Emcee shows improvement

Press, 12 October 1988, Page 46

Emcee shows improvement

By

JEFF SCOTT

Emcee, which has taken a shade longer to bounce back to top form than his connections had anticipated, looked on target for an improved showing in Saturday’s New World Cup at Forbury Park at the Motukarara trials yesterday. “His wind just wasn’t quite right after his trial at Ashburton last Thursday, so we felt he needed another one,” said Emcee’s part owner and trainer, John Lischner, yesterday.

“We didn’t nominate for the Banks Peninsula meeting (last Saturday) so coming here today was the next best thing,” he added.

Emcee, after starting from 50m in the C 3 and faster pace, improved in the open over the last 1200 m and unwound a closing 800 m of 57.9 in impressive fashion, reeling off his last 400 m in 28.1.

The dapper Majestic Chance entire satisfied his

trainer, and also raceday reinsman, Bob Cameron, with his work yesterday and they are hopeful of a sharper showing than Emcee produced in the Ashburton Flying Stakes when he races this Saturday. Emcee paced the full 2600 m yesterday in a leisurely 3:29.8 and was untroubled to stride clear of the pacemaker, Top Trump (It), over the closing stages, winning by four lengths. Fiddler, which trailed, held third three lengths away. Andronicus, now being trained by John Boyd at Aylesbury, was not asked for a serious effort, while Watbro Earl, which resumes at Forbury Park on Saturday, tangled after 100 m and only battled in the run home. “He was a bit above himself but he’ll improve with that,” said reinsman, Anthony Butt. Bellam continued his preparation for either the Oamaru or Auckland meeting at Labour weekend with a runaway six-

length victory over moderate opposition in the Cl and faster trot, returning 3:29.9 for the 2600 m. “I’m tempted to go to Auckland for the two races there, including the $30,000 Inter-Island Trot, but it’s going to be a long season and we might just stay closer to home until the Cup meeting and go to Oamaru instead,” said Bellam’s owner-trainer, Dave Condick. The diminutive Plat du Jour entire ran his last 2400 m in 3:10.7 and quickened over his closing 400 m in 29.6.

Toliver Trix, a gelding by the Niatross stallion, Niatrix, from Toliver Twiggy in Ron Stechman’s Weedons team, gave a fleet-footed display in the Two-Year-Old Pace.

The quickest into stride, Toliver Trix was always in command for reinsman, David Butt, pacing the 1600 m from a stand in 2:10.1 and quickening from the 400 m in 29.9. The Jiffy Boy colt, Kama Boy, tracked the winner to the turn and

fought solidly for second, with Meadow Knight, a Smooth Fella colt, holding third.

Miss Mischief (Anthony Butt) finished best from the third line, holding out Anzus by half a length, in the Cl and C2 pace, in 3:30.8 for 2600 m, the last 400 m in 29.4. CO winners over 2600 m were: Lady Poplar (3:34.6, last 800 m in 59.8), Countach (3:31.3), Ariel (3:34.9), Smart Frost (3:35.6, last 400 m in 28.9), Willowdale Lad (3:33.2) and Lotsa Time (trot, 3:34.6). Ladbrooks Girl (3:23.8) and My Yankee (3:23.9) both qualified trotting over 2400 m, while Lord Smooth (3c LordshipSpangled Mary), was the fastest pacing qualifier over 2400 m, going 3:16.9.

Other 2400 m pacing qualifiers were: First Jack (3:18.2), Martin Mass (3:19.6), Guest du Jour (3:19.1) and Emory Lord (3:17.5).

Regal Baron was the only pacing qualifier over 2600 m, returning 3:34.7.