Apache Lass in dashing trial at Hastings

Press, 20 September 1985, Page 23

Apache Lass in dashing trial at Hastings

Special correspondent Hastings Apache Lass turned on the speed while Thrive and Exocet worked with ease at the Hastings track yesterday morning. The three horses are preparing for tomorrow’s Marton meeting at Awapuni.

Fast work was done on the plough (easy) and hard up against the running rail on the course proper (fast). Apache Lass was easily the fastest of the morning when she headed home Supreme Eulogy after 800 m in 495, the last 600 in 35.95.

Apache Lass rarely fails to turn in a fast time in training. The mare is entered for the Honda Civic Handicap tomorrow, with Phillip Mercer the rider. The Otehi Bay mare would appreciate some rain to ease the track.

Apache Lass certainly faces an uphill battle in the race however, as the rising star Thrive is also entered. Thrive was ridden by Kim Treweek yesterday and worked easily from the 800 m peg at three-quarter pace, speeding up slightly

over the last 600 in 38.65. Treweek said the filly felt very relaxed and was only doing as much as she had to. Thrive led all the way in winning her only start as a two-year-old by half a length at Hastings last December. She has built into a magnificent filly since then and her trainer, Don Sellwood, says the more she does the more she improves. Maurice Campbell will ride Thrive tomorrow and Sellwood is hoping that, with speedsters like Tiffany Chin and Rojiman in the field, the filly will be able to settle back in the trail in the early stages. Tiffany Chin rounded off her preparation for the race by running 600 m in 37.25. Brian Hibberd will ride her. Exocet was not meant to go very hard when working over a round on the plough. However, he was allowed to stride along from the 1200 m and came home strongly in lmin 17.95, the last 1000 in Imin 4.2 s and final 600 in 38s. The gelding appeared to pull- up well and is right at peak for tomorrow’s Motorcorp Handicap. Bob Vance will have the mount, to familiarise himself with the horse before their proposed trip to Australia for the Melbourne Cup. Vance rode Exocet to win the Cornwall Handicap (2200 m at Ellerslie in June. Kennedy Bay went quietly over 800 m on the plough in 51.15, the last 600 in 39.85. He raced a bit erratically when third at Hastings last Saturday butlooks to have come through that race well and shows great potential.