FINAL TRAINING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23230, 27 December 1938, Page 7

FINAL TRAINING

GRASS TRACK RECORD

VAN DERBY RUNS 1.2 2-5 TOORAK PACES SMOOTHLY ICEVUS GOES PLEASINGLY. BY ABAYDOS Trainers who worked their horses fast on Saturday were fortunate, as the course proper at Epsom was in good order. The poles were "out 45ft. arid Van Derby broke the training record for the track by running the last half-milo of his work in 1.2 2-5. Equipoise, who went 1.4 3-5, .equalled the existing record put up last 3 r ear by Agnes Jiingen. Van Derby's effort in conceding Equipoise two seconds start in half a mile was outstanding.' Other smart efforts were: —Crocus and Sandusky, 1.6; Nervie's Last, 1.6 2-5; Huxley Girl and Fernbrook Lass', 1.7; Noble Prince, 1.7 1-5; Glorietta, 1.7 2-5; Bismuth and Resistance, I.&J Toorak and Bedford, 1.8 3-5; Colonel Gratt.in, Kewpie's Bingen and Parishioner, 1.9. Good trotting displays were credited to .Reception, Mute, Bingeh Sun and Gay Moko. Heavy rain made the going dead op Sunday, when Icevus was the star performer with half a mile in 1.7. He display ed fine speed and handled the yielding track splendidly. Royal Grattan, l.y, and Gay Lady, 1.10, also performed creditably., Tho Cup horses Horsepower and Waipahi were not after time.

On Saturday morning Equipoise (3. M. August), Crocus (S. Donald), Sandusky (J. Stewart) and Van Derby (F. J. Smith) went from the mile and.aquarter, Equipoise leading to the six furlongs in 1.50 2-5. With a great burst of speed over the last quarter in 30s, Van Derby got up to finish in front in 2.53 4-5. Equipoise was responsible for a very sound effort. Crocus and Sandusky paced solidly. " Reception (W. H. Wheeier) drew attention to her prospects when she de-feated-Roman Chief (A. J. Forbes) over two miles, trotting the last mile anil a-half in 3.43, and the last half-mile in 1.11. Top Hand (S. M. August) accompanied them for a mile and thrfa furlongs.

CUP HORSES PERFORM WELL BEXLEY GIRL, NERVIE'S LAST Bexley Girl (F. J. Smith) began ahead of Nervie's Last (J. Stewart), but they were together at the end -of a mile and a-half in 3.32. Bexley Girl in 2.25, but Nervie's Last finished fast, was in front after going the first mile, in 2.25, but Nervie's Last finished fast. Gipsy Light (Cole) and Glorietta (Flood) joined them after they had t gone two furlongs. Glorietta went in" good style and finished close up. Biworthv (S. Eagan) was not doing his best when working a mile and ahalf with Singing Bird (A. McGarry). They ran the last half in 1.16 3-5. Biworthv is solid and has a chance in the Rowe Memorial • Handicap. Fernbrook Lass (L. Laver), Eighteen Carat (C. M. Morrison), Vanora Mahoney), Noble Prince" (J. McKendrick) and Lucky Love (W. Willetts) began as named from the mile and- ahalf, Noble Prince and Fernbrook Lass finishing in front of Eighteen Carat lin 3.34. Fernbrook Lass was going best at the end, and has worked attractively since racing at Claudelands. She might surprise in the Auckland Trotting Cop. Fisher (A. Paton) gave Dick Redmond (A. T. Newdick), Gold Kip fC. M. Morrison) and Great Surprise (C. Laver) a start of five seconds and beat them over a mile and a-half in 3.49 4-5. Great Surprise went 3.55 and easily accounted tor the other two trotters.

Handicapper (G. H. Stubbs), Pukemiro (W. Fleming). Stargum (G. ;A. Williams) and Bismuth (A. McGar|y) were associated in a sound mile and*aquater, Bismuth outstripping ihe others in the run home in 2.58. afser going the first six furlongs in 1.501 " i ROWE HANDICAP HORSES $ : f MUTE LEADS GREAT SONOMif | Mute (J. T. Paul) began better than Great Sonoma (C. M. Morriscdi' and went soundly while leading ,over a mile and a-half in 3«43 r the last half-mile in 1.12. Mute's display was in contrast to that of Great Sonoma, who showed speed in patches, ljut made three breaks. * Llanvabon (F. J. Smith) was j&ot hurried while going a mile and a-half in 3.53, the last half-mile in 1.15. lie only requires to go evenly fo hare good prospects in his coming engagements. . | Big Kauri (W. A. Price) worked) a little over a mile and a-quarter at] a steady rate, being timed for one hfilf in 1.12. He was not doing his best,! Santa Fe (J. Stewart) began ?in front of Resistance (F. J. Smith) and Kewpie's Jewel (S. Donald) from. she mile and a-quarter,'but Resistance finished well to be on terms at the finish in '3.0. Resistance showed dash i£p(l left the impression that he has improved. Santa Fe also gave a pleasing display. » ■ Kewpie's Bingen (C. G. Smith) fin-ished-a shade ahead of Parishioner (L. Laver) at the end of a mile and laquarter v in 3.6, running the last half in 1.9. He has made good progress since the Waikato meeting. Parishioner is in solid condition and shonld race well. Toorak (J. Naylor), after allowing Colonel Grattan (Looming) to lead him in the early stages, finished with dash to complete a mile and a-quarter in 2.53 2-5. Toorak made friends by the manner in which he ran on at the end. Colonel Grattan, who ■ went 2.54, ;is very fit. Effio Parrish (R. B. Flood) joined in with a round to go, but found the pace too solid.

VISITING CUP CANDIDATES j HORSEPOWER AND WAIPAHI Horsepower and Waipahk worked two milos without going fast. Horsepower lias fined down a lot since he won the Great Northern Trotting Derby in February. Wa\pahi is fa speedy-looking j acer. Royal Grattan (A. Holmes) completed a mile ii'id a-quarier in 3j7. Royal Grattan finished resolutely and is in good hear:, He won at the last Greymouth meeting. When worked on Sunday Icevus (J. Young) and Harlequin (R. Young) paced smoothly over a mile and laquarter. the former recording 2.57. He gave an attractive display and left the impression that he will not be at a disadvantage if the track is holditm Harlequin, who took .'1.7, was not asked for her best. q Gay Lady (A. Holmes) was boring while running six furlongs in 1.59. but she went smoothly when sprinted Miother half in 1.10. Gay Lady,is a raqylooking mare by Jack Potts and has won since the appearance of the handicaps. . J4 Gentleman Joe (W. J. Allen), after trotting a couple of rounds, ]gjas. hoppled and sent two miles at a useful speed. Gentleman Joe is by Grattan Loyal and has won both as a trotter and a pacer. In his last pacing start he was narrowly beaten by the fine three-year-old Nelson Eddy. | Audrey's Last (P. West), who Ttrrived from Hastings .Saturday, wast given ia useful taski\r;He is a' hajf* brother, by Worthy Bingen, to Native Prince and Native Princess. . Further Racing Besults app**' 00 Page