Dashing training gallop

Press, 27 July 1988, Page 40

Dashing training gallop

Special correspondent Dunedin Hills Peak put dash into his training gallop at Wingatui yesterday morning in preparation for the Oamaru Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday.

Hills Peak finished two and a half lengths clear of race-rival, Basha Feleka, with a similar margin to Cabaret after recording 53s for 800 m on a slushy sand track. The last 600 m took 40.55.

Hills Peak was spelled for mouth soreness caused by a bit after he last raced on June 14. The gelding will race with blinkers again on Saturday.

Basha Feleka has not raced since he finished third to Star Rapier and

Narrative at the Southland meeting in March. Berber, which could prove more than a match, for Hills Peak at Oamaru,, ran 600 m with Rome in 40.9 s on a heavy inside grass track yesterday. Berber worked on the best part of the track from 1200 m. He has thrived since he won the Brabazon Handicap (1400 m at Riccarton on July 2.

Berber has sufficient weight, 55.5 kg, for his trainer, Leslie Didham, to ride him this week.

The handy steeplechaser, Karetia Lad, has made pleasing progress after two months back in work with owner, Robin Fraser. Karetia Laid had an operation on his

larynx in February for a breathing problem. Napoleon Bonaparte gained the first part of his ticket for hurdling when he jumped eight fences with Riwai. Wilberforce looked well when given a quiet round by trainer, Ali Robinson. Wilberforce should be hard to beat in the race for maiden two-year-olds at Oamaru. He shaped well for fifth in his initial race at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting. Robinson has The Son coming to hand. The Son, which is by Noble Bijou and is the first foal of a fine race mare, The Twinkle, had his start to racing delayed by a bone chip on a knee. He is a rising four-year-old.