TROTTING Kotare Legend wins easily at Motukarara trials

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33092, 6 December 1972, Page 8

TROTTING Kotare Legend wins easily at Motukarara trials

Kotare Legend confirmed his position as early favourite for the New Zealand Golden Slipper Stakes at Waimate on Saturday when he won his heat of the Two-year-old Parade for colts and geldings at Motukarara yesterday.

His time for the 10 furlongs—2:s6—was not the fastest of the day, but the manner in which he accomplished it was most impressive. He took 1:6 for his final halfmile. Kotare Legend tangled for a few strides at the start, but soon settled down. J. G. Hampton, who will drive him on Saturday, sent him to the front at the half-mile, and from then on he was not extended and he won easily by by a length from Hallfield Star, which tangled for a stride when trying to improve inside the final furlong. Master Dean, third to Kotare Legend in the New Zealand Spring Time Stakes last month at Addington, ran wide in the straight, but held on for third, a length and a half from Hallfield Star and half a length in front of Hanover Clan. King Tryax, another candidate for Waimate, was right up fifth, ahead of Adios Bachelor, which broke at the start. Golden Moose was most impressive in the other heat, recording 2min 50 l-ssec for the 10 furlongs; the last halfmile in Imin 5 3-ssec. He led for the last seven fur-

longs and won with a lot in hand from Lycome and Pay Off, with Strauss making ground for fourth after a bad start. Then came Laird O’Logan and Alien. First heat Miss America was untroubled to win the first heat of the parade for fillies in 2min 51 4-ssec; the last halfmile in Imin 6 4-ssec. She beat Rebecca Hanover — an acceptor for Waimate — by a length, with a long break to Hurricane Star, Tuffy Millinder, and Amaflirt. Kiri broke badly at the start of the other heat for fillies, checking all but Miss Celebrity, Kintara, and Black Pan. New Moon finished strongly from a handy position to win by a head from Princess Nugent, which showed speed after a poor start. Miss Celebrity and Paraville were almost in line next, not far in front of Vikki Cash. The winner took a slow 2min 59 sec for the 10 furlongs, with the last half-mile in Imin 7 Thirteen trotters qualified to

start at totallsator meetings by recording 3min 34 3-ssec or faster for 12 furlongs. The fastest time of 3min 31 3-ssec was returned by Patton, a three-year-old half-brother by Armbro Del to Sam Carter in D. D. Nyhan’s team.

However, it was Dupreez, another three-year-old,'which attracted most ■ attention. The half-brother by Good Time Eden to Gefiin and Boy Louw showed ability above average to win his heat. He is raced by Mrs N. M. Jones and is trained by J. Grant and D. G. Jones at Templeton. He is a trotter with a splendid action and he could develop into a leading contender for Trotting Stakes Honours later in the season.

Although the track was a little on the slow side after overnight rain and a few showers during the day, 11 pacers qualified to start at totalisator meetings. The fastest time of 3min 22sec was returned by Modern Mecca, a member of the team trained at Rangiora by B. G. Buchanan. „. . The half-sister by Mecca Chief to Ripolet had to be good to qualify because she was a little slow away. She won easily at the end from Boljold and False Command, another to show ability after being one of the slowest beginners. False Command is raced by Mrs T. D. McArdle, of Melbourne, and is trained at Templeton by R- W. Curtin.