Matinee win for Captain Harcourt

Press, 16 September 1976, Page 24

Matinee win for Captain Harcourt

Special correspondent Auckland.

Captain Harcourt is on a difficult mark in the big race at Alexandra Park on Saturday night but he is going to be[ tough to beat on the form he showed at a matinee meeting at Pukekohe yesterday. The back marker with a huge handicap of 90m in a division of the main barrier trial for* pacers, Captain Harcourt swept to the front with a brilliant burst 500 m from the finish and romped home by two lengths from the up-and-coming Joe Charles. Six lengths and a half further back Hill High shaped very promisingly for third

Captain Harcourt covered the 2fioom in 3min 35.25ec. the last ftOOm very fast in Imin 2sec and

His driver. T. Knowles, who will ©Hot him in the September trainer. A. Gadsbx. were delighted with the run. “He Jelt

I certainly ta in great shape.” Joe Charles, a candidate for the first leg of the T.A.B double, the Takaninl-Free-for-atl, had no chance with Captain Harcourt but his performance was still a ! first-class trial. He started from 20m behind and was prominent ‘all the way

The other heat was taken decisively by Captain Pete from Stephen Charles and Gaelic Princess. The time was 3min 38.7 sec, the last 800 m in Imin I.Bsec and 400 m in 30.8 sec.

Gaelic Princess made most of the pace with Captain Pete getting the trail.

Gaelic Princess was still In command at the home turn but over the final 100 m she was no match for Captain Pete and Stephen Charles. Captain Pete won by a length and a half. He looks sure to go well in the Grey Lynn Pace on Saturday.

Tuteena drew attention to his chance in the Royal Oak Handicap. lhe second leg of the T.A.B. double at the A.T.C. s meeting on Saturdav when he won the main trial for trotters.

He tackled the pacemaker, Diogenes, nearing the home turn ana without being driven out scored by a neck in 3min 40.1 sec for 2600 m. He came the last 80Om in a smart Imin 18sec and 400 m in 31sec.

Diogenes was well clear of the third horse. Let’s Think.

Split Link won a big following for the Richmond Mobile Stakes when he led all the way in the trial for Cl and C2 pacers. The minor trot was won stylishly by Halho Scotty from Paul Evander an<i Bonnie Loch.