Brilliant win by Trio

Press, 26 June 1978, Page 18

Brilliant win by Trio

Special Correspondent Auckland The owners of Trio turned down at Alexandra Park on Saturday night an offer for him of $lOO,OOO — and that was before he brilliantly won the New Zealand Juvenile Championship from the hot favourite, Genesis. “He is just not for sale,” said his trainer-driver, A. J. Perucich, who races Trio in partnership with Messrs W. D. Pearson and T. D. Dench. All three live in Rangiora. The offer came from Western Australian interests and followed several other substantial bids in recent months. Trio’s owners paid $6OOO for him when he was a weanling. The latest win brought his earnings to $19,045, the result of five wins, a second and a third from only nine starts. It was surprising that Gensis was backed down to odds on. Admittedly, he had beaten Trio on the opening night of the A.T.C. meeting but it appeared that Trio then had been driven a little impatiently. Also, Trio looked improved on Saturday. Perucich was content to trail the pacemaking Dawn Mist until about 300 m from the finish. He then shot Trio past Dawn Mist, and quickly opened up a commanding lead. Genesis, which had followed him, tried gamely to repeat his first-night performance but Trio, a big, powerful youngster, was too strong. At the post, Trio was out by two lengths and a half. Five lengths back, Tempest Belle easily cut Dawn Mist out of thrid.

The time for the 2200 m 2min 54.6 s was well outside the race record of 2min 49.1 s set by Lord Module last year but it was very creditable in view of the soft footing. Dawn Mist’s driver, M. JBarry, ensured there would be no loitering. He sent the filly along in earnest from the start. She had to work hard against Trio and Del’s

Trophy and did not get to; the front until after about' 400 m. Dawn Mist kept up the J pressure, with Trio right in behind, followed by Tempest Belle and Genesis. Trio was obviously going better than the others approaching the home turn and j when Perucich made his) move the race was as good as over. By Lordship from the Cup class mare, Queen Ngaio, Trio was bought by Perucich on behalf of the partnership from a well-known Rangiora trotting family, the Brosnans. Mr Pearson is a contractor and Mr Dench a retired publican. The three partners have equal shares in the colt, which will not race again this season. “I’ll jog him through the winter,” Perucich said. “He will probably resume racing early next season.” Perucich, who is 37, has been training publicly for about eight years. He has done well with a fairly small team, among his winners being the good trotter. Lifeline. The success of Ellamon in the Double Cash Handicap, the second leg of the T.A.B. double, brought an overdue change of luck to the Papatoetoe father-and-son training combination of J. J. and J. R. Cooney. The gelding is owned by Cooney sen’s daughter, Catherine. Ellamon had finished well back on the first night of the meeting after making a big run to take the lead a round from home. It was not surprising that he weakened. L. Purdon had him in front soon after the start on Saturday and was able to dictate his own terms. The result was a slack pace which left Ellamon with plenty in reserve when the challenges came. The favourite, Ice Wise, which had been nicely placed behind Ellamon, came on determinedly toward the finish. With 50m to go, it appeared he might win. But Ellamon held him off by a neck.