Montini Royal moving along

Press, 7 September 1989, Page 33

Montini Royal moving along

By

JEFF SCOTT

Montini Royal showed improvement for the Second D.B. Superstar Four-Year-Old Trial at the New Brighton Harness Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday evening when successful in the C3-C7 pace at the Addington trials yesterday.

The New Zealand three-year-old record holder for 3200 m, Montini Royal was back throughout from a second line draw when resuming in a C5-C7 free-for-all at the N.Z. Metropolitan Club’s National meeting last month, but has outside place prospects in a fine field of four-year-olds on Saturday. Montini Royal, the winner of eight races (two penalty-free) from 28 starts, usually comes to hand quickly, but faces formidable opposition from Inky Lord, Bardolino, Field Commander, Neroship, Pachelbel and others on Saturday. The Montini Bromac gelding finished stoutly from the fourth line in yesterday’s trial for trainer Petes Yeatman to win going away by V/ 2 lengths from the pacemaking Joy’s Girl, to which he conceded 40m in handicap. Montini Royal was not required to over exert himself yesterday, pacing the 2600 m in a comfortable 3:28, the leaders completing more useful work over their last 800 m in approximately 58.6 seconds and the 400 m in 28.8. The times yesterday were slightly out as a result of the winning post being brought forward by seven metres, in line with the new judges’ position, in stage one of the new stewards’ and members’ stand. The marker pegs have yet to be altered. Nugent Lopez, which missed the second night of the National meeting last month with a minor leg infection, showed no ill effects by running home soundly for third. The Surmo Hanover

gelding, a former runner for the third leg of the T.A.B. treble at Addington, was timed over his last mile in 2:3.4 and his closing 800 m in 58.2. Twinkle John confirmed his favouritism for the Creditcorp Services Mobile Pace with a sub-58 closing 800 m under restraint for fourth in the Cl and 2 pace. The winner of two of his four starts before being sidelined with a virus last season, the promising son of Transport Chip has had a thorough trials preparation with Robert Cameron in recent weeks and will be a firm fancy to begin his five-year-old campaign on a winning note on Saturday. The Cl and 2 pace was won by the Felix New-field-trained Captain Steel in convincing fashion. After being back with a lap to run, he outfinished So Sure (trail) by iy 2 lengths, with La Chandelle, a newcomer to the Newfield stable, going well for third a similar distance away after being third throughout. Happy Hazel’s halfbrother by Lordship, Fella Ship, again showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the first CO stand pace, leading over the last 1900 m to return a smart 3:26.8. The promising Graham Court-trained three-year-old responded well when challenged early in the run home to win by l>/ 2 lengths, the winner sprinting in over his last 800 m in 59.3. Lady Bonnie, wide and in the open over the last lap, held second from Franco Dot, which finished well after settling back on the inner. Gillespie, a form

maiden, also impressed, leading over the last 1300 m of the second CO stand heat to pace a sedate 3:34.3 for the full 2600 m, but quickening over his last 800 m in 59.4 and 400 m in 28.5. Ceddie was untroubled to lead throughout in the Cl-0C trot for trainer Denis Nyhan, while open class mare Michele Bromac was only required to do pacework in the Cl and faster mobile heat, jogging over the 2600 m in 3:35.4. The Besta Fella mare, which resumes in the Avon City Ford Cup at Addington on Saturday, was held to 29.1 for her last 400 m. High Note, a halfbrother to the earlier useful winners, Fine Note, El Vista and El Red, led over the last 1600 m of the Two-Year-Old Pace for Grant Nyhan, comfortably beating Clovelly Star by iy 2 lengths in a respectable 2:44.8 for the 2000 m, the last 800 m taking 60.1 seconds. Trainer Don Nyhan has decided against taking the upstanding Noodlum colt north for the Roydon Glen Two-Year-Old Stakes, at Claudelands, and the $22,000 Morrinsville Juvenile Stakes, at Cambridge, later this month. “I had intentions earlier, but it means he has to have a run in a mobile at the trials against the older horses before he goes up. We’ll probably just wait for the N.Z. Cup meeting with him now,” said Nyhan, who also reports that stablemate Cruise Ship has progressed well since missing the second night of the National meeting due to leg soreness. Results: (Approximate

times only, due to slight change in distance of straight). Two-Year-Old Pace, 2000m.—High Note (Nood-lum-Song Key c) G. Nyhan 1, Clovelly Star (Flying DownFrancine) 2, Smart Reason (Holmes Hanover-Smarty Pants c) 3. Only starters. 1y 2 len, distance. Time: 2:44.8 (800 m in 60.1, 400 m in 29.7). Trainer: D. Nyhan. CO Pace, mobile, 2600 m—- . Jean D Butt 1, Mid Off 2, Pardubice 3. % len, 6 len, 2 len. Time: 3:25.2 (800 m in 59.6, 400 m in 31). Trainer: D. Butt. Cl and faster Pace, mobile, 2600m.—Michele Bromac C. de Filippi 1, Night Hawk 2, Arndon’s Pride (T) 3. Only starters. 1y 2 len, % len. Time: 3:35.4 (800 m in 60.3, 400 m in 29.1). Trainer: C. de Filippi. CO pace, 2600m.—Fella Ship G. Court 1, Lady Bonnie 2, Franco Dot 3. 12 ran. Koau Mate 4. iy 2 len, hd, % len. Time: 3:26.8 (800 m in 59.3, 400 m in 30). Trainer: G. Court. CO Trot, 2600m.—Bendigo J. W. Smolensk! 1, Sibra 2, Another Kim 3. 10 ran. Besta Luck 4. l l / 2 len, hd, 3 len. Time: 3:34.5 (800 m in 64.4, 400 m in 32.6). Trainer: P. McCartin. CO Pace, 2600m.—Gillespie M. Smolensk! 1, Thora May 2, Lord Mancini 3. 12 ran. Starwin Glen 4. 3 len, y 2 len, 2 len. Time: 3:34.3 (800 m in 59.8, 400 m in 28.5). Trainers: F. Fletcher/M. Smolensk!. Cl and 2 Pace, 2600 m—- . Steel 20 F. Newfield 1, So Sure fr 2, La Chandelle fr 3. 11 ran. Twinkle John 4. l>/ 2 len, iy 2 len, len. Time: 3:29.6. (800 m in 58.5, 400 m in 29.9). Trainer: F. Newfield. Cl-0C Trot, 2600m.—Ceddie .fr D. Nyhan 1, Yankee Wave fr 2, Le Due 70 3. 10 ran. Rebel Time 4. % len, 2 len, 5 len. Time: 3:31.9. (800 m in 60.5, 400 m in 30.6). Trainer: D. Nyhan. C3-C7 Pace, 2600m.—Montini Royal 40 P. Yeatman 1, Joy’s Girl fr 2, Nugent Lopez 40 3. Six ran. Wood Chip 4. 11/ 2 len, nk, hd. Time: 3:28 (800 m in 58.6, 400 m in 28.8). Trainer: P. Yeatman.