Rostriever Hanover looks set to be a top pacer soon

Press, 12 September 1987, Page 34

Rostriever Hanover looks set to be a top pacer soon

By

JEFF SCOTT

Sidelined for the Derby races last season with a knee infection, Rostriever Hanover looks like developing into one of New Zealand’s top pacers this season.

While not thinking too far ahead, his Ashburton trainer, Pat O’Reilly, jun. cannot help but look toward the big prizes on offer next year with increased optimism. O’Reilly is keen to have a crack at the $150,000 TNT New Zealand Messenger with the outstanding four-year-old, which never looked like putting a foot wrong in last night’s DB Superstar Championship at the New Brighton meeting and he has not ruled out the possibility of taking Rostriever Hanover to Australia for next year’s Fosters Inter-Dominions at Harold Park in Sydney with Skipper Dale.

“He should be even better next year,” said O’Reilly after Rostriever Hanover led over the last 1500 m of last night’s Group Two feature. More immediately, O’Reilly will take things quietly with the tough Plat du Jour

gelding until the New Zealand Cup meeting in November.

O’Reilly’s two stable stars both thrive on plenty of long slow work.

“It seems to suit the Meadow Skipper line horses,” said O’Reilly, who has opened up a 17 points to six lead over his nearest rivals in this season’s Addington trainer of the season competition. Rostriever Hanover’s good beginning was a result of the horse drawing the inside, according to O’Reilly. "I was pleased he drew one. He would have been in trouble with other horses around him on either side.”

O’Reilly pulled the earplus on Rostriever Hanover when he sent the gelding up to take issue with the pacemaker, Tax Credit, from the 1800 m. In front 1500 m out, the favourite was always in control thereafter, winning with ease by one and three-quarter lengths in 3:21.56 for the 2600 m, pacing his closing 800 m in 58.25.

Application, one of the tailenders early, improved three wide with cover

over the last 1000 m and finished strongly to take the runner-up’s prize, although he began to battle over the last 50m. He was timed over his last 800 m in 57.75.

Tax Credit, which began swiftly from the 20m mark, led after only 500 m, then trailed the winner some 400 m later. He fought on a long neck from Application, with two lengths to That’s That, which was three wide in the open over the last round.

Happy Sunrise came through his first test against the open class pacers with flying colours in the Latimer Motor Lodge Mobile Free-For-All, the'second leg of the T.A.B. double.

Eased back early when racing greenly, the upstanding Methven-trained five-year-old began to stride around the field as far out as the 800 m and was wide in the leading line turning for home. Happy Sunrise swept to the front in a couple of strides. He then had to withstand a determined late claim from Sossy which he survived, showing an excellent combina-

tion of speed and stamina to win by a long neck.

He paced the mobile 2600 m in 3:14.91 (a 2:00.7 mile rate) — the seventh fastest on record — after being timed over his last 2400 m in 3:00 and his closing 800 m (three wide) in 57.35.

The Steven Stock gelding is likely to try and attain Cup. class rating on the big grass track at Methven next Saturday, in which he will start from 30m in the Almac Potato Methven Cup.

Last night’s win was his ninth from only 13 outings and took his earnings past the $50,000 mark for partowner and trainer, Brian Saunders, who races the gelding with his father, Vern.

Frangelico, three back on the inner to the turn, ran on to outfinish Rolls Hanover for third by a nose.

The hot favourite, Skipper Dale, was left in the open when Rolls Hanover went to the lead after 300 m and was beaten turning for home, wilting to beat only two.