Sapling fit for Addington

Press, 21 December 1977, Page 19

Sapling fit for Addington

Special correspondent Invercargill

Sapling, which will race next in a restricted C7-C9 free-for-all at Addington on New Year’s Eve, was an impressive winner of the free-for-all at the -Southland Owners, Trainers and Breeders’ Association trials at Ascot Park, Invercargill, on Monday. - Sapling, which stripped a shade above himself in condition, and would have derived a lot of benefit from the outing, ran the 2600 m from a stand in 3min 31 4sec, the pace being stepped up for the last 800 m in 59.65ec.

“The run would do him good,” his trainer, Ross Given, who drove him, said afterwards. Sapling will be driven by Wes Butt on New Year’s Eve, but another driver will have to be found for him on the night of January 2. as Butt is committed to drive Wee Win. Hurricane Kiwi tracked Sapling through Monday’s trial and was not pushed to finish two lengths from the winner, but six lengths ahead of the third placegetter, Holv Cord, which forced the pace in the middle stages. The trials opened in cool, showerv weather, but conditions improved as the day progressed. Other creditable showings were turned in by Majestic Year. Wise Wench, the two-year olds. Johnny Mac and Anna Lobell. and Atnberfield. Ten pacers qualified during the day. three of them behind (the mobile barrier I The highlight of the qualifying trials was the successful bid in the 2600 m mobile lle , a t bj Nilofar. a $9OO National Sales j purchase by Messrs K. and 1. tDixon. of Winton. ■ A three-year-old by the Tar i Heel horse. Regal Yankee, out I of the unraced Nephew Hall mare. Winter Girl, he won im- ' pressively in the fast time of

3min 28.6 sec for the distance, almost three seconds under the required time. He lost a good stretch of ground at the start and had to be well above average to get up and win in such smart time. Equally impressive was tne runner-up, True Surprise, which forced the pace and stayed on gamely when challenged by Nilofar. True Surprise is a three-year-old fillv bv Frosty Dream out of Trovador and looks promising material. Others to qualify were Goldameir (3min 29.75ec, mobile , Hi Finance (3min 16.6 sec), Glen Mora (3min 17sec), Calm Dawn (3min 17sec) Brushwood Cob (3min 17.2 sec), La Heather (3min 17.4 sec), Gifted Talent (3min 17 6sec), and Zaravshan (3tnin 17.8secl. Johnny Mac and Anna Lobell were impressive winners of the parades for two-year-olds. Johnny Mac. undoubtedly one of the smartest juveniles seen in Southland for some time, forced all the pace and cleared out from his rivals in the first heat. The half-brother by Holy Hal to lan has won several trials and. is well equipped on the score of condition to appear on race day. He cut out the 1600 m in 2min 9.4 sec, the last 800 m in a rapid Imin I.ssec. Johnny Mac races at Addtgnton later in the month. Anna Lobell. a filly by Norman Lobell out of the King Creed mare. Browngate Girl, in Bryce Buchanan’s team, turned in a grand performance to win the second heat. Site lost at least 140 m at the start, but picked I her rivals up and eventually won (convincingly in 2min 16.8 sec, the I last 800 m in Imin 6sec. Anna Lobell, closely related to the Sapling Stakes winner, I Armiss. and other fine pacers i in Bosun and Jack Tar, will con- | test the Leonard Memorial for I fillies in the autumn.