Knight Invader works strongly

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 29

Knight Invader works strongly

Special correspondent Palmerston North The southerner, Knight Invader, and the Matamata visitor, Field Dancer, took attention away from Manawatu locals when they galloped at Awapuni yesterday morning in preparation for the first day of the Manawatu meeting tomorrow.

Knight Invader ran the best 600 m of the morning with Field Dancer not asked for a real effort over 1600 m. Auto Air. engaged in the Higgins Mile, also impressed. Most of the work took place on i the course proper which has not been affected much by rain on Wednesday. It provided good footing and should be no worse than easy if there is no more rain. On the course Knight Invader ran 600 m in 37s

finishing on strongly. He was placed at Trentham last season and recent good efforts in the far south point to a chance in the Higgins Mile. Brian Hibberd rides him. Field Dancer went lazily, as he often does in training, when running 1600 m in 1:54, the last 600 m in 40s. He has done well since a fair race at Trentham last week and he will be joined by his in form stablemates Sounds Like Fun and Power Chief tomorrow.: Auto Air ran keenly over 800 m in 525, the last 600 m in 38s. He won well at Taranaki and the Higgins Mile is well within his capabilities. He needs a scratching to get in but Bronze Valley-might not run. Any further rain would not harm his prospects. i : ' Bronze Valley and Flight Queen covered

1000 m in 1:6.6, the last 600 m in 37.6 s with Flight Queen just in front. She is cherry ripe for the Higgins Mile and will be hard to beat. Blue Indian, engaged against the maidens but on the . ballot list, left 800 m behind in 535, the last 600 m in 38.4 s and Classic Style covered 1000 m in 1:7, the final 600 m in 40s. Ingeborg travelled sweetly over 1000 m in 1:7, the last 600 m impressively in 375. She is above average and should repeat her Trentham success. Wexford King, which might (need the run in the Higgins Mile, covered 1000 m in 1:7.4, the last 600 m ! in 37.4 s and Lisa Bay ran 800 m in 525, taking 38s for the last 600 m. Soubrette, a good chance in the Grasslands . Coronet, worked well: within herself over 1000 m in 1:6.4, the last 600 m in 38.45. Mr Bunnythorpe, an interesting runner in the Gold Cup, worked well over 1600 m in 1:52, the last 600 m in 41s. He has! thrived of late and won’t! be disgraced. ; Chance for Gold, a Gold Cup contender, ran 800 m! in 535, the final 600 m in 39s but! his prospects look

remote. I’m Ziggy, which could show up in the Te Wanaka . Park Maiden after a good debut here earlier this month, covered 800 m in 535, the last 600 m in 38s. Golden Sealord, a definite prospect in the ANZ Bank Handicap, worked evenly over 1200 m in 1:21, the last 600 m in 41s. He took no harm from his Trentham fall. On the plough Victory Royale rounded off his work by running 600 m in 40s. He is in top order for the ANZ Bank Handicap. Zelazny completed 1000 m in 1:7.4, the final 600 m in 40.45. Vienna Belle is unlikely to start in the Grasslands Coronet Handicap, according to her trainer, Noel Eales. She might be reserved for the second day.