Ashburton acceptors please at Motukarara trials

Press, 24 February 1988, Page 43

Ashburton acceptors please at Motukarara trials

By

ALEX MCMILLAN

The Murray Edmondstrained pair, Maida Chance and Mireille, acceptors for the C 3 Grain and Seed Merchants Handicap at Ashburton on Saturday, shaped pleasingly at the Motukarara trials yesterday. Maida Chance, winner of the Marlborough Cup earlier this month, began safely from the 20m mark in the heat for C2 and faster pacers over 2600 m and worked into a good position on the outer with 1100 m to run. Brought out to challenge early in the run home by Mike de Filippi, Maida Chance easily

gained the measure of Top Trump, which had reached the lead at the 400 m, but was allowed to relax over the concluding 50m and Top Trump came back on the line to share the decision. Mireille, driven by Murray Edmonds, was shuffled to the rear of the six-horse field a round from home and ran home strongly for third, just half a length behind the deadheaters. She was timed over her last 400 m in 30.15. Barrier trial winners were China Shop (two-year-old fillies; 2100 m; 3min 9.65, 800 m in 64.25, 400 m in 30.45), Native

Burn (two-vear-old colts and geldings; 2100 m; 2min 56.45, 800 m in 635, 400 m in 32.95), Tango Franco (CO; 2600 m; 3min 37.55, 800 m in 62.25, 400 m in 31.85), Driannik (CO; 2600 m; 3min 38.85, 800 m in 62.45, 400 m in 31.45), Mizzen (CO; 2600 m; 3min 37.45, 800 m in 63.25, 400 m in 32.75), Gurner’s Dream (CO; trotters; 2600 m; 3min 47.95, 800 m in 63.25, 400 m in 34.15), Long Fella (Cl; 2600 m; 3min 39.15, 800 m in 60.65, 400 m in 31.25), Top Trump (10m) and Maida Chance (20m) first equal (C2 and faster; 2600 m; 3min 37.1 s (Top Trump), 3min 36.4 (Maida Chance), 800 m in 61s,

400 m in 30.65, and Goldos (Cl and faster trotters; 2600 m; 3min 44.55, 800 m in 62.35, 400 m in 32.55). Pacers to qualify over 2400 m yesterday were Kotare Alpha (4m, Smooth Fella — Kotare Vision), 3min 17.75; Newton John (3f, Midshipman — Lucky Truant), 3min 13.95; Income (3g, Honkin Andy — Comeover), 3min 14.65; Stylish Dancer (3g, Noodlum — Sarnia), 3min 17.9 s and Playful Princess (4m, Lordship — Little Minx), 3min 20.95. Cincinnatti Red (4m, Paul Evander — Vanette) qualified as a trotter over 2400 m, recording 3min 28s.