Lang has option on Addington qualifier

Press, 13 April 1989, Page 35

Lang has option on Addington qualifier

By

JEFF SCOTT

Admiral Holliday confirmed his smart workouts and trials form when driven by the successful Victorian trainer, Graeme Lang, to qualify in 3:13.4 (2400 m at the Addington trials yesterday. “Graeme has first option to by him so I let him trial him today,” said Admiral Holliday’s Ashburton owner and trainer of only a few weeks, Dick Baird, yesterday. A two-year-old colt by Admiral Halsey (also the sire of Our Blue Steel, a former New Zealander in the Lang stable which has won 18 races), Admiral Holliday has contested five workouts or trials, for three wins. He served notice of his potential by beating a recent qualifier, Joe Cool, comfortably by a length in a two-year-old heat at Chertsey on Easter Monday, going 3:12.6 and his last 800 m in 58.85. He was trained until then by a long-time friend of Baird, Bob Beck, also based at Ashburton. Admiral Holliday, which carries three

strains of Spinster close up on his maternal side, led out, trailed, then moved out in the open over his last 800 m in 61.4 s in cool conditions yesterday. He ran his last 400 m in 30.2 s to win convincingly by three lengths. Baird, who runs an auctioneering business specialising in antiques in Ashburton, was granted a trainers’ licence a month ago. ~ ■

Baird became aquainted with Beck 20 years ago when they both lived in Southland; Beck selected Admiral Holliday (from the same family as Jayex and Glamour Chief) for Baird from a choice of 40 youngsters bred by Grant Sim of Southland. Baird, who races with Beck the C 4 pacer, Admiral Charles, has also enjoyed success as a partowner of Carriers Arms and Royal Butler (three wins each) and Admiral Surrey, a minor New Zealand winner and 1:58 performer in North America. He has no hesitation in labelling Admiral Holliday the best he has been associated with. If no business is completed by next Wednesday, Baird intends giving Admiral Holliday his debut at the New Brighton meeting later that evening. Greenidge (2g El Patron — Nightania), prepared at Ladbrooks by Colin de Filippi for owners Peter and Joan Cocks, also showed promise yesterday, finishing a length from Admiral Holliday in 3:14. '

Other juvenile pacers to qualify over 2400 m yesterday were: Swjrlum’s Fella (Swinging Fella — Swirlum colt) In 8:13.75, clearing out by six; and a half lengths; and : Kerryman (Clever Innocence — Rosina Pryde gelding) in 3:17. ; Damocles (3g ; Lord Module — Ortolan) finished strongly to win his heat in 3:15.95, the leaders running their last 400 m in 29.45. Countess Nugent (3f Plat du Jour — Princess Nugent) led throughout to win the pacers’ 2600 m mobile trial with authority by seven and a half lengths in 3:27.3s for trainer, Peter Holmes, while 2600 m (stand) qualifiers were: Donna Jean (3f Roydon Albatross — Sadie Peterson) in 3:30.1 and Carlino (3g Lordship —Vitellia) in 3:30.2. Donna Jean, trained by David Butt, scored by a nose, the leaders running their last 800 m in 59.65. Bendigo (6g Motu Prince — Swing High) was the sole trotting qualifier, with a 3:40.1s effort over 2600 m.