Shannon in fine trial at Woodville

Press, 21 February 1986, Page 24

Shannon in fine trial at Woodville

Special correspondent Woodville The top youngster, Shannon, took the eye yesterday morning at Woodville as he prepared 1 for the Wakefield 1 Chai-, lenge Stakes at Trentham. Fast work was done on the middle of the course proper, which was firm. Shannon has had a relatively easy time since winning at Trentham last month, so needed his run yesterday. He was sent with Bernadino over 600 m in 365, the best of a quiet morning, and was quite unfazed as he left the track. A winning run at Trentham would see Shannon being set for a couple of big two-year-old races in Australia.

His trainer Bruce Marsh has decided to bypass the Air New Zealand Stakes with the other stable star, Runneth, which is being set for the big 1600 m events at Trentoam. Grand Gaffe and Avon Rock took 1 min . 5.2 s for 1000 m, the final 600 m in 38.25. Grand Gaffe will be a threat in the Herbert’s Handicap at Hastings. Avon’s Rock will line up

in the Mainline Handicap. Sir Vigilant has been on toe easy list with a foot problem, having jarred up in a gallop late last week. He is still tentatively booked for his Sydney trip on March 1. His trainer, Murray Baker, had better luck when Mr Aythorpe won impressively at Hastings on Saturday. The youngster is likely to be set for the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Awapuni.