Roydon Glen in fine form

Press, 6 February 1986, Page 20

Roydon Glen in fine form

Special correspondent Auckland A rough track surface did not prevent Roydon Glen and Comedy Lad from doing grand workouts at Alexandra Park yesterday. Roydon Glen, in particular, is in fine shape for the $250,000 Max Harvey Auckland Trotting Cup on Saturday. Comedy Lad had no trouble winning at the Pukekohe organised workouts last Sunday, but the opposition was weak. His trainers, Roy and Barry Purdon, felt he needed another strong hoppled run fairly quickly, hence the decision to take him in to Alexandra Park from his Clevedon quarters yesterdaDriven by Roy Purdon, Comedy Lad went 2400 m

with Nippy Lord (P. Jeffries). After Nippy Lord had led for the first 1600 m, Comedy Lad was pulled out and quickly put a break on his stablemate. The pace also increased markedly. • Comedy Lad rushed over the last 800 m in 58.2 s and afterwards Purdon said the gelding felt much better than for some time. The full distance took 3:16.0. “Mind you,” he said, “it will still be a battle to have him at peak fitness for the cup.” Comedy Lad suffered a knock on the near hindleg about a month ago and has missed some valuable work, as well as racing. Roydon Glen, on the other hand, could not be in better trim, according to his regular attendant, p“Bluey” Steele.

Steele drove the Christchurch pacer in yesterday’s run over 3200 m with another Cup candidate, Spry Joker (J. Carmichael) in 4:26.4. Roydon Glen made the pace and Steele restrained him over the final stages to allow Spry Joker to move alongside. Steele said afterwards he had planned a last 800 m of about 1:2.0. In fact, Roydon Glen recorded 60s. “That shows you how well he is,” said Steele. Roydon Glen’s trainer and usual driver, Fred Fletcher, returned to Christchurch last Saturday. He will be back in Auckland this Saturday. Steele explained that things were "pretty busy.” Fletcher is the Roydon Lodge drainer as well as studmaster.