Cup and Derby Trial to Black Rod

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33121, 11 January 1973, Page 6

Cup and Derby Trial to Black Rod

I “The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON. Black Rod took his earnings I close to nearly $16,000 when he beat a powerful field in the inaugural running of the weight-for-age Cup and Derby Trial at Woodville yesterday. Black Rod was ridden with the [greatest confidence by D. Harns. He let the gelding run outside and slightly behind the pace* ! maker. Origin. He moved up just 'before the turn and cleared away ' to win by two lengths and a quarter. His trainer, C. Bo wry, . said after the win that Black Rod : would run in the Wellington i Stakes, a three-year-old mile, on Wellington Cup day, before congesting the Wellington Derby. On i the final day he has a nomination for the weight-for-age Trenitham Stakes. Though he won only once this season before yesterday’s race (in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas), Black Rod has been consistent in classic and weight-for-age company and seems on the verge of fulfilling the high opinion his trainer has long held of him. Second, with a strong finish, after being held up behind Bardall just before the straight, was Beatnik. Though she was delayed she was clear well before the furlong, but Black Rod was too far away by then. Beatnik',

was not nominated for the Wellington Cup. The first cup contender home was Ben Adhem. He spent most of the race boxed inside Johnny Cash and Kirrama and had to wait till he found room from behind both Bardall and Beatnik before running on strongly to finish a length behind Beatnik. It was an excellent cup trial. > G. Willetts, who rode Ben Adhem yesterday, has been offered the cup mount but will not know until the week-end whether he can accept it. He has a prior commitment to Wiremu but is not sure the geldiing will start. Kirrama, which was 2/3 in the betting, was a most promising fourth. He pulled hard against the lack of early pace and was three off’ the fence most of the way. He was still that wide on the turn but kept coming to finish fourth, only a long neck behind Ben Adhem. Glengowan ran a satisfactory; cup trial in finishing fifth. He wasi third-last at the half-mile and( ran on strongly. Fort Hagen also; had a lot of ground to make up from the four and did it well to be sixth. Johnny Cash battled into! seventh, about the same place; he filled for most of the jour-' ney. The favourite. Bardall, wasi next. D. Peake gave him a perfect trail but he could not comei 'on.