Eight pacers qualify at Rangiora

Press, 6 October 1987, Page 52

Eight pacers qualify at Rangiora

By

ALEX McMILLAN

The well-bred three-year-olds, Crowley and Imperial Nugent, were the most impressive of eight pacers to qualify on the all-weather track at Rangiora yesterday. The Erin Crawfordtrained Crowley confirmed the worth of some excellent form at workouts In recent weeks with an all-the-way win in his 2400 m heat, recording the fastest qualifying time for the morning of 3min

14.65. The gelded brother of the useful racemare, Smooth Charm (Smooth Fella — Charlotte Rose), sprinted over his last 800 m in 60.4 s and 400 m in 30.6 s to easily beat Imperial Nugent, which finished strongly and was credited with a time of 3min 15s. Imperial Nugent, a gelding in Peter Ryder’s West Melton team, is by Plat Du Jour from the Tarport Coulter mare, Nugent Royale, and is a

brother to last year’s Queen’s Birthday Stakes winner, Nugent Du Jour. Murdo, a six-year-old son of Pass With Care and En Cachette, with Ron Campion, was driven by veteran reinsman, “Tiny” Becker, to win the mobile 2600 m qualifying heat The gelding soon opened up a handy advantage over his rivals and never appeared likely to be collared, winning by three lengths in a respectable 3min 265, 4.5 seconds inside the required time.

Strathbawn (4m, Smooth Fella — Classiebawn) and Jeka (3g, Clever Innocence — Really Fine) chased the winner home, both gaining their tickets by recording 3mln 26.6 s and 3min 27.1 s respectively. Other qualifiers, over 2400 m, were Jimmy M§c (3g, Spring Romp — World Watch), 3min 15.25; Boy Star (3g, Main Star — Laurie Hanover), 3min 17.35, and Beau Mirage (3c, Plat Du Jour — Imagine), 3min 16.25.