Duanette’s Girl works well

Press, 17 January 1986, Page 17

Duanette’s Girl works well

Special correspondent Wellington Wellington Cup candidate, Duanette’s Girl and a stablemate, Field Dancer, were as impressive yesterday as any of the visitors which are starting to flock into Trentham for the open-

ing of the Wellington Cup carnival. A good number of the visitors arrived late on Wednesday, so the amount of fast work was limited. Those arriving at Trentham were greeted by a firm course proper which, if the weather holds, should present excellent going for the opening of the carnival tomorrow. A good cushion of grass will help take much of the jar from the track. Work was done on the outside of the course proper and the trial. The going, naturally, could not be better.

Duanette’s Girl, with her trainer, Jim Gibbs, up, had Field Dancer for company. Both have important engagements. The mare is being aimed at the Cup, Field Dancer has the Ra Ora Wellington Stakes tomorrow and then the Derby tomorrow week. Duanette’s Girl will run in the Trentham Stakes in her final build-up. She is not normally a good worker, but in the company of Field Dancer, she came through her test in satisfactory shape. She began at the winning post (2000 m and was joined at the 1600 m by Field Dancer. The 1600 m took 1:51.5, the final 800 m in 53.5 s and the 600 m in 35.55. The two were together at the finish, with Field Dancer being held alongside.

David Peake will ride Duanette’s Girl, which will be having her first outing since a second in the Auckland Cup. Lance O’Sullivan will be oh Field Dancer.

At 575,000 the Wrightson Handicap is the major race of the day and the top weight, Final Affair, was at the track to run 600 m in 375. He carried the same weight when an excellent fourth in the Railway Handicap. On

the score of condition he could not be faulted. The quickest galloper yesterday was Another Kiss, which scampered over 800 m in 46.75, the final 600 m in 33.75. The mare will run in the Camp Handicap and will claim an allowance with Navinka Check the rider. Hush Up finished with 600 m in 37.25, and Envelope ended with 600 m in 35.325. Tippler, which is in the Anniversary, completed 800 m in 495, the final 600 m in 35.85. David Peake has been booked for him and Ashway, which ended up running 800 m in 47.65. He is no forlorn hope in the Hopeful Stakes. ; Hanayome ended with 800 m in 38.25, and Faircourt was impressive over 800 m in 47.15. The South Islanders have started to arrive. A planeload landed yesterday, but the earlier arrivals included Samasaan and Harbor Flo, Garth Jackson’s stablemates which were let off with easy tasks.

The Thief, a Dave Kerrtrained Brigand filly in the Oaks, bowled along steadily to finish with 800 m in 50.895, the last 600 m in 36.60. Kerr’s stable star, Canterbury Belle, is still at Riccarton. She is to run at the Motukarara trials on Sunday. A trip to Trentham for the Jarden Mile has not been ruled out by her connections.

Bill Ford and his new partner, Roger Berry, have three runners at Trentham; Threesome (Terrace Regency), Te Akaua Prince and Sharp Ace, both in the Wellington Stakes. They were given light tasks as was the two-year-old, Kingston Lane, the Jillings runner, which will tackle Monday’s Evergreen Stakes. He eased over a round on the plough.