Firefly’s trial intrigues
By J- J- BOYLE
Firefly's semi-final trial at Riccarton yesterday for the Wellington Cup on Saturday had an air of mystery about it.
Not the least mystified was Ned Thistoll,. Firefly's trainer and part-owner.
He instructed Grant Davison to gallop the Dunedin Gold Cup winner over a middle distance on the plough. But in the gloom of an overcast, showery morning young Davison, a newcomer to Riccarton, took the wrong track, a shorter one than the plough, and one used mainly for striding work.
Firefly did have to thread her way' through horses doing pace work, but completed her final 600 m in about 40s.
Her connections might have taken some comfort
from the fact that Noble Heights was tried at speed on the sand two days before she won the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas in November. But in her case the sand track was the trainer's choice.
The stablemates, Indigod. Lord of the Dance, and Glydavari were other Trentham candidates to work at speed yesterday.
Lord of the Dance, whose mission' on Saturday is the Trentham Stakes, reeled off 600 m on the plough in 36.4. Indigod returned 37.8. Glydavari. winner of the Show Gate Stakes at Washdyke last month, also sprinted keenly on the plough, but was" not timed. Random Check led The Crofter by two lengths finishing 1200 m on the plough in 1:16.4. the last 600 m in 37.2.
The Levin trainer. Errol Skelton, left Random Check in the South Island after the West Coast New Year circuit. and the Sovereign Prince gelding will run in the highweight al Waimate on Saturday.
Rosie's Boy outpaced Big Orders over 1400 m on the plough, finishing two lengths ahead in 1:32.7. Dolmar and Debonaire returned 1:17.7 for 1200 m after cutting out the opening 600 m in 36.6.
The stablemates Demolish and Blue Genes hurried in from the 800 m on the trial grass in 48.
Foam, another member of John Bourne's team engaged at Waimate. followed in 50.4, easing in the last few strides.
Fondle returned 1:30.8 for 1400 m and 37.4 for the final 600 m.
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Press, 20 January 1982, Page 22
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354Firefly’s trial intrigues Press, 20 January 1982, Page 22
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