Brother’s Pride shows dash at Motukarara trials

Press, 8 May 1985, Page 52

Brother’s Pride shows dash at Motukarara trials

By

G. K. YULE

Brother’s Pride suggested a successful late autumn campaign when he came back to form with an impressive win at the Motukarara trials yesterday. Brother’s Pride has been away from racing since October. He was paraded in bright condition yesterday by his Templeton trainer, Derek Jones, for whom he was driven by Anthony Butt. Brother’s Pride began splendidly from the second line and was in front after 200 m. He set an easy pace in the middle part, but applied the pressure over the final 400 m in 28.3 s to win by a length from Lisa Hest, which was not pushed in the run home. Lisa Hest is in the Russley Handicap at Addington on Friday.

The winner took 3min 39.8 s for the 2600 m, the last 800 m in Imin 1.65.

Gaiety, which is to contest the Waitaki Three-year-old Stakes at Oamaru on Saturday, continued to show improved form when she won her heat of the CO event in 3min 42.9 s for the 2600 m, the last 800 m in Imin I.ls and the final 400 m in 29.65. She was a shade slow, but improved along the inner to be fourth after 800 m. She ran on too strongly for Jason’s Foyle, beating that runner by half a head, with Calusa, full of running, in third place, clear of Averil Pointer.

Dark Sherry (3min 40s) and Lillolkid (3min 38.35) won the other CO events. Lillolkid is in the third of three maiden races at the Oamaru meeting. On that run he could prove to be one of the better chances. He paced his last 800 m in Imin 3.45, sprinting the final 400 m in 28.8 s and did it well.

Dolittle (3min 34.45) won the pacers’ sweepstake, while Sloe Lea (3min 47.25) won the slow-class event for trotters.

Fifteen pacers, enough for a full field at most totalisator meetings, passed their qualifying test, most achieving the feat when conditions were perfect. Troubadour, a two-year-old gelding by Kinsman from Gaelic nurse in Reg Curtin’s team, recorded the best time of 3min 15s over 2400 m. He looked a most promising youngster. Perfect Fella, trained by R. Trewaves, won his heat in 3min 15.55. He is a two-year-old by Swinging Fella from Mary Perfecto. He won by half a length from. Hands Down’s three-year-old sister, Del’s Chick, with Rufus Mac Faber close by, third, and also qualifying.

Another attractive two-year-old to win was Papal

Gold, a half-sister by Valerian to Harvest Gold in Jack Smolenski’s team. She recorded 3min 16.2 s and looked to have something in reserve at the finish.

Michael Knight, Luca’s Royale, Swift Berry, Megan's Choice, Clever Fella and Good Reward also qualified over 2400 m.

The Eric Ryan-trained Aran Lodge had no difficulty qualifying over 2600 m in 3min 295, winning by a wide margin from Dancing Mist, which also made the grade. The winner is a five-year-old gelding by Kiwi Kid from Aran Hall, a granddaughter of Hilda Scott.

Black Foyle and Smirk Jones qualified in the other heat over 2600 m, the winner returning 3min 31.75. He is a three-year-old gelding by Dancer George from Tiger Bay and is trained by R. Kennedy.