Sir Alba ready to resume

Press, 20 November 1987, Page 27

Sir Alba ready to resume

By JEFF SCOTT A stream-lined Sir Alba indicated his readiness to resume in the Christchurch Airport Travelodge Free-For-All at Addington Raceway tomorrow evening by pacing 2400 m post-to-post in 3:2.1 at the Ashburton trials yesterday. The five-year-old Alba Counsel entire looks to have done a fair amount of work with his new trainers, Alistair and Lindsay Kerslake, and should acquit himself well tomorrow, although it might be expecting a bit much for him to reach the placings from his second-line draw in such a talented field.

“Yes, he’s looking alright — I’m quite happy with him,” said the senior training partner, Alistair Kerslake, yesterday. The Fay, Richwhite Sires’ Stakes winner in a record 1:57.4 mile of two years ago has surprisedd Kerslake how well he has recovered from a nasty gash to his nearhind leg earlier this year. “I didn’t think he would race again. He got it caught up in a fence,” said Kerslake. The entire also underwent a wind operation after finishing up his four-year-old cam-

paign in May. Sir Alba won 11 races from 51 starts for his previous trainer, Ray Teahen, who had him on lease.

Driven by his raceday reinsman, Peter Jones, Sir Alba tangled early from his 40m handicap in the C2 and faster pace, then worked into a good position trailing his stablemate, Bionic Raider, two places back on the outer. He was not seriously pushed to get within half a length of the pacemaking, Nardins Belle, at the finish. Sir Alba was timed over his last mile in 2:1.4 and his closing 800 m in a slick 56.85. Nardins Belle (10m), which has been scratched tomorrow eveing, was timed over the 2400 m in 3:7.7 from a stand, running her last 800 m in front in 57.45. Milford Ace, which contests the C4-C6 mobile trot over 2000 m tomorrow, gave an improved performance to lead for most of the way in the Cl and faster trot yesterday. The Gene B. Good geldding trotted the 2400 m in 3:12.7 to beat the solidfinishing Jimmy Scott by a neck.

Golden Blue,. a candidate for tomorrow’s D.B. Dominion Handicap, was not pushed to finish fourth being timed over his last mile in 2:5.3 and his last 800 m in 59.75. Hot Oil impressive Hot Oil, a $lO,OOO purchase at the 1986 National Yearling sales, was the most impressive of five pacers to qualify. A three-year-old gelded son of Mark Lobell and the former useful Yankee Express mare, Moving Grace, in Austin Smith’s Ashburton team, Hot Oil came from behind to win going away by six and a half lengths in 3:11.6 for the 2400 m. The leaders were timed over their last 800 m in 57.55, a time Hot Oil would have bettered for this section. Hot Oil is a half-brother to the good Australian winner, My Lord Grace (1:58.3), and to Admiral Grace, the winner of three from the Smith Stable. Margaret Brandon, a three-year-old daughter of Sholty Imp and Laneen in Alistair and Lindsay Kersiake’s Lauriston team, also qualified by returning 3:12.9 for second. She is a half-sister to Earl Brandon (1.55.8)

reiated to a former Australian Pacing Championship winner, Jack Brandon.

Others to qualify over 2400 m (stand) were: Brigadier Boa (3g Colonel Kenton—Lady Demelza) in 3:13.7, and Shy Mark (3g Golden Fulla-Shy Castle) in 3:16.5. Hindu Rebel, a three-year-old colt by the Meadow Skipper stallion, Brave Rebel, from Hindu Star, won his mobile heat for pacers by 18 lengths in 3:8.6, running his last 800 m in 59.85. Trained at Rakaia by Colin Harrison, Brave Rebel is a halfbrother to Canis Minor (1:57.4) and broodmare gem, Sakuntala. Joy Hest (4m Game Pride —Tomoko Hest) won a two-horse trotters’ qualifying trial over 2400 m in 3:20.6 to gain her ticket for her Halswell trainer, Clem Scott. Results:

CO Pacers, mobile, 2400 m— Von Luckner It I. Cowie 1, Oroua it 2, Touch Wood it 3. 11 ran. Westmeath Chief fourth. 6 len, len. Time: 3:6.9 (last 800 m in 60.45). CO Pace, 2400 m.— Kelly’s

Idol it A. Scott 1, In the News It 2, Captain Rum It 3. 12 ran. Abbasal fourth. Len. Time: 3:12 (last 800 m in 595). CO Pace, 2400 m.— Millbum Lopez it K. Townley 1, Darajou it 2, Riona Hanover it 3. 13 ran. Pride’s Messenger fourth. Len. Time: 3:13.4 (last 800 m in 60.25). CO Trot, 2400 m.— Innes Lass it L. O’Reilly 1, Proud Adios It 2, Forward Game It 3. 15 ran. Bruno Hest fourth. 2 len, i/ 2 len. Time: 3:16.9 (last 800 m in 60.35). Cl and faster Trot, 2400 m.— Milford Ace 10 I Cowie 1, Jimmy Scott 30 2, Over The Moon It 3. Seven rain. Golden Blue forth. Nk. Time: 3:12.7 (last 800 m in 60.25). ■ Cl Pace, 2400 m.— Tact Stacey it R. Cameron 1, Nat’s Girl It 2, Nat Marie It 3. Six ran. Little Rapa fourth. % len. Time: 3:15.8 (last 800 m in 58.35). „ C2 and faster Pace, 2400 m— Nardins Belle 10 R. Cameron 1, Sir Alba 40 2, Skipper John It 3. Nine ran. Sir Avon fourth. y 2 len. Time: 3:7.7 (last 800 m in 57.45). Two-Year-Old Pace, 1700 m.— Tact Apollo (Apollo’s Way—Tact Lobell) it R. Cameron 1, Triple Score It 2, El Zeni it 3. Eight ran. Regal Dryham fourth. Nk. Time: 2:19.3 (last 800 m in 59.75).