In Rules

Thursday - August 24th

By RON GURNEY

Platinum Command rounded off her preparation for the Pakuranhga Hunt meeting on Saturday with a very satisfactory final trial at Awapuni this morning. Fast work during a quiet session was on the heavy No 1 grass and on the plough.

Platinum Command was the only horse to use the No 1 grass and, under a light weight, reeled off 800m in 52.4, the last 600 in 39.5. She looks in fine order for Ellerslie and is much fitter for her recent racing at Riccarton. On the plough, time honours easily went to four-year-old maiden mare Temptress (by Per Incanto), who warmed up from the 800m to sprint home the last 600 in 35.6. She has not raced since mid-May. A Savabeel colt and a Savabeel filly, two more trained by Lisa Latta, ran 800m in 53.3, the last 600 in 38.2. Ollie's Note, an acceptor for the r75 mile at Ellerslie on Saturday, worked with an unraced Faltaat-Leonucasam four-year-old gelding over 800m in 54 even, the last 600 in 38.7, while Missmosa and a Reliable Man colt sprinted 600m in 38.5. He's A Freak and a Dalghar maiden took 38.8.

A Savabeel filly and a So You Think filly, both trained by Lisa Latta, covered 800m in 54.6, the last 600 in 39.1, while their stablemates Father Lenihan (by O'Reilly) and Rock Island Line (by Rock 'n' Pop), both unplaced on debut in May, came up with 53.8 and 40.2. Brad Thorn, who will represent Manawatu in the ITM Interprovincial Challenge at New Plymouth on Saturday, was kept to 1000m in 1.9.4, the last 600 in 40.8, and his stablemate Sweepstake, who has not raced since January, sprinted 600m in 42.9.