Master Mood easily lowers track record

Press, 3 February 1986, Page 33

Master Mood easily lowers track record

Special correspondent - Dunedin

Master Mood sliced three seconds off the Forbury Park track record for 2700 m when he eclipsed his rivals in the $18,825 final of the Anngow Motors Championship at the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s meeting on Saturday evening. Master Mood dashed up from sixth position to head off Malaz in the lead at the 300 m, then .came away to score by five lengths with his Prebbleton trainer-driver, Kevin Williams, sitting still. Malaz, which was favoured to beat Master

Mood, was a fading fourth. The previous track record was shared by Roydon Scott (1980), Sapling (1980) and Joy Boy (1982). The leaders were timed to run the last mile in 2min Is and their last 800 m in 58.65. It was the sixth straight win for Master Mood, which has the TVNZ Mile at Addington Raceway on February 15 as his next assignment. The New Zealand record for 2700 m from a standing start is 3min 25.6 s set by Placid Victor when he won at Alexandra Park in December. Hamish Hunter blamed himself for the defeat of Malaz. “I probably went too soon,” said Hunter, who went to the front at the 1100 m after trailing in fourth place on the outside. Master Mood tracked him to that point and stayed near the middle of the field until the 600 m.

It is doubtful if the result would have been any different if Malaz had waited.

Hunter will rurv Malaz in the Auckland Cup next Saturday, taking him by air from Christchurch on Thursday. Malaz finished third to Spanker On and Gene Evander at Alexandra Park in December and tangled for no reason in his other starts at the same meeting. Hunter has made some adjustments to Malaz’s gear and he is hopeful he will pace truly on this trip.