Straight Line trials well before Trentham trip

Press, 17 January 1989, Page 31

Straight Line trials well before Trentham trip

By DAVID MCCARTHY The brilliant Riccarton filly, Straight Line, due to leave at midnight in quest of the $500,000 Magic Million Sires Stakes at Trentham on Saturday, returned an impressive trial on the course proper at Riccarton yesterday. The filly was ridden by former jockey, Graham Heaton, who will accompany part-trainer Dave Kerr on the northern trip. Straight Line will be quartered at the luxuriously appointed Ashford Park complex in Otaki.

Straight Line gave weight to the smart three-year-old Red Back .(Jan Kerr) yesterday but was alongside him at the end of 800 m in 48.4, the last 600 m in 35.6. Considering the pair were well out from the rail and the rail itself is several metres out from the inside of the course proper, the gallop was outstanding.

Straight Line, which had the watches ablaze

during a brilliant workout on the plough on Saturday morning, clashes with the brilliant northern filly Philippa Rush and others in the Magic Million Stakes.

Dave Kerr is happy with her progress, especially the fact she has been free of shin soreness in the last few weeks after that had caused problems earlier.

Kerr will not be disappointed if Straight Line cannot quite match the early speed of some of the others in the Magic Million but is confident she will be running on better than most because of her natural racing qualities.

Straight Line has yet to be tested in five races in the South Island and looks ready for a bold bid for higher honours this weekend.

Her travelling companion, and strictly that, is Corsicana, which recently returned to the stable after a let-up and is a

good way from racing trim as yet.

Chance for Gold

The veteran galloper, Chance for Gold, could have earned a tilt at the Wellington Cup with his third placing in the Russley Handicap at Omakau yesterday added to his solid recent form. Chance for Gold was pencilled in for the Wellington trip after his bold second under 57kg in the Invercargill Gold Cup on January 7. “If he goes it will probably just be for the Cup, though I have nominated him for the second day of the meeting next Monday,” the veteran’s ownertrainer, Denis Cusdin, said yesterday. Cusdin leased Chance for Gold for 12 months from the Lester Olsen stable of Awapuni late last year. Chance for Gold had won the Great Autumn Stakes at Riccarton last Easter when in Cusdin’s care after being sent south by Olsen.

The connections of Chance for Gold feel the substantial drop in weight the horse can expect at Trentham and the fact that he has already won at 2500 m suggest the rejuvenated nine-year-old deserves one more crack at the big time. He has been a vital part of a fine riding comeback by John Dowling. Chance for Gold won the Terminus Handicap at Timaru on December 27 and the Wairio Cup eight days earlier before his Invercargill race. Chance for Gold was eighth in the 1986 Wellington Cup when ridden by David Walsh. Saveur and St James are two other Riccartontrained Wellington hopefuls on target for the trip, with the latter leaving late tomorrow evening.

But Triana is now an unlikely candidate for the Douro Cup, with the Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton being a more likely target for her.