Carnforth foolproof in 2nd trial

Press, 22 September 1987, Page 41

Carnforth foolproof in 2nd trial

By

JEFF SCOTT

The promising young pacer, Camforth, escaped being stood down from this Saturday’s $lO,OOO Fay, Richwhite Sires’ Stakes Heat at Ashburton after he gave a foolproof performance the second time round at the Rangiora trials yesterday. Carnforth looked forward for this week’s resumption when he won the Cl stand pace easing down by three lengths, but the colt only became a late addition to the field after an abortive attempt in the Cl and faster mobile pace two hours earlier. Driven by raceday reinsman Michael de Filippi, Carnforth became keyed up behind the mobile and galloped at the starting point. Under restraint by de Filippi, the three-year-old ran out on the comer at the 2600 m despatch, colliding with Cool Charm Girl whose

trainer-driver, Steve O’Brien, was sent sprawling from the cart. The Chief Stipendiary steward, Mr Peter Mackenzie, gave Carnforth “the benefit of the doubt’’ over the incident, considering the horse’s useful form in seven appearances last term. “The starter was spoken to regarding the speed of the mobile arm. It was going a bit too fast,” said Mr Mackenzie. Carnforth, which finished fifth in the recordrun Sapling Stakes from a mobile start at Ashburton in June in his final two-year-old start, careered into the grassed area for de Filippi before coming to a halt unscathed. An impressive winner second-up at Addington in April, the son of Smooth Fella and the useful racewinning mare Tineka took control 1800 m out in the stand pace and was always travelling easily to

record 3:29.8, the last 800 m in 61.4 s and closing 400 m in 30.85. Noble Alm, a decisive first-up winner at Addington this month, missed the start momentarily but was then quick to hit his straps. He ran on solidly for second, shading Canasta King and Rachael Dawn. The Oracle ran on late to shade his betterperformed rivals, False Image and Gipsy Colonel, both of which were not extended, at the finish of the Cl and faster mobile pace in 3:24.3. The four runners trialled two and three cartwidths off the fence for much of the running to avoid the driverless Cool Charm Girl. A winner at Timaru back in January which has not raced since being unplaced at Addington later that month, The Oracle rated 2:6.2 for the distance, the leaders run-

ning their last 800 m in 62.45. Castle Farr battled past Motu Delight (in the open) to win the CO pacers mobile heat in 3:27.4, while the Erin Crawford-trained Whitney’s Creek looked the pick of the maidens from a stand, leading over the last 1800 m to win easily in 3:32.3. Other winners were: Technicality (C2 and faster pace, 3:33.3, last 400 m in 28.95), Bulla Mattari (C 4 and faster trot, 3:35.7, last 800 m in 60.15, from the strong-finishing Game Command), Iseult (Cl and 2 trot, 3:40.5), Riverina Lobell (CO trot, 3:38) and the CO pacers, Explorer (3:33.5), Ashley Brigade (3:33.7), Kia Rio (3:41.9) and Silky Fella (3:47). William Dee, a three-year-old son of Alias Armbro and Life Line in Bevan Heron’s Amberley

team, was left parked in the Trotters qualifying heat and fought on best to win in< 3:22.8 (2400 m The younger halfbrother to C 6 squaregaiter, Great Life, won by a length from Dalrae Hanover (4g Sir DalraeRobena) and Game Jill (5m Game Pride-Light Blaze),?which also qualified 3:23 and 3:23.5 respectively. X Copper Briar (5m Great Mann-Rosette Hanover prepared at Swannanoa by Dick Petrie, finished best from the third line to record the fastest time among the pacers of 3:13.5, the leaders running their last 800 m in 60.45. Other pacers to qualify were: Susie Lobell (smin Mark Lobell-Far Cry) in 3:14.8, Amorous (3f Mark Lobell-Star Del) in 3:16.2, Lotsa Fun (4m NoodlumSpeclal Holiday) in 3:13.8, and Natter Boy (4g Nat Lobell-Clutha Gold) in 3:14.9.