Random Chance wins at Wingatui trials

Press, 31 January 1989, Page 35

Random Chance wins at Wingatui trials

Random Chance was nominated for meetings at Riccarton on Saturday and Ascot Park on Monday after easily winning his heat at the Wingatui barrier trials yesterday. Trainer, Brian Anderton, will decide today whether to . use either meeting as a starting off point for Random Chance in a fresh campaign. Anderton had the White Robe Lodge Handicap (1600 metres) at Wingatui on Saturday week in mind to start Random Chance back into racing, but he is having second thoughts. The race at Riccarton is over 1200 m and at Ascot Park 1600. “I may not start him at either Riccarton or Southland but I am concerned about giving him a hard mile first-up in the White Robe," Anderton said. Random Chance won a 1200 m trial by two lengths in 1:16 in the middle of a fast course proper. He was outside the early leader, Noble Pal, then went clear at the 700. He ran the last 800 m in 50.1 and 600 m in 38.2. “He was doing it easily all the way," said his rider, Shane Anderton. Bloodstone was handy to the pace and shaded Noble Pal for second. Noble Pal, which had time off after a win and a second at the Vincent meeting this month, has the $20,500 Southland Stakes, a limited handicap metric mile at Ascot Park on Monday next on his programme. Mister Winks showed he was well forward to resume racing when he won the other 1200 m open heat in 1:14.3, the last 800 in 49.8. Mister Winks tracked pacemaker Lara Pinta and ran on solidly to win by a head with a neck to Allez Era. Mister Winks, away from racing since March, has had 14 weeks work with ownertrainer Jim Burns. Mister Winks will reappear in the White Robe Handicap. Gay Ellery displayed dash when winning the 800 metre open heat. She made the pace and led Fair Request by two and a . half lengths at the finish in 49. Leg injuries and a splint have restricted her racing to one start this season — she finished third at Gore in October. Trainer, Ray Cairns, is keeping his fingers crossed that she will stay out of trouble. Highland Peer led for most of the way in the open 2000 m heat and held on by a neck from Auburn Rose. The nine-year-old has come back in good order. Lord Bart, a member of John Heasley’s team won an 800 m maiden heat in 49.8 narrowly from Princess Tawfiq. A Beaufort Sea — . Lynda’s Grey four-year-old mare in Ali Robinson’s team won the other heat in 50s from Forest Piper and Baladgie Boy, which were both close up. The mare is the first foal of her dam, a useful sprinter. A Light Spirit, a member of the same stable, finished strongly to win the heat for two-year-olds over 600 m. She returned 39. An Australian-owned filly, A Light Spirit is by Light Spirits. Crystal Hills, owned and trained by Frank Vaughan, did best in the 1000 m maiden heat after disputing the pace, and recorded 1:5 and 51.1 for the last 800 m.