Mighty Chief Shows Speed

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31461, 30 August 1967, Page 5

Mighty Chief Shows Speed

Mighty Chief, which has not long been back in serious work, gave an outstanding t display of trotting at the trials yesterday at Hororata. He won hands down from a useful field of pacers and showed that he has made rapid progress in his preparation for spring racing.

Equally impressive was Thunder Royal, winner of the other heat of the free-for-all. Smart efforts were made by Toff Scott, Jib, Markalan and Flying Nominee. The trials were held in fine, cool weather. The track was slow and was cutting out after recent rain. Mighty Chief, which will probably resume racing in the Banks Peninsula Trotting Cup, began brilliantly in his heat of the free-for-all. He was passed by Break Through after two furlongs or so, but was back in front with three furlongs left Toff Scott looked likely to trouble Mighty Chief inside the furlong, but the latter won comfortably by a length after taking Imin 6sec for his final half-mile and 32 4-ssec for the final quarter. His 3min 43 1-5 sec was the fastest during the day for 13 furlongs. Toff Scott’s run was a pleasing trial for the Avon Stakes at Addington Raceway on Saturday. Unfortunately he has drawn badly at No. 13.

Cheeky, the likely favourite for the Avon Stakes, came home quite well for third, ahead of Loyal Light, which made ground. Demure was beaten off fifth, showing speed after a slow start Then came Golden Fleece and Goldmount.

Rocky Star set the pace in the first heat of the free-for-all. Thunder Royal lost about 30 yards, but over the final furlong he did best and he won by a length, with Medico beating Rocky Star for second. Rocky Star looked to have something in reserve. He has taken no harm from his races at the national meeting. He will be in demand in the Johns Free-for-all on Saturday.

Town Martial paced a useful race for fourth, ahead of Flight Adorian and Gershwin.

Won Easily Jib, a candidate for the Cambridge Handicap on Saturday at the New Brighton spring meeting, gained a very easy win in the first heat of the 2:19 class pace. He won with a lot in hand and should make a bold showing on Saturday. He took Imin 5 l-ssec for the last half-mile of an easy 13 furlongs. Battle Star did well to finish a close second after starting from 36 yards, with Dunsdale Lad and Arkle next to finish. Gold Heritage won the other heat in 3min 45 l-ssec, the last half-mile in Imin 6sec. Double Step ran the winner to a length, shading Dryden Smoke and Double Cross. Markalan showed his fitness for tile Oxford Handicap when he won his heat of the 2:20 class trot With ease from Globe Junior and Shady Maid. Flying Nominee, now trained by J. W. Smolensk!, gained an easy s win in the second beat. Flying Nominee looks to have freshened well. - Marty, which has had only one start as a trotter, shaped well when he finished second after receiving a start of 48 yards from the winner. Melinda and Laplander were next to finish. A colt by Robert Dillon from Dansey Lady in J. L. Ferguson’s Tinwald 1 team gained a good win In the parade for two-year-olds run over five furlongs and a half. He took the lead with a furlong and a half left and won by a length from a colt by Forward from Wee Doll In J. W_ Smolenaki's team, with a colt by Johnny Globe from Marawitl, trained at Highbank by G. F. Middleton, a close third, clear of his stablemate, a filly i by Fallacy from High Hopes. ; The last half-mile in Imin 6 ■ 2-ssee was an outstanding run, with the last quarter In 32 ' l-ssec. . I : Results:— 2.18 CLASS FACE; 13L—First > Hast; Jib It R Young 1; Battle Star 36 B. G. Morris 2; Dunsdale , .ad It C. McDonald 3; Arkle It I. M. Behrns 4. Ten started. ‘ Head; two lengths. Time: 3:46. i Second Heat: Gold Heritage 36 ; W. T. ‘Gifford 1; Double Step 36 < A. L. Pratt 2; Dryden Smoke ' It J. J. Gedde* 3; Double Cross la&iawfwsr ; bard 1; Globe Junior 36 J. W. Smolsnskl 3i,i Shady. ■ Maid' It 1 8.

G. Morris 3; Bonny Aire it F. E. Newfield 4. Ten started. Half a length; two. Time: 3:68. ?® c ® nd H*at: Flying Nominee 84 J-iW. Smolensk! 1; Marty 36 'C. C. Devine 2; Melinda It G. A. Laing 3; Laplander 36 G. IF. Middleton 4. Nine started. Neck; live lengths. Time: 3:47. QUALIFYING TRIAL; 12f.-First Heat: Graham Johnlt D. C. Watts 1; Gay Peterson It D. D. Nyhan 2; Saladin It M. M. Purdon 3; Brltomart It R. P. Nyhan 4. Ten started; head each way. Time: 3:35 3-5. Socond Heat: Whippy it J. W. Smolensk! I; Special Form It M. Hessey 2; Bally,true It K. Townley 3; Global Hall It D. G. Jones 4. Ten started. Half a length; four; half. Time: 3:33 2-5. Third Heat: Max It W. E. Lowe 1; James Thurber It L. G, Smillle 2; King John It N. E. Browne 3: Status It R. Young 4. Ten started. Two lengths; neck; 13 lengths. Time: 3:31. Fourth Heat; Stoney Burke It R. W. Curtin 1; Adios Hall. It ’H. R. Walker 2; Jack Scott It J. W. Smolensk! 3; Bertha Jo It L. D. Ashton 4. Eight started. Twelve lengths; six; four. Time: 3:30 2-5.

TWO-YEAR-OLD PARADE, .5)1, Robert Dillon—Dansey Lady colt It J. L. Ferguson 1; 'ForwardWee Doll colt It J. W. Smolensk! 2; Johnny Globe—Marawlti colt It D. J. Townley •3; Fallacy— High Hopes filly It G< F. Middleton 4. Seven started. Length; head. Last half-mile: 1:6 2-5.

FREE-FOR-ALL; 13f. First Heat: Thunder Royal It J. W. Smolensk! 1; Medico It R. L. Tatterson 2; Rocky Star It R. Young 3; Town Martial. It M. I." Thompson 4. Nine started. Length: head. Time: 3:48. Second Heat: Mighty -Chief It L. R. Clark 1; Toff Scott It N. L. Berkett 2; Cheeky It D. Mangos 3; Loyal Light It D. D. Nyhan 4. Fifteen started. Length;, two. 'Time; 3:43 1-5.

I 2:25, CLASS FACE; ,131.— First Heat: * Wairakau It J. D. Lltten 1; Errand Boy It B. W. Curtin 2; Sollna It. J. A. Carmichael 3; Mlchaeloe It C. C, Devine 4. Ten started. Two lengths each way. Time:, 3:53. Second Haat: Boy Logan It C. McDonald 1; Mayfield It D. J. Townley 2; Nevashy It G. Holmes 3; Little Lie It J. B. Noble 4. Ten started. Three lengths; six. Time: 3:50.