royal News, with an advantage in the weights, beat Friar’s Birthday and Soutaine by half a length over seven furlongs, run in 1:33 2-ssec, the opening half-mile in 52 l-ssec. Hot Foot sprinted half a mile in 50sec, the final three furlongs in 37 4-ssec—easily the best short sprint of the morning. Rondabelle ran the same distance on the plough in 51sec.