WORK AT RICCARTON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 218, 15 September 1930, Page 9

WORK AT RICCARTON.

COUNT CAVOUR IMPROVING. VQUARTERDECK JUMPS -WELL. (By TelegrapbV—.Special' to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday.'" As a result of heavy rain yesterday the Riccarton tracks were soft this morning, and training operations were again -interfered with.- Most of the horses werp'outy' but a 'lot of tlie work was of the useful: order, • while those I who sprinted, .were iudden out. It S .looks as if thei;e : some coiii-- ! petitoW at early meetings rather short' : lof condition. ■ ;.; .Quarterdeck ..gave .a; very attractive exhibition of jumping iii a school over four hurdles this morning, but Star Stranger; 11., wl'l9 went with her, did not sliap'e so well as usual. On. Top was again a visitor to Riccartoii this morning, and sprinted half a mile 111 52 1-s®. This was the best time recorded, so an,-idea can be gained of the state of the ground.. , Cou'nt Cavour seems to have take,ll a new lease of life. He had his three-year-old brother Gustavo alongside him at the end of seven furlongs this morning, when the pair beat Eaprna comfortably.' Count Cavour hit out with great freedom; and pulled up quite fresh. It was an.attractive gallop. Tlie veteran was moving very stiffly a week or -wo ago, but whatever the trouble was, he lias shaken it off, and now he looks quite a good prospect. He does not appeal among the sprinters at Ashburton on Saturday, but lie will soon be ready to take on longer journeys. Provided he. goes on all right he. will be o'n hand for his sixth New Zealand Cup. in November. Avrowmir is, putting plenty of dash, into his sprints at present. He is at the top of his form and as he is racing very solidly now he will keep the opposition very busy'at Ashburton. Pharaoh, a well grown tliree-year-okl by Shambles from Palestri'na, is shaping attractively in his work. He was running on at the end o'f six furlongs when he finished third 011 the concluding day .of the Grand National • meeting, and lie may develop good form over a distance. The Fairfield Ha'ndicap, a mile hack event at Ashburton, should give him an opportunity to show his stamina. The three-year-old filly Babel, who has done no racing yet, may make her first appearance at Ashburto'n. She has a useful turn of speed, and' if she trains on she will be out of the maiden class before long. Gustavo, the three-year-old brother to Count Cavour, is going on steadily in his preparation. He is a better looking horse than his well performed relative, and on appearances he should be good. He has some speed, and T. H. Gillett expecbs that he will stay, though he may take time before he reaches his best form. His appearance in a mile hack race at Ashburton will provide a line to his immediate prospects in more important events. Although Malmsey has not been in work long she is making.rapid progress, and is bowling along freely in useful work. She looks 'now as if she would get a stake before the season is far advanced.