Star Emerald would only need some easing of the ground to be a winning chance at Hastings on Saturday after a solid final trial at Awapuni this morning
27 April 2017
Thursday - April 27th
By RON GURNEY
Star Emerald would only need some easing of the ground to be a winning chance at Hastings on Saturday after a solid final trial at Awapuni this morning. Fast work was held on the No 1 grass (dead) and on the plough (good), though several early gallops could not be timed because of fog.
Star Emerald used the No 1 grass and had amateur rider Marita Frith aboard over 1000m in 1.7.4, the last 600 in 37.1. The mare resumed at Tauherenikau (1400m) last month and has gone ahead in leaps and bounds since. She goes to Hastings for the r65 mile. Soiree and Carnaby were paired over 800m in 50 seconds even, the last 600 in 37.2, while Hastings acceptors How Perfect (r65 mile) and Tiffany's (r75 2100m) came up with 51.1 and 37.8.
On the plough, Miss Norway did a quiet round and a half before picking up an Any Suggestion gelding stablemate on the second circuit to run home the last 600 in 37.6. Shrimp Cocktail worked from post to post, being timed from the 1000m in 1.6.7, the last 600 in 38.1. Hastings runner Fibonacci (r65 1200m) had raceday jockey Kane Smith in the saddle over 800m, sprinting the last 600 in 40.7. On Saturday, he will have side winkers replaced by a one-cup blinker. A Road To Rock half-brother to Anzac Day winner Heni and an Alamosa gelding, both trained by Mike Breslin, sprinted 600m in 41.2.