Fast times order of day at Orari

Press, 30 November 1987, Page 45

Fast times order of day at Orari

By

JEFF SCOTT

Track records were the order of the day at the Geraldine Trotting Club’s annual meeting at Orari on Saturday with three, and nearly four, out of as many possible records being lowered.

The most notable was Ankorman’s 4:13.4 for 3200 m in the D.B. Geraldine Trust Cup, shattering the previous best of former top pacer, Derby, which set the previous best of 4:15.1 in 1982.

Racing was fast and furious all day on the 1650 m turning grass circuit, with weather conditions ideal.

Other records were established by the C 3 pacer, Bright Fella, with a 2:34.4 time for 2000 m in the final event (2.1 seconds inside the previous bests by In Touch four years ago), and the 3:29.2 five lengths win by the brilliant but enigmatic squaregaiter, Kahuna Pele, in the Ferrier Woolscourers Trot (over two seconds Inside Sharvarno’s former best last year. The classy Morventrained colt, Cardinal Star, almost cleaned out the previous list of records when he went within .2 of a second of the 2600 m record in the $7500 Aorangi Bloodstock Orari Challenge Stakes. The 1982 Great Northern Derby winner, Mel’s Boy, which clocked 3:24.8 when winning the Challenge Stakes in 1981, survives yet another term as the record-holder.

Ankorman, which at the beginning of the month won the Walkouaiti Cup (3200 m in track record time, was untroubled to finish best from the fourth line on Saturday.

"He’s a nice horse but I don’t know if he’s up to the top ones yet,’’ said reinsman, Bob Cameron, who was notching his third win in five drives behind the Midshipman entire and his thirteenth for the season. ■

Ankorman is now likely to be freshened for important racing in the New Year.

i Len Mosely jun., who part-owns, and trains Ankorman on the beach at Waikoualti, is undecided whether he will take An-

korman to Auckland for the TNT Messenger at Alexandra Park in February, but is almost certain to contest the $27,500 Ahngow Four-Year-Old Championship at Forbury Park in late January. Related to Paleface Bubble Ankorman is from the Nyallo Hall branch of the Millie C. family that has produced the outstanding New South Wales performer, Paleface Bubble and the 1:57 North American pacer, Nyallo Del. Mosely, and his partners, his father, Len sen., and Hampden’s Bert Whyte, bred a sister to Ankorman (Midshipman—Clever Girl, by Flight Adios), which was foaled on Friday, and they also have a six-year-old half-sister, by Valerian, to the horse at home. They are sending Clever Girl to the Lordship entire, Stortford Lodge, this season. Light Foyle ran on solidly for second without looking a threat to the winner, with Ruling Skipper pacing an improved race to finish on for third, ahead of Jenny Benny, which was given every chance. The win favourite, Young Eden, lost her chance after only 300 m, when she was knocked out of contention when trailing Premier Bromac, which attempted to jump the crossing and came back sharply. She met further trouble at the back of the field 600 m out. Cardinal Star comfortable winner Cardinal Star, which is closely related to the boom Victorian four-year-old, Our Maestro, unbeaten in his last 11 appearances at Moonee Valley (seven this season) and rated unlucky not to get a start in Friday’s Sydney Miracle Mile, had to sprint twice in the Orari Challenge Stakes but still won comfortably.

Taken to the front 1600 m out by Michael de Filippi, the Broadfield horseman kept the Lordship colt on an event keel as Bob Cameron made his move with the winner’s stablemate, Metro Boy, across the top. Accelerating brilliantly, Metro Boy stormed clear at the 500 m but de Filippi, just biding his time, brought Cardinal Star out to attack early in the run home and soon put the issue beyond doubt Cardinal Star, and Metro Boy, which was run down to finish fourth, are both to be freshened for the Derby races in the autumn. The winner, also from a half-sister to the former Standardbred Breeders’ Stakes winner, Royal Illusion (10 wins), was trialled by Australians during the week but the deal fell through when they informed the colt’s owners, Pat and Cath Heffernan, they “didn’t like the way he stood.” “They also wanted to take him over there and win a few races with him, then send back some of the purchase money, so we weren’t interested,” said Mrs Heffernan. "They all want to buy a Lightning Blue for the price of a tin can,” said Pat Heffernan. Change of luck Kahuna Pele brought a change of luck for the West Melton trainer, Eddie Cowie, when he impressively won the Ferrier Woolscourers Trot Cowie, recording his first win since mld-July when Quick Away won a two-year-old race at Addington, looped the field with Kahuna Pele from the 900 m. The Wide Acclaim gelding kept going strongly, being timed over his last 800 m in 595.

First win for 12 months Bright Fella gained his first win for 12 months when he finished best from a handy spot in the

Beres Macale Memorial. The five-year-old Swinging Fella entire went through a lean patch after winning in a smart 2:2.8 mile rate for 2600 m mobile on N.Z. Cup day last year, but could now be ready to carry on with his initial promise. Country Life clears out The biggest win of the day came in the Wrightcars Pace when Country Life, a threequarter brother to the former champion pacer, Lord Module (1:54.9), cleared out to win by eight lengths in a smart 3:28.5 for the 2600 m. Bred and raced by a Chertsey farmer, Mr Keith Hood, the immediate past-president of the Ashburton Trotting Club, Country Life is thought highly of by his Highbank trainer, Pat O’Reilly sen. Last term he started him in the Sapling Stakes, which was won in record time by Tuapeka Knight, but an eighth was the best he could manage in five juvenile appearances. An Impressive fourlength winner at the Methven trials earlier this month, Country Life was installed a warm favourite on Saturday and never gave his supporters any cause for concern, leading throughout "He surprised me a little how well he won. He’s still learning and should be even better next year,” said his driver, Leo O’Reilly. Leo and his father, Pat also combined to win the North End Ford Trot with the converted pacer, Innes Lass, who finally confirmed her fine trials form by leading from end to end.

“She needs to be shod just right,” said her trainer, O’Reilly sen., of the Scotch Abbe mare, which had earlier been the beaten favourite in two appearances since joining the O’Reilly stable.