STAR BELLE AT PEAK

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 4

STAR BELLE AT PEAK

“The Press’’ Special Service WELLINGTON. Star Belle gave an impressive performance, which must have shortened the already cramped odds about her for tomorrow’s New Zealand St. Leger, when she beat Terrific over a mile at Trentham yesterday. Terrific is good on the track, but Star Belle beat him by three lengths after putting 10 lengths on him at one stage of the trial. Work was done over the true distance on the course proper, which is drying well and will be in excellent condition if the fine weather holds. Star Belle (R. J. Skelton) started from the mile and a quarter. She was at full gallop by the time Terrific (Hughes) joined her at the mile and although he went with her early Star Belle pulled away from Terrific near the five. She was 10 lengths out on the turn, but the gap had shrunk to three lengths at the line. Star Belle's mile took Imin 40 4-ssec. She ran the last half in 50sec and the last three furlongs in 37 2-ssec. Terrific ran the mile in imin 41 l-ssec. EASY WORKOUT Three of the other five St. Leger candidates were worked at speed. Nautical (Hughes) worked over 11 furlongs, running the last mile in an easy Imin 48|sec. He increased his pace over the last half-mile in 50 3-ssec and came home from the three furlongs in 37sec. In a more spectacular gallop Star Belle's stablemate, Fair Account (Skelton), ran a mile In imin 44sec with What You Will (Hughes) and Abbey’s Son (Willetts). Fair Account won by a length from What You Will, with Abbey's Son about the same distance behind. They ran the last half-mile in 51 2-ssec and the final three furlongs in 37 l-ssec.

Sunflight (Critoph) beat Pheroz Pride (Hughes). There were two lengths between them at the end of five furlongs in Imin ssec. An early mist prevented sectional times being taken, but Sunflight’s early lead had been whittled away at the half-mile, where they were together. AQUARELLE BEST

Ima Martian (Willets), Aquarelle (Dodds), Lord Mac (Hughes), and Ma Jeune (Anderson), rivals for the Wakefield Challenge Stakes, worked together from the five furlongs. Ima Martian and Aquarelle had the best of the start and

they led by two lengths to the top of the straight. The other two made some ground and at the furlong there was not much between them. At the line, however, It was Aquarelle by a neck from Ima Martian, with a length to Lord Mac and two lengths to Ma Jeune. Aquarelle took Imin 4sec for the distance. She ran the last half-mile in 49sec and the final three furlongs in 36sec. Dark Song (Skelton) took 50 l-ssec for half a mile, the last three furlongs in 36sec. He looks fit after his good run for second to Terrific in the Chalmers. Sir Barton (Anderson) beat My Surprise (Hughes) by a neck after a mile in imin 48*sec. the

last half in 50fsec and the final three furlongs in 36Jsec. Kintyre (Holmes) went six furlongs, the last four in 50sec and the final three in 37 2-ssec. Day (G. Grantham) ran half a mile in Slsec, the last three furlongs in 38sec Udare (Skelton) and High Glee (Willetts) ran half a mile in 50 3-ssec, the last three furlongs in 37 3-ssec. They were both travelling well at the finish. Red Chips and Domodossola ran six furlongs but were not timed. Empyreus (Doell) started his work at the mile. He took Slisec for the last half and 38sec to come home from the three.