Hobart Star in great heart for next Monday

Press, 2 June 1982, Page 31

Hobart Star in great heart for next Monday

By C

G. K. YULE

Hobart Star, which is to contest the Queen's Birthday Stakes next Monday, showed his fitness when he was successful at the Ashburton trials yesterday. On a deceptively fast track. Hobart Star paced the 2400 m in comfort in 3min 9.55, with the final 800 m in Imin 0.55. He led for about the last 1200 m and had plenty in reserve at the line. He will be a firm favourite in next week's feature event. Sioux, after being handy all the way, went a sound race in preparation for the Ashburton Licensing Trust Handicap on Saturday when he finished second, ahead of his stablemate, Stortford Lodge, which is a fit candidate for the Rakaia Handicap. Le Rae shaped pleasingly when he held on for fourth, ahead of Wing Commander, which put in an amazing run after missing the start and

losing a big stretch of ground. Derby Rose. Royal Stroll, which pulled hard in the middle part, and Chance Fortune were close by next. Ferrari, after hesitating at the start, recovered quickly and soon opened up a huge lead over his three rivals in the event for two-year-olds. He was out by almost 10 seconds at one stage and was allowed to ease up near the line where he had about five seconds to spare over Lea Cavalla. Ferrari took 3min 15.7 s for the 2400 m, the last 800 m in a slow Imin 7.25. The stablemates, Taron Bay and Trossach won the heats of CO and CI pace, the former recording 3min 14.45, with the other heat taking a slow 3min 21.15. Accupulco won the second sweepstake event for pacers in 3min 10.9 s just beating Miracle Star, which made up

much ground. The last 800 m took Imin 1.45. The other heat was won by Stirling Del in 3min 14.95, Joma Hall held on for second, ahead of Kotare Crusade and Regal Empire, narrow margins separating them. The removal of much of the loose inside surface from the track made qualifying a formality. Thirteen pacers made the grade without difficulty, while the four trotters were not up to standard in their heat and failed to reach 3min 26s for the 2400 m. By far the fastest time among the pacers was 3min 11.7 s by the two-year-old, Wynchingham Knight, a gelding by Timely Knight from Harmony Hanover. Driven by Colin de Filippi he won handily from Socialist, a three-year-old gelding by Willie Win from Punawai in Ted Lowe's team. Matilda and Roydon Wonder were other two-vear-olds

to qualify. Matilda, trained by Gordon Middleton. is a filly by Garrison Hanover from Fancy Matilda. She returned 3min 12.6 s when second to the Cliff Dynestrained filly, Waitomo Star (Bachelor Star — Waitomo), which returned 3min 12.15, Roydon Wonder showed great ability to overcome a slowish start and won his heat in 3min 14.25, finishing strongly wide out on the track where the going was slowest. Roydon Wonder, trained by Fred Fletcher, is a halfbrother by Scottish Hanover to the talented Roydon Albatross. Blue Sapphire. Trieste. Little Massie, Red Mist, Warfield Happy, Isotronic. Hal's Delight and Hustling Time all qualified well inside the required 3min 19s, a time which is certain to be reduced sharply by the Trotting Conference.