Yankee Transit gets up to take first leg

Press, 22 February 1977, Page 19

Yankee Transit gets up to take first leg

From G. K. YULE Invercargill 3 ankee T ransit, a failure at Addington last Saturday after a placing on the course eight nights earlier, produced a splendid run to win the Blampicds Furnishings Handicap.

He settled on the outside in the sixth line and waited • Until the last 600 m before i making a move. Colin Lee I sent him up on the home ' turn and he was fairly I handy racing to the straight, ; Although very wide, he showed no signs of wilting ; end got up to shade Hanover Pride by a neck. Hanover Pride attempted to lead for the last 1600 m. He was (leaded by Blue Pearl early in the run home, but came egain near the end. Lucky Chance, which appeared to have every chance, fought i on gamely for third only a lead away, with a neck to Blue Pearl. lan made up much ground for fifth after starting from : 30m, while Southern Knight ; was not far away at the : head of the others. The favourite Dannymite, three back mostly, broke v. hen attempted to work: clear near the 200 m. >

A trip to Auckland for the: New Zealand Messenger next month, to be followed by the Inter-Dominion: Championship Series in Brisbane in April are on the programme for Trusty Scot. Last evening the foury ear-old made short work of five rivals in the Ascot Park Hotel Flying Mile Pace. He paced the mile in adverse weather in 2:0.3, well inside Aranga’s previous track record of 2'1.2 established in 1971. Henderson Hunter was content to race in the third line on the outside, following Forto Prontezza. Balgove sprinted up from the rear from the 400 m and was out-! side the pcemaker, In or Out and Forto Prontezza at the straight entrance. Trusty Scot was waiting in behind them ready to pounce. Balgove raced clear out-; side the 200 m, but he had no answer when Trusty I

Scot joined him. Trusty Scot: ■I went on to win by two; I lengths and a half. A length l i and a quarter back Sole Command, which trailed In : or Out, held third, five lengths in front of the mare. ■ Then came the firm favour-] ' ite. Forto Prontezza, which ■ . produced nothing over the last 300 m. DISAPPOINTED A disappointed Henry: . Skinner could not account i. for his dismal showing. "What a way to finish his ; career in this country,” he 1 said. Forto Prontezza will leave next week for the : United States, along with: ■ Lunar Chance, another ■ costly failure in the race. Lunar Chance, pulled hard sin his preliminary and broke when racing keenly about I 50m from the starting point. I Keith Lawlor pulled him up. Trusty Scot, a four-year-I old gelding by Scottish Com- 1 Imand from Fledgling, is

drained at Edendale by Adam i Hunter, who races him in i < partnership with his 25-year- : old son, Henderson, the driver of this grand pacer in : almost all of his races. They . hold him on lease from Mr •|John Morton, of Seaward i Downs. As well as the share : of the $lO,OOO stake. Trusty Scot won a trip for two to the Inter-Dominion series in Brisbane valued at $2OOO and trophies to the trainer and driver valued at $350 and $250 respectively. "We will have to consider seriously the Brisbane trip ■ after winnig that prize,” said 'Adam Hunter after the race. ■ “He’s not worried now by travelling and is racing so 11 generously at present,” he ■ added. “There's no show of .his being sold,” he said, when asked about possible overseas interest in the horse. •! Trusty Scot has now had ■ 11 wins and 17 placings for $31,205 in stakes, a total 'which should be greatly in-j creased before the end of ithe season.