Lady Aloof close to best for Otaki

Press, 25 September 1987, Page 25

Lady Aloof close to best for Otaki

Special correspondent Palmerston North

Lady Aloof looks in capital order for her first start of the season in the Gressier Lodge Handicap at Otaki on Saturday. The highly-tal-ented mare was not asked for a serious task in training at Awapuni yesterday yet she will parade close to her best for the second leg of the double.

Erin Jillings will ride Lady Aloof, renewing his association from last season. The trainer, Noel Eales, is hoping for a firm track at Otaki as Lady Aloof is unhappy on anything but reasonably firm footing. Yesterday the stable foreman, Bruce Brown, took the mare over an easy 1000 metres on the course proper, Lady Aloof completing the task in 1:11, the last 600 in 425. A race will no doubt Improve her yet her class will carry her very

close. Her stablemate, Cornwall King, was running at the Bulls trials later and is an unlikely starter on Saturday. But Standing Ovation, a very impressive winner on Wednesday, is likely to start in the Ashford Park with Mark Heaney up. Heaney can now claim only I.skg after his success on the grey at Waverley. Standing Ovation won so well that she could be hard to beat again. Modern Times, a maiden with good prospects at Otaki, ran 600 m in 40s and has good form to back up his chances.

Moon Pebbles accounted for Indeed A Lady at the end of 800 m in 565, the last 600 m in 41s. Moon Pebbles looks an improver for Otaki. Festivity worked over 800 m in 535, the last 600 m in 40s and Classified, engaged at Otaki, ran 600 m in 38s. He is a colt by Silver Sceptre and lines up in the

Williams Juvenile. Penelope Leigh sprinted over 6Mm in 38s and Zelazny, ready for the second day at Otaki, covered 606 m in 41s. Impudent Miss took 57s for 800 m, the final 600 in 425, and French Caprice ran 600 keenly in 38.4, Sweet Echo taking 56 for 800, the last 600 in 41. Pauline Marie, which could go well at Otaki, ran 800 m with Peg’s Joy in 53.45, the final 600 m in 39.45.

Infantry ran home the last 600 m of his work. He is being prepared for the New Zealand Cup, his connections have abandoned Melbourne Cup plans. In the meantime, he will line up at New Plymouth next week. Tourneur jumped four hurdles well. He has his first start for the Bull stable in the first leg at Otaki. The former southerner has won six races Including a Beaumont Cup and he has done a lot of work in recent weeks.