Dillon Dean masterful

Press, 24 March 1988, Page 47

Dillon Dean masterful

By

JEFF SCOTT

I Dillon Dean; was masterful in winning the $55 000 John Brandon Three-Year-Old Championship at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting last evening. ; I j IP \ j I i HL I ■' I

I “It was just like a workout, I I i can’t believe he went I 3:18.92 ; (mobile 260Cjm), his jl'ast 800 m in 57.7 s and liisi closing quarter in i 28s,| said | Dillon Dean’s;reinsman, Maurice McKendry.Up: I ' “I would have thought 3:21 3:22 would have been closer to what he was running. He’s such! a deceptive pacer and 1 did it so easily," added McKendry. p McKendryl sooled. the .hot favourite straight to the front from the four alley. Pacing his. opening quarter in 128.65, Dillon Dean steadied over his opening half ini 6112 s and Lookahead

scratched IH|l J T i - " Lookahead was a late scratching from last evening’s John Brandon Three-Year-Old Championship. P “He’s got a deep-seated stone ! bruise ... they hope,” said Brian Rabbit, assistant racing secretary for the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club. | [

“Alan Scobie (Lookahead’s) trainer) tried all morning to get him to the) post by using different | pads and the .like, but) he still wasn’t j fit enough to run,” said Mr Rahbit), who took the scratching yesterday. Bob Cameron, who assisted Scobie with Lookahead at Ashburton yesterday' said he had returned home with the horse.) ) i|"' 1 ■). “Alan’s away home with) the horse to try and get)him right in time)for the! Derby. He’s not worrying (about the second night,said) Cameron. I 1 I i ’i I: ‘ , L i.

his: first mile in i 2:4.3 before giving his rivals no chance over that fast closing! 800 m. -I McKendry, New Zealand’s leading reinsman, moved to within six wins of notching 100 driving wins for the season, this being his ninety-fourth ! success for the term, i ! The Pukekohe-based ; reinsman' is shooting for ■ his third New Zealand Derby success at Addington in the last four years. - McKendry won two of th'e three! legs of the triple (crown, including the Derby with Placid Victor ■in J : 11985, and ! went unbeaten through the’

series last year , behind, Race: Ruler. II | | However, McKendry is not prepared to start: com-; paring'i the abilities ( bf! each j individual. |.|| :| Dillon Dean arrived at’ Jim Dalgety’s Lantana Lodge in the early IShotirs of yesterday morning, but travelling land racing! do i no t worryj this superstar. || Last evening’s, win was; his seventh in as I many ( starts this [season and his fifth from, as many, starts at Addington i Raceway.! His career record now! stands at 11 wins from 181 starts 'foil earnings ( of $210,150. I 1 |..|i P ; He is the best winner to date for the Most Happy .

Fella stallion, Shicker, whose other winners this season include: Whata Pacer, Festive Heir, Adonis, Don’t Panic, Congress and Rock Star. Dillon Dean’s dam, Birdie, voted New Zealand’s “Broodmare of the Year” last November, was initially! going to be bred with Alba Byrd, the sire of'Elmer Gantry (1:56.7), in the Spring before that side’s untimely death. The 20-year-old Gentry mare is now! safely in foal to I the (former Nevele R. Stud-based J stallion, El Patron,! which now stands at Clevedon. I ’ Kiwi! Supreme, which trailed the winner, had no

excuses finishing twb and three-quarters of a length from the winner. J T | |“I feel slightly disappointed with him in that he didn’t stay with Dillon Dean after the! run he ;had,” said Kiwi Supreme’s jtrainertreinsman! ( Jack Smolensk!. “I | feel | lhe should [have sprinted better than he did but it was the first time he’s left |thle gate at speed. It (might have just: taken the! edge off him at the business end.” f _ ■. •! i■ij ! ; Godfrey, eased back early from his wide draw, was sent forward .wide behind! Carnforth with 1700 m left and was up

outside Dillon Dean from

the 1300 m. He fought well for third, a length and a I quarteri| | (from J Kiwi' Supreme, with Reba Lord just ias impressive when fourth. ! The ij Taranaki colt I paced roughly early when | trying to Igo with .the I leaders and settled down four' (places back |on the outer. Reba Lord ! showed a brilliant turn of speed to I dash I up| outside i Dillon : Dean and Godfrey at the I 400rh' and considering the sub-58s i last 800 m, [ did well to take fourtli stakemoney, just ahead of Wait a Moment, 1 which lacked final I dash after settling I three back on the inner.