Close call for Trio in Juvenile Stakes

Press, 29 May 1978, Page 18

Close call for Trio in Juvenile Stakes

Special correspondent Auckland , Trio and Seafield Rose kept up the South Island dominance over the northern two-year-olds by fighting out a desperate finish to the $6OOO Thames Juvenile Stakes at Alexandra Park on Saturday. A well-bred colt by Lordship from the good Light Brigade racemare, Queen Ngaio, Trio rallied best to stave off a stout challenge from Seafield Rose to score by a head — but not before causing some consternation with 500 m to go. At this point Trio had rushed up to head off the leader, Blue Chip, but in doing so crossed the line of that filly, forcing her driver, P. T. Wolfenden to ease up sharply on her. Blue Chip’s momentum was interrupted by this cramping of room and though she tried to make another run in the home straight, she was unable to do better than fifth. At a judicial inquiry after-

wards Wolfenden stated that his chances of finishing closer had not been affected by the incident adding that the filly was beaten. The judicial committee, for their part, fined A. J. Perucich, the trainer-driver of Trio, $4O for tightening up Blue Chip. It took into account that Blue Chip was the only horse affected in the incident.

Payment of dividends was held up because of the inquiry. Trio, unfamiliar to Alexandra Park and right-hand tracks had difficulty handling the bends and went off stride after 300 m,. He soon settled down though, three back on the outer. Trio is an upstanding indi* vidual and his win on Saturday underlined his aboveaverage ability. He now has a notable treble of big victories to his credit.

He won the $5OOO New Zealand Sires Produce Stakes at Addington on May 12 and the $7500 New Zealand Welcome Stakes on the same course on March 25.

Altogether he has had only seven starts for four wins and one third and $13,975 an excellent return on the $6OOO outla” Perucich and his two partners, Messrs W. D. Pearson and T. R. Dench, paid for him as a weanling. Trio travelled up from Rangiora by road and arrived at Alexandra Park only last Friday. He is a sound trav-

eller, well up to arduous road trips, however, and left for home yesterday in the care of one of his partowners.

Perucich flew back yesterday. He is almost certain to bring the talented colt back to Auckland for the $lO,OOO New Zealand Juvenile Championship meeting on June 17 and 24.

South Island youngsters have proved too good over their northern counterparts in recent weeks, Seafield Rose winning at Alexandra Park on April 15 and Matai Dreamer scoring there only the previous week-end. But for suffering a knee injury Matai Dreamer looked sure to provide keen rivalry for Trio in next month’s Juvenile Championship. Top Star and • Sly Nedra formed the successful quinella for the leading training partnership of R. C. and B. Purdon when they led their rivals in the first leg of the T.A.B. double, the D.B. Pace. Top Star has put together a remarkable record for consistency this season —from 23 starts he has now won five races and gathered nine seconds and five thirds. Although he began from second row on Saturday Top Star managed to secure a good run three back on the fence. Working clear from the home turn, he fought on very gamely to peg back the leader, Sly Nedra, right on the post.