Avro In Form For St. Leger Stakes

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31319, 15 March 1967, Page 4

Avro In Form For St. Leger Stakes

“The Press” Special Service WANGANUI. Avro looked ready to give a good account of himself in Saturday’s St. Leger Stakes at Trentham when he worked at Wanganui yesterday. Understudy and Dusty Slipper were Opunake entrants to please. The trials were on the deep plough and the course proper, with the pegs out 35ft. On the plough, Avro (Belsham) worked over one mile and a quarter at a good clip, being timed over the last three in 39sec, smart time in deep soil. He has shown marked staying potential and should shape well if the track is firm for Saturday’s classic. Flying Heather (O’Connor) was of little help to Le Danois (Cleaver) in their trial. Le Danois ran five furlongs in Imin 4 3-ssec, coming from the half-mile .in 50 2-ssec with Flying Heather and finishing four lengths clear over the last three in 36 4-ssec. Though he will be giving weight to wellperformed youngsters, Le Danois should be the hardest to beat on a firm track in the Wakefield Stakes.

On the course proper, Understudy (Lewis) was timed over half a mile in 49 3-ssec, the last three brilliantly in 36 l-ssec. an outstanding feat under a heavy weight. This was her first fast gallop since she received a rough run at Bulls on February 25. She thrives on the lightest pieparation and is

fettle for the St. Patrick’s Handicap at Hawera. R. J. Skelton has been engaged to ride her. Newcomer In South “The Press” Special Service INVERCARGILL. Gilt Light, a three-year-old gelding by Martian II from Honey Light, is an interesting newcomer to W. J. Hillis’s team being prepared for the Riverton meeting. He was previously trained for Mr W. E Hazlett by K. Couper at Hastings. Gilt Light has an interesting record—he was placed in three of his four starts as a two-year-old last season and has been placed in his only four starts this season. His last appearance was at the Napier Park meeting in November, when he finished second to Bellamour. On his record to date—seven placings from eight starts—he certainly locks ready to clear novice class.