TROTTING Boy Friend brilliant at Ashburton trials

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32563, 24 March 1971, Page 9

TROTTING Boy Friend brilliant at Ashburton trials

Boy Friend, which rather surprisingly was eliminated from the Canterbury Park Handicap on Saturday, showed brilliance when he won his heat of the free-for-all at the Ashburton trials yesterday.

Boy Friend tangled away and was a distance last on settling down. He joined the rear of the big field of 17 near the mile post, and at half a mile started to move up.

He was about three lengths from the leaders near the straight entrance, and he challenged almost against the outside fence in the run home. He had control 75 yards out and won untested by a length from Royal Count which made a forward showing for his engagement at Greymouth next Monday. Boy Friend was privately timed to pace his last 10 furlongs in 2:39 4-5, the final half-mile in Imin 1 4-Seec. The official time for the 12 furlongs and 12 yards was 3min 18 l-ssec. He will race next from behind the mobile barrier on the second day of the Canterbury Park meeting in an attempt to qualify for the New Brighton Cup a week later. Royal Count looked to have plenty in reserve when he finished second. He should do well at Greymouth. Barrhill was always prominent, and he took third in a manner which suggested he could be a danger on Saturday night in the Canterbury Pant Handicap. Moascar was impressive in fourth place, ahead of Rat Tat, Master Reagan, Black Label, Smokey Express, and Killadar, which was driven by the Sydney trainer, E. Sims. Waratah, which is to race in the free-for-alls at Greymouth, showed dash to win the second heat in 3min 20 sec, with the last half-mile in Imin 2 4-ssec. It was a pleasing effort, because he has been off the scene for some months.

David Frost, a tail-ender early, was handy over the last half-mile, and was a length from the winner, with a head to Geoff’s Gift. David Frost should do well in the Airways Stakes on Saturday. Mighty Chief, after breaking early and dropping to the rear, finished well for fourth, ahead of Kimbell Duke and Chevalier.

Kilat’s run Kilat showed his fitness for the' Two-year-old Stakes on Saturday, when he ran out a very easy winner in his heat of the parade over one mile. He accelerated smartly and quickly took a handy lead. However, R. J. Brosnan soon steadied him and allowed the others to get close, with Jo Mist working up on his outer. Once into the straight Kilat drew away to win with plenty in hand by two lengths from a solid finisher in City Hall. Jo Mist tired to a distant third, ahead of Count Bassey and Eligo. The winner paced the mile in 2min 14 3-ssec, the final half-mile in Imin 4sec. Kilat was placed at the Inter-Dom-inion meeting, and he is expected to be one of the hardest for Barbara Del to beat on

Saturday. The first heat was won in 2min 15 2-ssec by Johnny Kirk, a colt by Johnny Globe from Zangardy. He won by a head from Blue Gum, with Bachelor Star making up ground after a slow start for third. . Great Fortune finished a useful fourth. The winner took Imin 3 3-ssec for the final half-mile. third heat Lansine, by Scottish Hanover from Scornful, won the third heat in the fastest time of 2min 12 4-ssec, with the last half-mile in Imin 5 3-5 sec. He won by a length and a half from Ar Miss, with the same distance to Santa Hanover and a long break to Armbro Free, which was not hurried.

Golden Guest, which failed to begin cleanly in the Leonard Memorial Stakes at Rangiora on Saturday, was soon in front in the final heat, and she raced right away

from her rivals to win by 12 lengths from Individual, which showed speed after a slow start. Individual could make a forward showing on Saturday. Veracity paced a fair race for third, ahead of Regal Bachelor. The winner took 2min 13 2-ssec for the mile, the last half-mile in Imin 3 2-ssec. Only six horses proved cap. able of recording 3min 24sec or better in the qualifying heats. Fastest time of 3min 22 4-ssec was recorded by No Delay, an easy winner in the fourth of the five heats. A three-year-old gelding by Courtier from Solar, he is trained at Templeton by R. W. Curtin. Sound efforts in the other slow-class races were returned by Royal Lee, Colonel Adios, Tiwana, Laura, Winter Queen, No Offence, Court Dale, Sudden and Cassette. Remlte:— 2:ls CLASS PACT; 12L— First heat: Royal Lee It G. McNeill 1; Owanga It M. De Filippi 2; Logan Low it B. Clark & Nine started. Length each way. Colonel Adios fourth. Time: 3:24 24. Second heat: Tiawana It J. S. Dalgety 1; Laura It P. Bagrie 2; Winter Queen It K. D. Townley 3. Eleven started. Head each way. Friendly Jane fourth. Time: 3:22 35.

2:2# CLASS TROT; IM.—First beat; No Offence It R. J. Brosnan 1; Portafe It R. D. Butt 2; Enchanted 60 W. J. Rouse 3. Twelve started. Four lengths each way. Reveller’s Lass fourth. Time: 3:30 4-5. Second heat; Court Dale 36 A J. Nixon 1: Break Through 120 A L. Pratt 2; Lessaday It H. S. Donaldson 3. Eleven started. Length each way. Idle Talk fourth. Time: 3:28 1-5. QUALIFYING Th ST It ACS; 127. -First heafc Ara It D. C. Watts t; Smithfield It W. D. Watson 2; Ardnul It T. C. Behms 3. Seven started. Two lengths each way. Carrisande fourth. Time: 3:26 35. Second heat: Teamwork It

St A Watson 1; Compliment It J. B. Noble 2; Top Brass It L. G. Smlllie 3. Seven started. Half a length, eight lengths. Royal

Comrade fourth. Time: 3:24 (one qualified). Third heat: Indigent It D. C. Watts 1; Crisanne It R W Curtin 2; Newstead Lad It F. E. Bennett 3. Ten started. Head, three lengths. Aileron fourth. Time: 3:23 4-5 (two qualified). Fourth heat: No Delay It R. W. Curtin 1; King Jack It T. C. Nyhan 2; Happy Mood It R. J. Townley 3. Nine started. Seven lengths, two lengths Fallacy Lass fourth. Time: 3:22 4-5 (one qualified). Fifth heat: Lavana It A. Ching 1; Kingsdown Light It L. G. Curry 2; Sir George it D. G. Jones 3. Eight started. Three lengths, eight lengths. Bush Mills fourth. Time: 3:23 14 (two qualified). TWO-YEAR-OLD PARAM; Im. —First heat- Johnny Kirk It F.E. Newfield 1; Blue Gum It C. C. Devine 2; Bachelor Star It J. W. Smolensk! 3. Eight started. Head, length. Great Fortune fourth. Time: 2:15 2-5. Second heat Kilat It R. J. Brosnan 1 City Hall It D. A. Newell 2; Jo Mist It D. Donaldson 3. Nine started. Two lengths, six lengths. Counts Bassey fourth. Time: 2:14 34. Third heat: Lansine It J. B. Noble 1; Ar Miss It F. E. Newfield 2; Santa Hanover It P. G. O’Reilly 3. Eight started. Length and a half each way. Armbro Free fourth. Time: 2:12 44. Fourth heat: Golden Guest It J. W. Smolensk! 1; Individual It D. D. Nyhan 2: Veracity It T. M. May 3. Eight started. Length and a half, half a length. Regal Bachelor fourth. Time: 2:13 34. FREE-FOR-ALL; IM. First heat: Boy Friend It F. Oliver 1; Royal Count It N. S. Benny 2; Barrhill It W. E. Lowe 3. Seventeen started. Length each way. Moascar fourth. Time: 3:18 1-5. Second heat: Waratah It F. E. Newfield 1; David Frost It D. J. Bennett 2; Geoff’s Gift It T. C. Behrns 3. Twelve started. Length, head. Mighty Chief fourth. Time: 3:20.

2:20 CLASS PACE; Ilf.—First heat: Casetta It T. G. Cavlll 1; General Larnle It L, R. Clark 2; Rousay It M. Pluck 3. Sixteen started. Length each W Misleading fourth. Time: 3:27 34. Second heat: Sudden It K. D. Townley 1; Grand Winter It E. Sims 2; Bachelor’s Maid It D. C. Watts 3. Sixteen started. Head, half a length. Jan’s Dream fourth. Time: 3:24 34. Third heat: Stereo Light It R. E. Roach 1; Grattan Hall It J. L. Ferguson 2; Friendly Rival It L. C. May 3. Five started- Neck each way. Max Peterson fourth. Time: 3:24 34.