TROTTING Robalan’s fine run at Methven trials

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33032, 27 September 1972, Page 8

TROTTING Robalan’s fine run at Methven trials

Robalan advanced in favour for the $4OOO \shburton Flying Stakes when he beat 17 rivals in his heat of the free-for-all at trials held yesterday at Methven. He led for much of the last nine furlongs and beat Royal Ascot, under a hold, by a length, with Arapaho making ground for third.

The first three placegetters will be rivals at Ashburton, where their meeting with other topclass pacers will provide one of the highlights of the spring racing. Robalan improved quickly after two furlongs and was close to the leaders. Royal Ascot and Noble Lord, a furlong later. He moved to a clear lead after half a mile and set a fairly solid pace, although Wag and then Smokey Express nassed him in the back straight. Robalan came through in the run home to gain a fine win, recording 3:38 2-5 for the 13 furlongs, the last halfmile in 1:2. It was a fine run considering the cold southerly wind and the fact that the field raced about 15ft out from the rails. Robalan looks in great order and will not be long showing form. Royal Ascot, too, looks to have thrived lately. He began brilliantly and was coasting near the end. Arapaho broke at the start but gradually improved. He made up several lengths from the furlong post, and is certain to have benefited from the run. In spite of his lack of racing, he will be in demand at Ashburton.

Jacquinot Bay held on for a close fourth, ahead of Scottish Charm, Noble Lord, Vanadium — which came with a great burst late in the race — Rauka Lad. which broke at the start, Rain Again, and Ar Miss.

Rauka Lad was one of the tail-enders at the half-mile and did well to finish so close. He will take beating at Ashburton. SECOND HEAT Individual, a stablemate of Robalan, won the second heat in 3min 38 4-ssec, the last halfmile in Imin 3 4-ssec. He was back four places and came on strongly along the inside to beat the pacemaker, Royal Trump, by half a length. He will be a chance in the President’s

Handicap on Saturday. Royal Trump fought on for second, clear of Heather Royal, which was close up all the way. Marama Boy made up ground for a good fourth, ahead of David Frost. which drifted badly at the start, Avenge and Leldon.

Hanover Clan (Scottish Hanover—Pretty Hanover) showed ability to win the first heat of the two-year-old parade over six furlongs, recording Imin 44sec, the last half-mile in Imin 5 4-ssec.

A Garrison Hanover—Capriole colt held second by a head from Alien (Bachelor Hanover—Fraulein Hanover), which was late working clear and finished strongly. Palestine, a brother of Barbara Del, made up ground for fourth, ahead of Lady Castle (Tuft—Sentimental Lass).

A Play Bill—Ankhor Wat filly in F. L. Holmes’s team, showed speed to win the second heat in Imir 42sec, the last half-mile in Imin 6 l-ssec. She beat Armbro Lady (Armbro Del—Vai’s Girl) by three lengths, with a neck to Tamara Del (Armbro Del—Noble Princess) and three lengths to a filly by Armbro Del from Daisy Doro.

Kotare Legend (Fallacy—Silver Halo) finished boldly to shade Hurricane Cherie (Armbro Hurricane—Scotch Cherie) in Imin 43 2-ssec, the last half-mile in Imin 5 4-ssec. Princess Nugent (Bachelor Hanover—Lady Nugent) was third, just ahead of Miss America (Play Bill—Ruling Caste) and Aztec Star (Aztec Prince—Pretty Star). RIVALS AT ASHBURTON Hazy Dream and Hi Lark, rivals in the Hinds Handicap at Ashburton on Saturday, won the heats of the 2min 19sec class pace. Hazy Dream led throughout his heat and won by a head from Mercury Montego, which failed to obtain a start at Ashburton. Hazy Dream requires three scratchings to re-enter the field.

Perlino went quite well for third, ahead of Belmer Lady and Flying Eagle, which showed speed after a poor start.

The winner took 3min 45 3-ssec for the 13 furlongs, while Hi Lark’s time for the other heat was 3min 42 2-ssec, the last half-mile in Imin 5 3-ssec. Hi Lark was always handy and finished too well for Heathstock and Rory.

Five horses qualified to start in totalisator races, the fastest time being 3min 21 2-ssec returned by Lachlan Bay, a four-year-old gelding by Dick Adios from Glenlight, owned and trained by C. W. McLachlan, who this season has taken out a trainer’s licence.

Redlands, Bachelor Tom, Hokey Pokey, and Halgood won the heats of the event for 2min 20sec class trotters. None are engaged at the Ashburton meeting, but they should not be long showing form, particularly Bachelor Tom, which was balloted out at both Ashburton and Methven. He has shown much promise at trials, and should be an early winner. He is to try for a start at the Banks Peninsula meeting next week.

Other useful efforts in the races for trotters were returned by Globe Tax. Be Free. Winter Time. Frontier, and Roytelet.

Frontier and Roytelet will meet in the Mount Somers Handicap at Ashburton, where both should show’ to advantage. 2:19 CLASS PACE, 13f.—First heat: Hazy Dream It R. .J. Jones 1: Mercury Montego It D. D. Nyhan 2; Perlino It L. C. May* 3. Eleven started. Head, length, length. Belmer Lady fourth. Time: 3:45 3-5. Second heat: Hi Lark It M. J. Nordyvist 1; Heathstock It M. T. Butterick 2: Rory It O. 51. Quinlan 3. i Twelve started. Half a length.! two lengths, length. Marigold fourth. Time: 3:42 1-5.

2:20 CLASS TROT; 13f.—First heat: Redlands It R. W. Curtin 1; Be Free It R. G. Morris 2; Betty Frost It C. A. White 3. Thirteen started. Length, length, two lengths. Rodney Dale fourth. Time: 3:53 3-5. Second heat: Bachelor Tom It J. L. Ferguson 1; W’inter Time It B. IJ. Hamilton 2; Christian Dior It ■ G. Nottingham 3. Twelve i started. Four lengths, head, I neck. Overstep fourth. Time: 4:0 3-5. Third heat: Hokey Pokey It R. J. Jones 1: Globe i Tax It P. G. O’Reilly 2: Belle j Song 36 P. J. Cates 3. Eleven i started. Head, length, three < lengths. Phoebe Direct fourth, i Time: 3:54. Fourth heat: Hal I good 36 D. D. Nvhan 1; Frontier 84 D. L. McGregor 2; Roytelet 96 C. A. White 3. Twelve started. i Neck, head, length. No Offence ■fourth. Time: 3:53.

QUALIFYING TEST RACE; 12f.—First heat: Donover It D. Mangos 1; Bright King It J. W. Smolensk! 2; Long Chance It C. C. Devine 3. Six started. Fifteen length, two lengths, six

• lengths. Micourt fourth. Time: I 3:23 4-5 (one qualified'. Second j heat: Charming It G. Holmes 1; ’ Gillvern It J. W. Smolensk! 2; ( Royal Boa It H. R. Henderson 13. Eight started. Two lengths. ; three lengths, two lengths ! Bronco fourth. Time: 3:25 4-5. , Third heat: Drum Major It C.. C. Devine 1; Ma Griffe It J. 8.. Noble 2; Torn Hana It T. C. Behrns 3. Six started. Five; .lengths, length. six lengths., Diablo fourth. Time: 3:23 3-5 1 i one qualified). Fourth heat: | Arbon Mills It R. P. Nyhan 1: | Scotch Chaser It D. Mangos 2;, ; Bardell a It J. R. Boyd 3. Nine I started. Eight lengths, length. six lengths. Golden Louise fourth. Time: 3:24 4-5. Fifth heat: Galesburgh It J. B Noble 1; Bachelor Morn It J. A. Carmichael 2; King’s Cross It C C. Devine 3. Ten started. Head, ‘ half a length, four lengths. ■ Spannerface fourth. Time: 3:24 3-5. Sixth heat: Lachlan Bav I It G. Holmes 1; Moville It R. P. Nyhan 2; Battenburg It J A. Carmichael 3. Eight started. Half a length, length, 50 yards Chastened fourth. Time: 3:21 2-5 (three qualified). Seventh heat: | Scottish Rebel It W. L. Bagrie, 1: Matai Mist It D. G. Jones 2; Delvin Scott It G. Holmes 3.■ Nine started. Half a length, l eight lengths, four lengths. Rolon Waitaki fourth. Time: 3:27 2-5. TWO-YEAR-OLD PARADE,! 6f.—First heat: Hanover Clan It’ D. Mangos 1: Garrison Hanover —Capriole colt It J. L. Ferguson l

2; Allen It J W. Smolensk! 3 Seven started. Two length head, three lengths. Palotin. fourth. Time 1.44. Secom heat: Play Bill—Ankhor Wa filly It F. L. Holmes 1; \rmbr Lady It R. E Webster 2; Tamar De! It K J Daly 3 Six started Three lengths. neck. thre< lengths Armbro De!—Dais Doro filly fourth Time 1.42 Third heat: Kotare Legend It R 1.. Patterson I; Hurricane Cherit It J. B. Noble 2; Princess Nugen It F. L. Holmes 3 Sever started. Neck, length and half, neck. Miss America fourth Time: 1:43 2-5. FREE-FOR-ALL; I3f - Firs heat: Robalan it D. D Nvhar 1; Royal Ascot It A M Harrisoi 2; Arapaho It J XV. Smolensk 3. Eighteen started. length length, half a length. Jaequino Bay fourth Time; 3:38 2 . Second heat: Individual It It 1» Nyhan 1; Royal Troump It R p Nvhan 2; Heather Royal It J B Noble 3 Eleven started Ha a length, two lengths, tw • lengths. Marama Bos Court! Time: 3:38 4-5. 2:20 CLASS PACE; 13f—Fii> heat: Radiant Royal 36 R. r Nyhan 1; Andy Grant It R .1 Kerr 2: Holmfield It F. E Nev field 3. Sixteen started, length length, head. Shelanne fourth Time: 3:36 1-5. Second heat Dalestar It W. I. Bagrie 1: King ' Row It R. J. Kerr 2; Tilford h B. L. Heron 3. Fourteen started Two lengths, length. length, Keep Noble fourth Time 339