Hands Down fit for fourth Easter Cup

Press, 12 April 1984, Page 29

Hands Down fit for fourth Easter Cup

JEFF SCOTT

By

Hands Down, back on his favourite track, looked in grand order for a tilt at yet another Easter Cup, with a fine late run for third at the Addington race trials yesterday. The winner of 29 races, 21 of which have been recorded at Addington including four Louisson Handicaps, Hands Down will be trying to match that feat with a fourth consecutive win in the Easter Cup on the last day of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s, meeting on Saturday week. First though, the tough Armbro Del gelding, which has returned from Pukekohe in fine shape, will race in the Steinlager Handicap (C 8 and faster) from 40m behind this Saturday. Hands Down (40m) did well to run third, a nose and half a length from race rivals on Saturday in Mytop Sweetie (20m) and Agrinion (30m) in the C6-OC heat yesterday.

He only had the early breaker, Norton, behind him on settling, and after giving the pack three lengths start at the 500 m, was putting in some impressive work at the finish, returning 3min 25.7 s for the 2600 m for his placing. Mytop Sweetie, a game fourth in the New Brighton Cup last time out, finished best from the trail to just beat Agrinion, a handy third mostly, in 3min 27.15, the leaders running their last 800 m in Imin o.Bs and their final 400 m in 29.85.

However, most eyes were on Hands Down, Our Mana and Norton over the last 800 m.

Our Mana, looking well

after campaigning at the Adelaide Inter-Dominions, also settled back and was never right at top, finishing fourth, only half a head from Hands Down. He ran his last 2400 m in 3min 6.6 s with his last 800 m in 58.7 s and his final 400 m in 295, and was travelling well at the finish.

Norton, which was giving the leaders five seconds on settling down, improved wide into the straight and kept up a useful run for sixth, being timed over his last 800 m in 58.4 s and his closing 400 m in 28s. The John Brandon Flying Stakes candidate, Crowhurst, sprinted his closing 800 m in 59s and his last 400 m in 29s to get up in the last stride in the C 3 and C 4 heat.

Driven by his race-night driver, Peter Jones, the Morrinsville-trained colt settled at the back of a sixhorse field and wound up late to win, returning a leisurely 3min 33.5 s for the full 2600 m.

Count Gray, which will contest the Barry Barber Mobile Stakes, was back with Crowhurst starting the last 800 m and also finished well.

Naval Officer, the only other John Brandon Stakes candidate to trial yesterday, broke at the start in his Cl heat and was not pushed finishing in midfield, being timed over his closing 400 m in 30.45.

Hard Cash, which will clash with Sir Castleton, Basil Dean and company in the Stewards Trotting Free-for-all over 2000 m on Saturday, was successful in the C4-OC Trotters heat in a sedate 3min 36.85, the

leaders running their last 800 m in Imin 0.25.

Hard Cash, which settled fourth, moved up to take the lead at the 200 m and held on by half a head from Zebec. Tussle sprinted over her closing 800 m in 59.2 s and her last 400 m in 30.3 s from the back to finish third and was going well. Not Now, one of the favourites for the New Zealand Trotting Stakes, only required a leisurely 3min 39.7 s to win the CO trot heat by three lengths. The Beau Nonantais gelding moved up from midfield to be challenging the leaders at the 200 m and won untested.

Beau Tarenz, another Trotting Stakes entrant, tangled when in the rear on the home turn in the Cl-C3 trot heat, finishing last.

Gallavanter, which led all the way to win a CO heat by four lengths, has been sold to West Australian interests and will leave for Perth at the end of the month.

Results:— CO Pacers, 2600 m.— Gallavanter It W. Roberts 1, Anzac Parade It T. Husband 2, Songmaster It F. Bennett 3. 11 ran. Underworld fourth. 4 len, nose, IVz len. Time: 3:36.5. CO Trotters, 2600 m.— Not Now It D. Nyhan 1, Tiny Tuft It G. Golding 2, Supreme Time It G. Payne 3. Nine ran. Stephen Jack fourth. 3 len, nose, nose. Time: 3:39.7. CO Pacers, 2600 m.— Spry Joker It J. Carmichael 1, Nobildonna It I. Cameron 2, Leon Bigshot It R. Campion 3. 11 ran. Never Guess fourth. 2Vz len, Vz hd, hd. Time: 3:32.5. Cl Pacers, 2600 m.— Holy Mackerel It P. Jones 1, Tempest Star It G. Mangos 2, Nardin’s Lustre It R. Alfeld 3. 12 ran. Idyll Garrison fourth. Vz nk, len, hd. Time: 3:31.5.

CO Pacers, 2600 m.— Spectacular It L. Tatterson 1, Ber-

tie Mac It E. Pycroft 2, Castle Blayney It R. Payne 3. 11 ran. Masarko Adios fourth. Len, len, 2Vz len. Time: 3:30.6. Cl-C3 Trotters, 2600 m—- . Courtell 10 I. Cameron 1, Silver Spot 20 M. de Filippi 2, Be Game 20 P. Jones 3. Seven ran. Lady Sadie fourth. Len, Vz len, nose. Time. 3:41.5.

CO Pacers, 2600 m.— Aran Sounder It M. Edmonds 1, Going Places It R. Butt 2, Ripper’s Wink It L. O’Reilly 3. 10 ran. Gay Wee Fella fourth. Vz len, IM: len, hd. Time: 3:33.3.

C2 Pacers, 2600 m.— Trinity Chase It R. Stockdale 1, Andrew James It T. Thomas 2, Waikato It G. Small 3. 11 ran. Rare Treat fourth. Nk, Vz len, hd. Time: 3:31.8. C 3 and C 4 Pacers, 2600 m—- . 10 P. Jones 1, Count Gray It A. Butt 2, Duplex Hanover 10 P. Rosewame 3. Six ran. Westmoor Lass fourth. Nose, nk, hd. Time: 3:33.5.

C4-OC Trotters, 2600 m—- . Cash 20 D. W’illiamson 1, Zebec It A. Bell 2, Tussle 30 P. Jones 3. Others in finishing order: Tarex, Triarmbro. C6-OC Pacers, 2600 m.— Mytop Sweetie 20 L. O’Reilly 1, Agrinion 30 R. Butt 2, Hands Down 30 P. Jones 3. Others in finishing order: Our Mana, Diamond Moose, Norton, Kind Nature, Rosewood Dream. Nose, Vz len, Vz hd. Time: 3:27.1.