Clip joint Goes Well In Ellerslie Trial

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30768, 4 June 1965, Page 5

Clip joint Goes Well In Ellerslie Trial

“The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND. Clipjoint, a local filly and a candidate for the £1250 Members' Handicap, seven furlongs, at Ellerslie tomorrow, attracted attention to her chances when she galloped boldly over half a mile at Ellerslie yesterday. Facade, a grey gelding from Awapuni, gave a smart display over four steeplechase fences, and Blue Lodge, a visitor from Warea and one of the candidates for the Cornwall Handicap, the second leg of the T.A.B. double, went impressively over six furlongs. The jumpers. Powerful and Heclen, also pleased in their work. Galloping was done on the No. 1 grass. The track was very heavy. Clfpjoint (Hughes) was two lengths ahead of Nice Peter (Blarney) with another gap to Toureg (Nuttall) at the end of half a mile in 50 4-ssec, the last three furlongs in 37 4-ssec —very good time indeed. Toureg. although he finished behind the other two, still galloped very well. He is one of Clipjoint’s rivals and will be hard to beat. Jumped Well Facade (McGovern), a five-year-old gelding with J. W. Harris at Apawuni, jumped the four steeplechase fences in the straight brilliantly. He went at a good pace and jumped cleanly and fast. Afterwards on the No. 1 grass Facade ran the last three furlongs of strong work in 42sec. Facade, at his last start, failed over a middle distance on the flat at Masterton. The time before, however, he scored decisively in the W. H. Gainsford Steeplechase, two miles and a half, at Woodville on May 1. Blue Lodge (Hughes) left six furlongs behind in Imin 22sec, the last five in Imin 8 4-ssec, and three in 39 2-ssec. Powerful (W. Reid) was ahead of ' Heclen (Proud) and Tenneriffe (McGovern) over a mile in Imin 51 l-ssec, the last six in Imin 28sec. Powerful is a

candidate for the Great Northern Hurdles and Heclen the Greenlane Steeplechase. Heclen, a 10-year-old from Hastings, gave a good display over the country on Tuesday. He looks to have done really well in the meantime. Donperi (McGovern), a stablemate of Facade and a runner in the Penrose Hurdles, jumped two fences and then ran the last half-mile of solid work in 57sec. Three-Year-Old Tarim (W. Reid), a handsome three-year-old by Targui with an engagement in the Herne Bay Hack Handicap, left six furlongs behind in lmin 22 l-ssec, the last five in lmin Bsec. Corina (McGovern) sprinted half a mile in 53sec. Olave (Proud) took lmin 51sec for a mile—good time for a hurdler. Conspirator (McGovern) was not impressive when jumping four fences on the course proper. He went into his fences slowly and jumped only moderately. He would have to improve considerably to have a chance in the big hurdles. Afterwards in company with his stablemate. Fingala (Hackett), Conspirator galloped six furlongs in lmin 24sec. Princess Taiaria (Trew’eek), which has come north under the care of her owner-trainer, T. R. Nightingale, went the last three of five furlongs in 41sec. Jumping Joe (Short) and Royal Ransom (Hillis) went over four hurdles. Jumping Joe managed the first three well, but he hit the last and threw his rider. He was remounted and took the fence boldly.