Shuttle puts in big run for last-stride win

Press, 8 March 1989, Page 46

Shuttle puts in big run for last-stride win

By

JEFF SCOTT

Shuttle enhanced his prospects for the John Brandon 30 New Zealand Derby series, which begins next Wednesday, with a last-stride victory in the Cotswold Inn Mobile Pace at the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting last evening.

The promising Plat du Jour colt was giving the leaders a big start when last with a mile to run but this played to his advantage as the leaders battled a shade over their last 800 m in 60.3 seconds. Shuttle, the drive of Anthony Butt for the Derby series, tracked Wood Chip up three wide over the last 800 m and came off his back with 100 m to run to score by a nose. “He’s a nice horse but can be a bit lazy,” said Butt, who was having his

first race drive behind the Royce Belcher-trained colt last evening. Butt was engaged for the Derby series after Shuttle’s regular reinsman, Peter Jones, confirmed he would be starting his own runner, Credit Controller. Butt, a nephew of Jones, guided Credit Controller to a hat-trick of wins at the Wellington meeting last month and says there is not a lot between the pair. “They are both nice horses but Credit Control-

ler might not quite have the manners of Shutle,” said Butt. Butt will be having his fourth drive in the New Zealand Derby on March 25. He has been unplaced in his first three drives in the race on Metal Mickey, United Blue Chip and Borderline, respectively. Belcher, who trains Shuttle at Yaldhurst, will be hoping the colt can go one better than Glide Time, which he trained and drove to finish second to Motu Prince in the New Zealand Derby at

Addington 12 years ago. Last night’s win was Shuttle’s fifth from 10 starts and his fourth win on end. His earnings now stand at $19,455. Shuttle paced the mobile 2600 m in a smart 3:16.7, a mile rate of 2:1.8, and 1.6 seconds outside Inky Lord’s national age group record. Wood Chip was gallant in defeat after having the race won everywhere but in the last stride, with High Gun, which tried to lead over the last 1000 m a

length and a quarter back third. Bardolino, which improved from the back at the 600 m to be challenging the leaders early in the run home, battled over the last 150 m for fourth, with stablemate Good Prospect a fair fifth. The favourite, National Glory, took the field through the opening mile in 2:00.8 before surrendering the lead to High Gun. He was unable to work clear in the run home, finishing sixth.