RACING Strong Cup Trial By Eiffel Tower

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30962, 19 January 1966, Page 4

RACING Strong Cup Trial By Eiffel Tower

The Riverton trainer, W. J. Hillis, had reason to be satisfied with Eiffel Tower in a gallop 30ft out on the course proper at Riccarton yesterday and even, perhaps, with the interest shown by Mr W. E. Hazlett’s staver in Cutts’s brush as he was pulling up.

The 1965 Wellington Cup winner shifted ground in the direction of the big Riccarton brush as he was easing, and Hillis commented: “Time enough later to think about putting him to Cutts’s.”

Of more immediate concern Is the Wellington Cup, and if there has been a better cup trial under weight than Eiffel Tower’s at Riccarton yesterday it must have escaped the notice of reporters up and down the land. With Hillis up. Eiffel Tower carried about lOst and galloped with Marlborough, whose rider, D. N. Hadfield, had set about trying to get down to 7st 81b before he learned that his cup mount, Fieldmaster, had been scratched. Eiffel Tower started near the mile and a quarter, and joined Marlborough going to the seven furlongs.

There was a steady improvement in the pace when they paired. Eiffel Tower recorded Imin 19 4-ssec for the last six furlongs and 52 l-ssec for his last half-mile. The nine furlongs took 2min 3 2-ssec. Earlier, Shipmate, one of the fancies for the Telegraph Handicap, ran the last halfmile of seven furlongs in 52 4-ssec. although with something in reserve. He went away from the mile at three-quarter pace, but dashed from the seven furlongs to the three in 50 l-ssec. The seven furlongs took lmin 31sec. Shipmate will be taken

north tonight with his stablemates. Pharasal. Time and Tide and Hushaway. Rivals Rival candidates for the Pencarrow Handicap on Saturday, Pharasal (Stokes) and Time and Tide (Collins) sprinted seven furlongs yesterday in lmin 33 3-ssec, the last half-mile in 51 3-ssec. and the final three furlongs in 38 2-ssec. Pharasal again went about his work with marked keenness. A wide barrier position might have cost him an excellent winning chance on Saturday, but he is so fit at present that he could still emerge on top. Hushaway (Stokes) was not extended while running half a mile in 53 l-ssec. But the Wingatui-trained Castle Flight (Low) had more speed when tried later. He ran five furlongs in lmin 4 l-ssec, the last four in 51 3-ssec and the final three in 40sec. Success has eluded Castle Flight on past campaigns at Trentham, but as winner of his last two starts he commands respect in the Telegraph Handicap on Saturday. He beat Palisade narrowly and the others easily in the James Hazlett Gold Cup at Wingatui last time out. The Wellington Stakes candidate, Talic (A. H. Eastwood) ran half a mile with Frolicsome (C. T. Wilson) in 50 l-ssec.

Talic is in distinguished company on Saturday, but should not be hard to place in handicap two-year-old races. He won at the Dunedin Cup meeting.