Miss Tris untested

Press, 22 August 1989, Page 33

Miss Tris untested

Otago correspondent The up and coming three-year-old filly, Miss Tris, trounced the older horses in the Ben Area Improvers at Oamaru yesterday, boosting her prospects for the $lB,OOO John Grigg Classic at Ashburton on September 5. Miss Tris began smartly from barrier four, then settled to trail the pacemaker, Misty Sands. She forged to the front near the 200 m and won untested by two lengths. “She was just happy to lope along once she got to the front in the straight,” said jockey Raymond Bruce, who has ridden Miss Tris in her two wins from as many starts. She was racing over the Grigg distance of 1400 m yesterday. Trainer Peter Williams had switched Miss Tris from the Canterbury Belle Stakes to the Grigg on account of the stake and distance. The $12,000 Canterbury Belle for three-year-old fillies is run over 1200 m at Riccarton on September 29. The Grigg, which is open to all three-year-olds, has a stake of $lB,OOO. “She might not have been suited coming up against Straight Line in the Canterbury Belle, and the money is that much better at Ashburton,” said Williams, who trains Miss Tris for his wife, Dawn, a part-owner with. Rosalie Agnew, of Alexandra, and Ruth Thomson, of Auckland.

The same partnership raced the Auckland Cup winner, Sea Swift. Peter Williams bought the Sackford — Debimis filly for $16,000 at the Waikato yearling sale on behalf of Mrs Thomson, who gave a half-share in the filly to Mrs .Agnew. Dawn Williams came in as a racing partner. Kept in work Free Call will be kept in work for spring racing on the strength of his runaway win in the Fulton Hogan Handicap. "He might as well keep going as he is so well and he is better off on top of the ground,” said trainer Rex Cochrane. Free Call has been in work since he won first up on his home course of Gore 10 months ago. Cochrane trains Free Call for long-time client and breeder Henry Ruddenklau of Dipton. Free Call has now won eight races, boosting the win tally of progeny of his dam, Free Lady, to 33. She has also left Connie Lawn (nine wins), Connie Beaufort (six), Royal Guard, Rhubarb, Surf Call, and Rain Again. Free Call was soon a clear leader yesterday in the hands of Jan Cameron, and he drew out to score by five and a half lengths. Exchequer came from last for second, clear of Stormy Weather, which ran on from fifth. Mitchell Sage shaped like an improver by running fourth.