SOOTY IMPRESSIVE

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31769, 28 August 1968, Page 4

SOOTY IMPRESSIVE

“The Press" Special Service

AUCKLAND. Sooty advanced sharply In favour for the Cambridge Trotting Cup on Tuesday when he finished second In fast time to the Pukekohe gelding. Aka Eden, at a series of barrier trials at Alexandra Park yesterday.

Aka Eden won handsomely in 3mln 15 2-ssec for a mile and a half but among those which finished behind Sooty were Governor Frost, Terraton, Stronghold, and the fancied Cambridge rivals, Dover Eden and Light Evander. Knock Out and Master Cleao were other Cambridge Trotting Cup candidates in the field. Knock Out tailed the field all the way after breaking badly at the start.

Master Cleao made most of the pace. At the half mile he was just in front of Governor Frost. Aka Eden was in behind on the rails, followed by

Terraton, Light Evander, Sooty, and Sparkling Brew.

Governor Frost headed Master Cleao approaching the home turn.

Once into the straight, however, Aka Eden raced effortlessly to the front and he won by two lengths and a half. The tiring Governor Frost was beaten by a length and a Suarter for second by the’ fast nishing Sooty. Stronghold was a creditable fourth, followed by Terraton, Dover Eden, Coastway, Master Cleao, Sparkling Brew, and Light Evander.

The last mile was done in 2min 9sec, the half in Imin 2sec and the quarter in a dashing 29 4-ssec.

Both Aka Eden and Governor Frost will resume racing at the Auckland meeting next month.

"I was very pleased with him," commented L. J. Bayer. Aka Eden’s driver and cotrainer with J. K. Hughes.

R. Purdon, the trainer of

Governor Frost, felt the run would do his horse a lot of good. Purdon said Governor Frost had been hoppled only five times since he resumed work.

From a Cambridge Trotting Cup angle. Sooty’s performance was splendid. He should be hard to beat on Tuesday. It was not surprising Master Cleao wilted after he had set a hot pace but Dover Eden was disappointing. Light Evander, the probable favourite for the Cambridge Trotting Cup, shaped satisfactorily. He lost a good deal of ground early, moved up fast with three furlongs to go and then was allowed to drift back when pursuit of the leaders was hopeless.

Cambridge candidates in the other trials which shaped well were Rickshaw, Saracen, Alaconda. Gerrand, Jacques Frost, and Crystal John. Saracen and Alaconda won and the others gained minor placings.