TROTTING Rothesay In Splendid Trial At Meth ven

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30725, 14 April 1965, Page 5

TROTTING Rothesay In Splendid Trial At Meth ven

Rothesay, which may start his Easter racing at Omakau next Tuesday, shaped like an early improver when he won his heat of the free-for-all at the Methven trials yesterday. Rothesay has had only three starts so far this season and has yet to show form.

His effort yesterday was a sound one and when he reverts to slow-class handicap racing, he should not be long in returning to winning form.

Rothesay revelled in the sottish track conditions and was always prominently placed in his race. He followed Urrall past the mile post, with Rustic Lad, Gin Sling, Terrace Dale, Morano Star, Lottery Song and Terri Lee following.

Rothesay challenged inside the furlong and finished full of running to win by a length and a half after taking 2min 15 l-ssec for his last mile, the final half-mile in lmin 4 4-ssec, a smart run in the conditions, especially as the horses raced out towards the middle of the track.

Rustic Lad, which is to resume racing at Gore on April 24, to be followed by the Forbury Park meeting, was well placed throughout and finished on well for second. Rustic Lad has recovered well from an injury he received at Forbury Park late in February.

Terrace Dale, which is not engaged at the week-end, was slow away and made up ground for third, ahead of another slow beginner in Lottery Song, a favoured candidate for the Roxburgh Cup next Monday. The pacemaker, Urrall, tired to finish fifth, ahead of Terri Lee and Morano Star, with Gin Sling tailed off.-

Mile End, which is due to resume racing shortly, gave an improved display when she won the second heat, recording 3min 53 3-ssec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in lmin 7 2-ssec. Mile End looks in better order now than at any stage of the season and she could be an early winner. Powerful Light, which may have his first start from D. G. Jones’s stables in the Waikouaiti Cup on Saturday, made most of the fairly slow pace and without being pushed he held on for second. He looks a likely type of pacer. Hal Special, which is to race on the Waikouaiti-Cen-tral Otago circuit, went quite well to take fourth, ahead of Alpine Lady, which showed speed after being checked at the start. She could win a race at the week-end. Smog, Gay Jillian, which gav a splendid display of trotting, and Dominica, a slow beginner, were next to finish. Easy Win Phillmark and Johnny Chappelet recorded splendid trials for the New Zealand Welcome Stakes on Saturday when they finished first and second respectively in their heat of the two-year-old parade run over one mile and 72 yards. Phillmark took the lead from Johnny Chappelet with seven furlongs left. She fin-

ished under a good hold to win by a length after taking 2min 15 l-ssec for her last mile, the final half-mile in lmin ssec. Phillmark has drawn the second line on Saturday and will need luck to secure a clear run.

Johnny Chappelet also shaped splendidly for Saturday’s £lOOO race. He was not pulled! out from behind Phillmark until about 50 yards to go. He finished strongly, but did not look like catching the filly. False Frost finished a fair third, clear of Conclusive and Command. The other heat was won narrowly but well from Contour, which is not engaged on Saturday. Contour’s time for the last mile was 2min 18 3-5 sec, the last half-mile in lmin Bsec. Goldmount, a place-getter last Saturday and a candidate for the Welcome Stakes, came home quite well for second, a head behind Contour and a length in front of Final Count. Bonnie Hanover was four lengths back fourth, ahead of Alray and Uranus. Allakasam, after starting from 36 yards, gained an easy if narrow win over Rainford Boy, Moneywise and Double Step in the first heat of the 2min 20sec class pace, the second heat going to Morissa in a dose finish with Super Dawn, Ulight and Bright Enterprise. Cindy Narrowly The soft track prevented any horses qualifying, the best time being 3min 29sec recorded by Star Globe, winner of the third heat by a wide margin. Cindy, which is not engaged at the week-end, finished strongly from a handy position to win the 2min 19sec class pace by a head from Copper Flame, which is to race at the Waikouaiti and Roxburgh meetings. Strathallan was right up third, just ahead of Thunderina and a strong finisher in Felis, which is to race at Waikouaiti only. Cindy recorded 3min 54 3-5

sec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in lmin 6sec. Melissa and . Space Chief dead-heated for first in the' first heat of the 2min 20sec class trot. Both are engaged at Waikouaiti. Space Chief’s performance was a sound one as he was well back after a furlong. Highland Hame, which broke with 60 yards to run, was a fair third, ahead of Rapparee, which was not hurried, and Leslie’s Own. The winner recorded 4min 3sec for the 13 furlongs, the last half-mile in lmin 12 3-5 sec. Break Through won the second heat with ease in 4min. 1 l-ssec, the last halfmile in lmin 8 4-ssec. Break Through should not be long winning a race. He won by two lengths from Say Dianna, which is to race at Waikouaiti. Hialea shaped satisfactorily to finish fourth.