Andaman, Clear Gold in sparkling trials

Press, 21 April 1984, Page 24

Andaman, Clear Gold in sparkling trials

NZPA staff corespondent Sydney The New Zealand milers, Andaman and Clear Gold, turned in sparkling final trials for today’s $150,000 Doncaster Handicap when they worked at Warwick Farm on Thursday. Flying runs over the final stages of up to 1600 m hitouts had the pundits enthusing, and one race writer declared the pair had turned in one of the best gallops seen at the track for many years. Andaman worked off from 1600 m at a leisurely pace before speeding up from the 1200 m, running that distance in Imin 14s, with the final 600 m in 375.

Clear Gold turned in similar times for the closing stages as he went with Andaman, which picked him up at about the 800 m. The times are regarded as especiaally good, as the pair were working 18m out on the track proper. His trainer, Paul O’Sullivan, was pleased with Andaman’s performance. Both New Zealand geldings had shown signs of being a little jaded after their Tasman crossing last week, but they showed in their training that they would have plenty to offer today. Grant Cooksley, who rode Clear Gold in his work on Thursday, and the trainer, lan Morton, who was reported to have been concerned about how the gelding was settling in, agreed that the horse had “picked up a bit" over the last few days. Work done on a rogue section of the home turn during the winter and spring is expected to have returned the track to its former standing as the best wet-weather track in Ausralia, but punters will be watching with interest over the next few weeks.

With the confusion over whether the champion mare, Emancipation, will start in the Doncaster, and the withdrawal of Sir Dapper and Prolific, attention is focusing on the New Zealanders, including the late arrival, Shifnal Prince. Early betting has Andaman, Clear Gold and Shifnal Prince fourth, fifth and sixth favourites respectively. although if the weather makes the track any softer, they will firm simply because they are from New Zealand. Apart from Emancipation, the top Australian hope is the former New Zealander Vite Cheval, after the Vice Regal colt bolted away with the Sir Robert Askin Cup at Rosehill last Saturday. Another former New Zealander in the race is the Long Row five-year-old Row of Waves, which was third behind Vite Cheval last week, but the other big hope for today is another winner from last week-end, the Bletchingly mare, Tempesuous, which took out the 1500 m Queen of the Turf Stakes. The New Zealand sprinter, Mr Illusion, will be running to help cement a sale to Californian interests when he steps out in the day’s glamour sprint, the $60,000 Galaxy over 1100 m. A part-owner, Peter McKenzie, said this week that he and his New Yorkbased fellow owner had received a “substantial” offer from California for the horse, which could change plans to eventually retire the sprinter to stud in New Zealand. “Since Pride of Rosewood did so well in California it has drawn more attention to New Zealand racing,” he said. “The offer is subject to how he runs on Saturday and if he trains on after-

wards. We’re only at the beginning of the negotiations.” Jbt: 10 Tab: TC Race 1 4.50 T.A.B. TRIFECTA T.A.B. QUINELLA DONCASTER HANDICAP $150,000; 1600 m 1 1111 Emancipation 7 59.5 R. Quinton 2 1112 Sir Dapper 22 57.0 3 8855 Clear Goid 11 56.0 G. Cooksley 4 4011 Vivacite 1 55.0 B. Thomson 5 1623 Shifnal Prince 18 53.5 D. Peake 6 7200 Honest Promise 14 53.0 B. Compton 7 3112 Andaman 20 52.5 L. O’Sullivan 8 2210 Bencarra 19 52.5 N. Voigt 9 2723 Row of Waves 3 52.5 P. Hyland 10 843 Royal Regatta 12 52.5 W. Harris 11 3240 Sovereign Chief 21 52.0 M. Polling 12 1056 Trench Digger 8 52.0 K. Langby 13 5059 Tulsa Knight 6 52.0 T. Duckett 14 0270 Albany Bay 10 51.5 G. Willetts 15 1800 Gelsomino 5 51.5 L. Dittman 16 0980 Northern Reward 2 51.0 P. Cook 17 9121 Tempestuous 15 51.0 M. Schumacher 18 4331 Vite Cheval 16 51.0 K. Mitchell 19 0111 Prolific 9 50.5 20 2515 Cinita 17 49.0 P. Smith 21 1111 He's A Warrior 4 50.5 N. Williams 22 3045 Leica Planet 13 50.0 D. Beadman Emergencies: He’s a Warrior, Leica Planket.