Mister Wood Chips looks ready for Derby

Press, 11 February 1982, Page 20

Mister Wood Chips looks ready for Derby

By

PAUL MEIN

Mister Wood Chips looked bright and close to peak fitness for the New Zealand Derby next Wednesday when he won impressively at the Addington trials yesterday. The three-year-old was first out. made all of the running and was not pressed to beat D’Or Favori and Thurber Globe by two lengths in a quick 3min 255. the final 800 m in 59.7 s and last 400 m in 29.85. D'Or Favori, which settled at the rear, improved to follow Fouroux around three back on the outer and finished on solidly for her placing. with Thurber Globe, pushed back to last on the turn, making ground well through the field for third. Unique Princess, which trailed the winner throughout. faded to fourth with Fouroux, trapped in the open, fifth. Another Derby candidate, Guest of Honour, dawdled through the first 2000 m, but sw r ept. over his last 400 m in 27.7 s to beat Watbro Dark and Noble Jo in the three-year-old heat. Travel King, a form horse for the Willowby Handicap at Ashburton, impressed with a fine win in the C2 heat.

The Lordship four-year-old was left in the open for the last 900 m, but took control soon after the field turned for home and was two lengths clear at the post, recording 3min 31.55, the final 800 m in 59.6 s and last 400 m in 29.75. Kakama, which broke at the start, finished smartly from well back for second with Boulder Creek, which settled at the rear, making up a lot of ground for third. Sir Ron, responsible for the early pace, held fourth.

Sunseeker, which will start from 40m in the feature event at Ashburton on Saturday beat his stablemate, Lord Brigade, in the mobilemile event.

Sunseeker won by a length in 2min 01.8 s. Track Series was just as impressive winning the maiden pacers sweepstake. The Nardin’s Byrd gelding

ran right aw’ay to win by five lengths in 3niin 28.55. Track Series too will start in the Coldstream Handicap at Ashburton.

Master Will led throughout and cleared out to win the first maiden heat. The Honest Master colt was easing down by three lengths from the fast-finishing Hypnos, which was slow away, in 3min 33.45, the final 400 m in 30.65.

Kanku went yet another fine race to win the second CO heat. Stuck without cover for the last lap, he showed plenty of courage to beat Sovereign’s Reign by half a length in 3min 34.85. Little Gem narrowly, won the maiden trotting heat, finishing a head in front of Inflameur and Swift Del. Martin’s Pride was first past the post but was disqualified for galloping. Grace Nevele, which trailed the pacemaking The Duke throughout, finished easily to win the C2 heat for trotters.

Jamie Ferguson, which improved ’ quickly from the 600 m, kept up a big run for second with Four Ply third. Paleface Crockett finished fourth, but was unable to find racing room down the straight. . The Templeton horseman, Colin McLachlan, won both heats for two-year-old pacers. Formal Fella (Smooth Fella—Thurber Royal) was slow away but rushed h<

slow away but rushed home late to win the first heat in 2min 48.25, the final 400 m in 31.55.

Magnifique, which made most of the pace, broke short of the post, but recovered to finish second, two lengths back, with Leitham a nose back, third.

Mighty Me, left in front with a round to go, showed plenty of spirit to hold out Nostradamus (Boyden Han-over-Seattle) by a nose in. 2min 48s in the second heat, the final 400 m in 28.85.

Of the 14 horses to qualify, 11 pacers and three trotters, Greek Lopez (Lopez Hanover—True Lace) was the smartest. He beat Lynley Belle (Bye Bye Song-Flying Queen) by a nose in 3min 12.1 s with Sweet Ness, nine lengths back, third, also making the grade in 3min 14s.

Other pacers to qualify over 2400 m were My Kinda Byrd (Nardin’s Byrd—. Heather Royal) in 3min 15.25,

Miss Louise (3min 17.25) and Ireland's Chance (Jack Chance—Taieri Lass). 3min 16.55.

The first three home in the 2600 m trial also qualified, Tiger Hunt (Tiger WaveRepentant Leisure) beating Fleetwood Adios (Adios Bachelor—Serene Chance) by a neck in 3min 30.5 s with Advocaat (Lordship—Smart Lass) only a nose away, third, qualifying in 3min 30.95.

Tamaki King (Noodium— Bank Limit— was a six lengths winner of the mobile 2600 m qualifying event in 3min 26.9 s with Swinging Late (3:28.1) second. The first two qualified. Three qualified in the trotters' heat, Dominate (Game Pride—Sweets) beating Impulse by half a length and Dalota by four lengths. Dominate went 3min 38s, Impulse 3min 38.1 s and Dalota 3min 39.25. CO Pacers. 2600 m.— First Heat: Master Will It. M. Gillum 1; Hypnos It. J. Smolensk! 2; Tam Dhu It. E. Cowie 3. 10 started. 3

len. 2G len. len. Twinkle Toes fourth. Time: 3:33.4. Second heat: Kanku It. J. Versteeg 1: Sovereign's Reign It. G. Hampton 2: Motu Lord It. R. Asquith 3. Nine started, len. 3‘-2 len. 2 len. Track King fourth. Time: 3:34.8. CO Trotters. 2600 m.— Little Gem It, R. Williams 1; Inflameur It. R. Geddes 2; Swift Del It. M. Butt 3. Eight started. Hd, I‘i len. 6 len. Robert Dav fourth. Time: 3:38.3.

Cl-C2 Trotters, 2600 m- Grace Nevele It. J. Smolensk! 1: Jamie Ferguson It. K. O'Reilly 2: Four Ply It. C. de Filippi 3. 12 started. Nose, ‘z len. l‘z len. Paleface Crockett fourth. Time: 3:36. ' Cl-C2 Pacers. 2600 m- Travel King It. I. Schwamm 1; Kakama It, I. Cameron 2; Boulder Creek It. B. Scott 3. 12 started. 2Vz len. hd, 1; 2 len. Sir Ron fourth. Time: 3:31.5. C4-OC Pacers. 2600 m — Mister Wood Chips It. G. Court 1; D'Or Favori It, S. Le Lievre 2; Thurber Globe It, R. Nyhan 3. Six started. 2 len, v 2 len, l b z len. Unique Princess fourth. Time: 3:25.

Three-year-old Pacers, 2600 m - Guest of Honour It, S. Ballantyne 1; Watbro Dark It, G-. Court 2; Noble Jo It, C. de Filippi 3. Five started. b 2 len. l 'a len. 4‘'a len. Time: 3:39.