Jumping trials at Ellerslie

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 21

Jumping trials at Ellerslie

Special correspondent Auckland The jumping trials at Ellerslie yesterday morning encouraged high hopes for the Great Northern meeting, particularly in respect of Little Rebel, Kaufmann, Tassaby, Darnley Fair and Kauere King. All five horses shaped well, Darnley Fair and Kauere King over hurdles, the other three over the steeplechase course. Little Rebel and Tassaby are in the Great Northern Steeplechase both trained by N. G. Atkins of Waiuku who consequently had every reason to be well pleased with the way things went yesterday. The standard of jumping in the main, over hurdles and the bigger fences, was impressive. Few of the competitors made serious mistakes, a notable exception x* v. as the Wingatui visitor Detroit, a Great Northern Hurdles acceptor, which fell but seemed to take no harm from the mishap. Cliff’s Order (Heaslip), a lightweight in Saturday’s big hurdle race, was first home in Detroit's heat but by only a head from Clianthus (Thompson) which shaded Lomond Prince (Freakley) for second. There was a further length to Auriferous, followed by Potae Queen and Star of Avon. Fastest over the 1400 m and five hurdles, which were set

up some eigiit or nine metres out on the course proper, were Kauere King (Watts) and Darnlev Fair (Heaslip) when they came home in front practically together and just ahead of Golan (Yovich) in the fourth heat. Most promising of the 17 which tackled the hurdles in three other heats were the winners Stylish Oak and Kiloran. Little Rebel (Freakley), winner of the McGregor Grant Steeplechase at the Great Northern meeting last year, gave a fine display over about 2400 metres of the steeplechase course and 15 fences. Little Rebel disputed the pace with Little Stephen through the middle stages, shook off the other horse to go clear then eased to shade Monty and Town Clerk at the finish. Tassabv (Hain), which will tackle the Great Northern as well seasoned as any candidate, showed plenty of dash to take command halfway through the fourth heat. Even though led two or three lengths by Kaufmann at the end he made a big impression. Kaufmann and Tassaby were together with Arctic Heights alongside over the second-last fence and Kaufmann raised slightly the better finishing speed. Tassaby was a length clear of Arctic Heights with Raoul eight lengths away then Douglas Haig which made the early running.