TROTTING Koarakau brilliant at Ashburton trials

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33434, 16 January 1974, Page 8

TROTTING Koarakau brilliant at Ashburton trials

Hie New Zealand Derby winner. Koarakau, gave a brilliant display to win his free-for-all heat, which included several i Cup-class horses, at the Mid-Canterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ ; Association trials at Ashburton yesterday.

Koarakau, which is likely to race on the second night of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting on January 24, recorded 3.17 for the 2400 m, more than 4sec faster than his stablemate, Noble Lord, returned when he won the other free-for-all heat. Koarakau was well back until the 800 metres and was giving the tearaway pacemaker; Scottish Charm, at least 10 lengths as the field approached the straight. He moved up sharply soon after, and finished best down the outside to win by a length from Bomber Bill, which after enjoying a good trail, fought back well.

Bomber Bill shaded Rain Again, a rival in the First Canterbury Stakes at Addington on. Friday night, by a length. Rain Again’s run was full of merit, and he looks close to his former best.

Lightsey, after being slow early, ran on well for fourth, ahead of Scottish Charm, which weakend slightly in the run home.

Noble Lord led throughout his heat to beat Kotare Leg-

end and Robert Mac easily, with Royal Lee next. Noble Lord, on his run yesterday, could surprise in the Second Canterbury Stakes. Kotare ” Legend will be strongly fancied for the Clifton" Handicap on-Friday after his run. He was well back until the turn, but once asked for an effort chased the leader gamely in the' straight. i Robert Mac, looking in ineed of the race, shaped I well for third, ahead of a 'weakening Royal Lee. TWO-YEAR-OLDS Nimrod King, a candidate for the Cashmere Stakes on Friday night, gave a bold display when he finished sc ond to Majestic Globe in the fastest of the heats over 1600 metres for two-year-olds.

Nimrod King made all the pace, but ran greenly tn the straight, which allowed Majestic Globe, which had trailed from the start, to head him short of the line for a neck win in 2min General Lopez. another acceptor at Addington, battled on for third in a clear gap. Tennessee trailed throughout his heat and ran on best to beat Fancy Kate, Regal Light, and Tane Kaha. AU will race at Addington on Friday, and if their form yesterday is any indication the Cashmere Stakes should be a keen contest. Saucy Jack won the other heat from Top Pick and Our Win, which shaped well after losing ground early. QUALIFYING TRIALS

Twenty-two horses—lB pacers and four trotters—qualified under ideal conditions. Among the pacers. Unique Chase and Miss Chase were the most prominent; while among the trotters, Haiho Scotty gave a flawless display. Unique Chase and Miss Chase, both four-year-olds by Good Chase, dominated the finish of their neat. Unique Chase trailed Miss Chase and once switched to the outer near the 400 m mastered her and went on to win by four lengths. His time of 3min 18 4-10 sec was the fastest of the day. | Ferintosh, a candidate for the Second Templeton Stakes on Friday night, made ground for third, ahead of Almitra, which was well back early. Costa Light, a Local Light colt in R. J. Brosnan’s Kerrytown stable, gave a solid display in winning his heat in 3min 19 8-10 sec from Diamond’s Last (which had a good run throughout), Royal Bill, and EUiana. Winfield Hanover led for most of his’ heat to win by four lengths from Song Key. an early breaker, and Sports Boy. Haiho Scotty won his trotters heat bv ssec from Martial Song and First Sign, both of which still managed to qualify. Trained by L. R. Clark at Greenpark, Haiho Scotty is by Scottish Hanover from Sherwood Maid. Pompano enhanced her prospects for the Papanui Handicap at Addington on Friday with a dashing win by three lengths In a heat for maiden trotters. Starting from 70 metres, she gradually made ground and did best in the straight from Thunder Lark and Ben Arben.

SPREADEAGLE Spreadeagle, a member of P. G. O’Reilly’s Methven stable had a good win in a heat for CO and Cl pacers. Spreadeagle was always handy and did well to record 3min 24 6-10 sec. as the field was racing about 15 metres ofi' the fence for much of the ra Regal Countess, another which was always handy, fought on well for second in a close inusn from Tillringer. John’s Son. and Hampstead. which finished almost in line. Mount Bruce ran on best to beat Peterson’s Pride, a candidate for the First Templeton Stakes on Friday and ? lovl which did weU after being well back early. ■ „ . The other heat was won pj Trebles, which after bej n S the rear group finished strongly in the straight to beat the pacemaker Avalon Hero. Kings Cross finished on for third, ahead of the backmarker, Gordon Gay, which shaped well. Results: —

TROTTERS EVENT, CO; 2400 m. -First heat: Ambieside It PRvder 1, Local Gem It W. Butt 2? Zalman King It B Glidden 3 Fifteen started. Halfl a one length and a half, loam Bav fourth. Time: 3.34 2-a. Second heat: Pompano 70 C Middleton 1. Thunder Lark 30 R. Butt 2, Ben Arben 30 A. Edge 3. Fourteen started. Three lengths, two lengths. Gysanell) fourth. Time: 3:28 4-5. QUALIFYING TRIALS, 2400 m [ —First heat: Broadfield John (7 h Johnny Globe-Snap On) It A. I Dixon 1. Neutnne (3 g„ J eJ > ’iny, Globe—Quasar Maid) It S. M ll] er. 2 Flying Charlie (4 g T°ung Charles-Flying Maiden) It K. Townley 3. Thirteen started. Three-quarters of a length, three lengths, six lengths. R ®bert Flame fourth. Three qualified. Time: 3:21 4-10. Second heat: Peble Kan (4 g Spark GapBright Boy) It E. Skinner L Miners Right (3 g Nephew HalAlissando) It C. Ryder 2, Big Surprise (3 f Hodgen s Surprise —Gypsy Girl) It L. May 3. fourteen started. Ten lengths, half a length, three lengths and ai half. Garrison Katy fourth. One, qualified. Time: 3:22 2-10. Third : heat: Crow’s Nest (4 m Tuft—( Meadow Jewel) It B. Kerr 1, Play , Mee 13 f Play Bill—Dulmee) It, S Miller 2, Comic Star (a m Fallacv—Portofino) it R. Morris: 3. Eleven started. Neck, six I lengths, four lengths. Avoidfourth. Two qualified. Time: 3:22 2-10. Fourth heat: Winfield Hanover (5 g Van Hanover—Flying i Petal) It P. O’Reilly 1 Song Key (3 f Lordship—Tatsy Brigade) It! B. Nvhan 2, Sports Boy (3 g[ Arusa—Hunting Grattan) It L. May 3. Fifteen started. Four, [lengths, same. head. Smart Bellefourth. Four qualified. Time: 3:20 (8-10 Fifth heat: Costa Light (3 e Local Light—Costa Rica) It R Brosnan 1 Diamond's Last i 8 m Hi Lo’s Forbes—Yellow Diamond: It. J. Carmichael 2. Royal Bill 13 g Bve Bve Bill—Special Form) It R. ’ Butt 3. Eleven started. Length, four lengths, length. Elliana fourth. Four qualified. Time: 3:19 8-10. Sixth heat: Unique Chase (4 g Good Chase —Unique Songl It R. Butt 1. Miss Chase /4 m Good Chase—Misty Morn) It C. Devine 2. Ferintosh 1(3 f Gay Gordon—Slim Jane) It D. Townley 3. Thirteen started. Four lengths, two lengths, three lengths. Almitra fourth. Four qualified. Time: 3:18 4-10. QUALIFYING TRIALS, trotters; 2400m.—First heat: Haiho Scotty (5 g Scottish Hanover—Sherwood Maid) It L. Clark 1. Martial Song (4 m Court Martial—Harmony Dale) It R. Morris 2. First Sign (3 g Tuft—First Signal) It C.

Reid 3. Twelve started. Twentyfive lengths, nose. 10 lengths. Coringa fourth. Three qualified. Time: 3:27 4-10. Second heat: Rebel Statesman (3 g Rodney Day—Chances Are) It T. Cavill 1. Quite Confident (4 g Tartan Hanover—Quite Local) it M. Butt 2, Tartan Moccasin (5 m Tartan Hanover—Moccasin) it D. Townley 3. Eleven started. Ten lengths. 15 lengths, five lengths. Royal Boa fourth. One qualified. Time: 3:33 2-10.

TWO-YEAR-OLDS, 1600m.-' First heat: Tennessee it. T. McMil- 1 lan 1, Fancy Kate it G. Middleton 2, Regal Light It B. Nyhan; 3. Nine started. Half a length,; two lengths. Tane Kaha fourth. I Time: 2:18. Second heat: Majestic Globe It K. O’Reilly 1. Nimrod King It T. Behrns 2, General Lopez It T. Thomas 3. Nine started. Neck, six lengths. Gold Shar fourth. Time: 2:14. Third; heat: Saucy Jack It R. Butt l.i Top Pick It A. Dykman 2, Our; Win It P. Gallagher 3. Ninel started. Half a length, three, lengths. Buffalo King fourth. Time: 2:14 5-10. PACERS EVENT, 2400m.—First; heat: Mount Bruce It G. Watkins 1, Peterson’s Pride It T. Mounce 2, Moville It D. Townley 3. Twelve started. Length, nose. Cardinal Adios fourth. Time: 3:26. Second heat: Spreadeagle It P. O’Reilly 1, Regal Countess It L. May 2, Tillringer it J. Hampton 3, Eleven started.. Length and a half, half a length. John’s Son fourth. Time: 3:24 6-10. Third heat: Trebles it R. Butt 1, Avalon Here It F. Bebbington 2, King’s Cross It C. Devine 3. Twelve started. Length and a half, length. Gordon Gay fourth. Time: 3:26 3-10.

FREE-FOR-ALL, 2400m.—First heat: Noble Lord It B. Nyhan 1, Kotare Legend it B. Anderson 2. Robert Mac It P. O’Reilly' Jun. 3. Six started. Seven lengths, two lengths. Royal Lee fourth.! Time: 3:21 4-10. Second heat: Koarakau it D. Nyhan 1, Bomber Bill It J. Carmichael 2, Rain Again It F. Newfield 3. Ten started. Length, same. Lightsey fourth. Time: 3:17.