Victorian pacers shine at Addington trials

Press, 26 February 1987, Page 38

Victorian pacers shine at Addington trials

J 1987 INTER DOMINION Championships

Ry

JEFF SCOTT

The Victorian pacers, Lightning Blue, and Bag Limit, looked in grand order for the opening night of the Lion Brown Inter-Dominion series on Saturday, when they both trialled under 3:19 for 2600 m (mobile) at Addington yesterday. Lightning Blue came out on top after being in the open throughout in 3:18.7, shading Bag Limit by half a length at the finish, with both pacing effortlessly. Bag Limit was a bit on the fresh side and began to pull for reinsman, Vin Knight, after the first 400 m. He sent the Winfield Cup winner round to the front with 1600 m to run and the Tarport Skipper entire was not pushed when Lightning Blue moved up to him in the closing stages.

The leaders were timed over their last 1600 m in 2:1.6, their closing 800 m in 59s and the last 400 m in 29.15. It was an impressive display from the Australians -into a coolish easterly wind.

Both have bad second line draws in the opening round on Saturday, but should still prove the hardest to topple in the Second and Third Qualifying Heats on Saturday.

Lord Louie, which makes a fresh start from Frank Murfitt’s Rangiora team on Saturday, trailed Bag Limit over the last 1600 m and was a length and a half back third, with Pa;a Royal next ahead of the tailenders, Captain Cavalla and Town Royal.

Lightning Blue’s trainerdriver, Jim O’Sullivan, also produced the upstanding entire, Quite Famous, to lead throughout in the first C 5 and faster mobile pacers’ heat.

Quite Famous quickened the tempo over his closing 800 m in 57s —

putting in a burner of 27.6 s for his second last 400 m — to beat Trident, which trailed, comfortably by a length. Quite Famous, which comes into the favourable five alley against Bag Limit in the Second Qualifying Heat on Saturday, cut out the fun 2600 m in 3:23.2, the last mUe taking 2:2.6. Alpine Fella was given a quiet run by Vin Knight, easing back from the start He was not extended to run third, two lengths from Trident with Horizon, last throughout in the small field.

The West Australian pacer, Prince of Princes, was a late scratching from his heat, however there is nothing amiss with the Racy Prince four-year-old, which is to be driven by Templeton reinsman, Anthony Butt, during the series. GAME EBONY IMPRESSIVE Game Ebony, one of the four Victorian trotters in the series, threw down the gauntlet to top New Zealand trotting mare, Tussle, by stylishly winning the open class trotting heat yesterday in 3:28.6 (2600 m stand). A six-year-old halfbrother to former fine Australian trotter, Downsouth Clare, Game Ebony races against Tussle in the First Trotters’ Qualifying Heat on Saturday, but has drawn the second row.

Game Ebony, the winner of 16 of his 80 starts, was quickly into stride yesterday for trainer-driver, Dick Lee, and was still trotting boldly at the finish a

length clear of fellow Victorian, My Trinket, which trailed throughout. Game Ebony trotted over his closing 800 m in 59.65, with his final 400 m in 29.85.

Wedgewood ran on well for third, two lengths back, with three lengths to Blackwood Mac. Eastern Romance, Front Up and Borrowed Time (which broke after 300 m), completed the field. TUAPEKA KNIGHT

WINS The Brian O’Mearatrained Smooth Fella colt, Tuapeka Knight, wound up his preparation for the First Hamess World Bloodstock Two-Year-Old Trial on Saturday by winning in a leisurely 2:51 for 2000 m yesterday.

Purchased for a substantial sum by the Horseplayers’ Syndicate,

after he won his debut at Invercargill in December, from Kevin Court’s Dunedin stable, the son of the useful Lumber Dream mare,, Tuapeka Dream (five wins), quickened over his last 800 m in 61.5 s for stand-in driver, Tony Robb, , and his closing 400 m in 29.35. The \ promising colt showed greenness when racing past the winning post on both occasions. KINCAID FASTER Kincaid wore down Willem Vink and the pacemaker, Quick Away, near the finish of the second heat in a faster 2:43.3, however he again showed a tendency to run in over the concluding stages when tried with the whip. FREE’S BEST SHOWS THE WAY Free’s Best led over the last 1000 m of the C 4 and faster pacers’ heat in 3:32.7, while other heat winners over 2600 m were Sir Ivanhoe (3:36.9), Ashley Brigade (3:35.2), Lumber’s Pride (trot, 3:42.8), I’m Poplar (3:31.1), Kiwi Fella (3:38.2) and Cool Charm Girl (3:36.4.).