RICCARTON BUDGET.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 87, 13 April 1928, Page 9

RICCARTON BUDGET.

LORIGAN'S TEAM FOR AWAPUNI. STORMY TO SPELL EST WAIKATO. CHOKEBORE STABLE'S THREE NEW FILLIES. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. Following on the bustle of a race meeting there is a much quieter atmosphere at Ricearton now some of the horses have finished their racing for the season, but others are being kept going with a view to meetings to be held during the next few weeks. The outside of the course proper was open this morning for fast work, and a number of horses got through useful tasks. J. McCombe's three horses (Court Jester, Amorist and Despot) arrived home this morning from the North Island, where they have been racing lately. Court Jester may go north again next week for the Marlborough Racing Club's meeting, to be held at Trentham on April 21 and 23. Most of the visiting trainers have left for home. H. B. Lorigan was the last to get away. He was at Riccavton up to this morning, but after working Cimabue, Oratrix and Concentrate he railed them to Lvttelton for shipment home to-night. These three and Kindle will represent Lorigan's stable at the Manawatu meeting, where they should earn some money. W. McDonald is busy preparing Koauau for the South Canterbury meeting, where it is intended to race him in the hurdle events. He is a source of considerable worry to his trainer, as he is not a sound horse, but McDonald has him looking exceptionally well. During the absence of A. E. Wormald on the West Coast Radiac has been under the care of W. McDonald in preparation for steeplechase engagements, commencing at South Canterbury next week. The big Absurd gelding is gradually getting into racing shape, but he has been moving rather scratchilv of late, and he may have to be carefully nursed. Stormy, who has been an inmate of F. D. Jones' stable for some time, will be shipped north to-night on the way to Hamilton, where he will have a spell. The three-year-old First Sight is to be sent home for a short rest." He has been a very consistent performer since he commenced racing about Christmas, and he should do still better next season. Margaret Birney has been out of commission for a few weeks. She developed trouble in one of her ligaments, and as a lengthy spell was considered necessary she was sent home. She may be tried again after resting for six months. Three more of Sir George Clifford's yearlings have arrived at Riccarton from the Stonyhurst Stud, and Cutts brothers will make an early start to break them in for next scion's two-year-old events. They are all fillies by The Ace. One of them is the first foal of Brave Deed, by Antagonist from Gallantry. by Clanranald from Goldleaf, and therefore of the same family as Prickles, the Champagne Stakes winner. Moorfowl, an exceptionally brilliant galloper by Autumnus from Kirriemuir, by Clanranald from the wonderfully successful matron Madowla, is represented by her first live foal, after having a dead foal in her first season and missing for three years. The third youngster is from Scrimmage, by Antagonist from Mad Whirl, bv Treadmill from Madowla.

Among the visitors to Riccarton for the Canterb\iry Jockey Club's meeting this week was Malcolm Allan, who now follows pastoral pursuits in North Otago. In a short conversation he stated that it was fifty years since he Tode his first race, and 47 years since he won the Great Autumn Handicap on Lady Emma, who carried 5.13.

Footfall "is useless when asked to prallop on a soft track, and it was for this reason that he was withdradwn from the Sockburn Handicap on Monday, and the Great Autumn Handicap on Tuesday. The Autumnus gelding has "been thrown out of work, and he will be spelled for three months, after which he will start on a preparation for the New Zealand Cup and other spring engagements.

G. Murray Aynslev is keeping his two-year-old Chide in work, and probably the Paladin—Reproachful gelding will be a competitor in maiden events at the South Canterbury meeting. Chide was one of the horses who failed to show his true form at Riccarton. This week he faded out at the end of the Champagne Stakes on Monday, but he was galloping well on Tuesday in the Autumn Nursery Handicap, until he stumbled and nearly fell after reaching the course proper.

The two-year old filly Prickles, who won the Champagne Stakes on Monday, has started on a spell, which probably will last for a few months. When she resumes work she will be got ready for the Oaks, as she has given evidence of staying, while her sire Panmure has had two good fillies—Enthusiasm and Mandaoe—to represent lon over a distance.

Limerick's present trip to Sydney has turned out exceptionally well, despite the scare caused by the threat of a recurrence of his old ailment. He has started four times and has won on each occasion. His first three races were comparatively easy, and the real test came on Wednesday, when he met the imported horse Gothic, at a mile. Mr. Sol Green's crack had carried all before him up to a mile at the Victorian autumn meeting, and his owner was sanguine that he would defeat the New Zealander at Randwick. Limerick beat Gothic in the spring; and, as has frequently happened before, this week's race demonstrated that the improvement which was thought to have been made by Gothic was not sufficient to give him a victory over the New Zealander.. Limerick must be given full credit for a. brilliant season. He may be started on Saturday in the King's Cup, but this is a handicap event, in which he will have to concede a lot of weight to most of his opponents, and even if he is defeated it will not detract from his position as the outstanding champion of New Zealand and Australia at the present time. He has won about £30,000 in prize money, and if he remain sound for another year he should get close up to Gloaming's monev-earning total.