Prestige works well

Press, 23 October 1980, Page 21

Prestige works well

PA Wellington The well-bred three-year-old, Prestige, enhanced his claims for the second day of the Wellington Racing Club’s spring meeting on Saturday with a brilliant training spin at Trentham on Tuesday, Raced in partnership by his trainer, Ray Cleaver, with Mr B. R. Smither, Prestige is an acceptor for the Graduation Handicap on Saturday and he seems certain to be one of the favourites.Prestige’s two starts to date have yielded a win at his debut at Te Aroha in June and a second to Coober Princess three days later at Te Awamutu.

■ He is a son of the Eng-, iish-bred Bold Edge from

Kia Lu, which is a half-sis-ter bv Copenhagen II to the 1975 Auckland Cup winner, Kia Maia. Prestige, ridden by racerider. Chris McNab, worked on the trial grass. He ran 800 m in 47.6 s and the final 600 m in 35.25. As his time suggests, the tracks have dried out since the week-end. Hermanion, which went a good race for fourth on the first day, also showed speed when sprinting the final 600 m of his 800 m trial in 35.55. The 800 m took 49.95. His stablemate, Brutus, was timed for 800 m in 51.45, quickening over ’ the final 600 m in 37.25.

Brutus won well on ‘the first .day. and rates a ‘big

I chance in the Pearce Handicap in which the topweight, I Langeland, is a doubtful runj ner. Prince Alvaro ran from I the 800 m in 51s, the closing l6oomin 36.75. She is also to [be tried over ground in the l Salamanca Handicap. ! Country Mlle and Platonic ! were paired for 800 m in 151,45. -the 600 m in 37s and [Sean's Gift and Abendigo ran 800 m ' in 545, the final 600 m in 38.85. Poise did not show up on the first day, but she looks well, and rounded off two rounds of pacework with 600ni 3G.75. She is also to be tried over ground in the Salamanca Handicap. The , Desert Gold Stakes candidate, Astound, was restricted to pacework and so 100 was her stablemate Abba. Astound appears to have taken no harm from her Wellington Guineas win. La Tamise and Pronto Gold both, shaped well when reeling off 800 m in 49.95, quickening to run the final 600 m in 375. La Tamise runs in the Desert Gold Stakes and Pronto Gold gets a chance to make amends in the Ruahine Handicap. Better footing would suit him. Three of Kevin Crampton’s team, Rayarak, Compass and Apple Jack, were all galloped on in their first day races, and they were restricted to pacework. Magoli. which was all at sea in the heavy track on Saturday, has returned home. Ken Rogerson said that plans are for Magoli to race at Riccarton if the track is firm. Schweppeshire Lad will not race again at the meeting. He was beaten by heavy ground on Saturday and will now be set for the Pegasus Handicap on the first day of the NZ Cup meeting.