Lou Morton stylish Derby Trial winner

Press, 7 December 1988, Page 62

Lou Morton stylish Derby Trial winner

Special correspondent Auckland The withdrawal of Testament was certainly a great loss to the field for the Logan Insurance Derby Trial at the Cambridge Jockey Club’s meeting at Te Rapa yesterday, but it lessened not a scrap the merit of Lou Morton’s winning performance. Lou Morton still had Testament’s great rival, Krona, to beat and he did this in style, in front all through the 2000 metres and home a head clear in 2:2.27. There is not much wrong with Testament and chances are he will run at Te Aroha next Saturday, at weight-for-age over 1600 metres in the Star Way Stakes. According to his trainer, Alan Jones, the horse has had a bit of filling for quite a while in his near front leg. So far this had caused lameness but it had developed a little heat. “After the rain we have had at home (Cambridge) I thought the track here could be a bit slippery and cause him some

trouble,” Jones said. And explaining further Testament’s withdrawal — “I’m just being careful.” A bay colt, trained by Garth and Craig Ivil, at Foxton, Lou Morton had had 16 starts before yesterday for five wins, including three as a two-year-old, one of them at Te Rapa, and three minor placings. His most recent race before yesterday was in the Bayer Classic. Krona was a clear winner on that occasion over 1600 metres. But Lou Morton ran creditably enough for fourth and he could not be faulted yesterday. Lord Mellay tested him, up on the outside all the way to the home turn and a little further on Krona made his bid. All three horses were under pressure with 200 metres to run. Krona tried his hardest but Lou Morton kept him out.

Megabucks, Mr Brooker and Lord Mellay were almost in line next.

The Ivils, father and son, prepare Lou Morton for a syndicate of Palmerston North men, all members of the local

cosmopolitan club. Their intention now is to run the horse next in the Westpark Avondale Guineas, again over 2000 metres, after which consideration will be given to a start in the “New Zealand Herald” Derby, at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. The rider of Krona, Peter Tims, was disappointed but certainly not dismayed at his mount’s inability to quite get the 2000 metres sufficiently well. “Perhaps he went just a bit too hard in his gallop on Sunday,” Tims said. “That might have taken the edge off him, I’ve got no doubts about him running 2400 (the Derby distance) ** Espiare looked very much a Derby chance when she charged home from near last around the home turn for her decisive win over the older horses in the weight-for-age Lion Red Dulcie Stakes. In her usual way Espiare settled near the tail end, and was last of the 17 runners except for Shahzamani with 600 metres to go. Her rider,

Lance O’Sullivan, standing in for Michael Coleman, then sent her wide around the field. With no risk this time of traffic problems, the little filly came at a great rate after the leaders, joined them about 150 metres out and won easily by a length and a half. Savana City, after being forced into leading for the first half of the 1600 metres, ran on gamely for second, just in front of Shahzamani, Auburn Annie and Sweet Annie.

Lady Aloof, the third favourite, after Savana City and Espiare, fa,ded disappiontingly dfter being up near the front and beat only three home.

Espiare will race next in the Guineas at Avondale then, all going well, in the “New Zealand Herald” Derby for which she must be an early favourite. From 11 starts she has secured five wins and for her owner-breeders, Jim and Anne Gibbs, and $163,575 in stakes.

Savana City’s second placing brought in $12,000 and pushed her stake earnings beyond $500,000 to $504,498.