TRACK WORK AT RICCARTON

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25243, 23 July 1947, Page 4

TRACK WORK AT RICCARTON

RACING

IMPRESSIVE TRIALS A hard frost delayed track work somewhat at Riccarton yesterday morning. The trial grass was open for galloping and fast times were recorded while the track was still firm. Horses to impress in their work were Wide Range, Brigg Fair, All’s Fair, Flying Orders, Lalla Meer, and Bridge Acre. Lexia was one of the first to work and came home from the four furlongs under a good hold in 52 4-ssec. Tranbycroft started off at the mile and three-quarter post, and sprinted over the last half in 53 l-ssec. Blue Hussar beat Strathconan by half a length over five furlongs in Imin 4sec, the last half in 50 4-ssec. Mestiza went over the same ground in Imin 5 3-ssec, the last half in 51 4-ssec. Brigg Fair and his two-year-old sister, All’s Fair, sprinted attractively to record 48 4-ssec for four furlongs. Cipher was under a good hold to cover the same distance on the plough in 53 2-ssec. He looks particularly well. Lalla Meer, a good track worker, impressed when she finished on at the end of seven furlongs to beat Night Blush by a length and a half, with four lengths to Queen’s General, and record Imin 30 l-ssec, the last half in 52 3-ssec. Night Blush had the advantage of the inside running. Miss Medley and Lady Wellbeck Miss Medley was going better than Lady Welbeck at the end of four furlongs in 51sec. Zorro sprinted over the same distance in 49 3-ssec. Carry On was half a length in front of Confidence Trick at the end of five furlongs in Imin 3 2-ssec, the last half in 50sec. Te-Muka completed a similar task in Imin 4 l-ssec, the last half in 51 l-ssec. After Kirkella had been in front at the half-mile, Flying Orders drew right away in the run home to finish six lengths clear of his mate and complete his six furlong task in Imin 15 2-ssec, the last half in 50sec. Wide Range and Rival Chase completed five furlongs together in Imin 2 4-ssec, the last half in 49 2-ssec. Wide Range appeared to be going the better at the finish. At the conclusion of a similar task Hymn of Hate was a neck in front of Mentor, to record Imin 5 4-ssec, the last half in 52 2-ssec. Royal Flash completed seven furlongs in Imin 32 2-ssec, the last half in 52 l-ssec. Detract was under a nice hold to run four furlongs in 52 l-ssec. Peculate ran the same journey in 50 4-ssec. Maka Maka finished on over the last furlong to beat Royal Robe by a length and a half at the end of five furlongs in Imin 5 2-ssec, the last half in 51 3-ssec. Royal Tan and Magnaform ran four furlongs in 50 4-ssec. Red Glare ran the last four furlongs of a mile gallop in 56sec. Lord Elgin was two lengths in front of Al Sirat at the conclusion of five furlongs in Imin 4 3-ssec, the last half in 51 l-ssec Martial Note Beats Lodestar

Martial Note had no difficulty in beating Lodestar by a length over six furlongs in Imin 18 4-ssec, the last half in 53 2-ssec. Precipitate and Robingay completed a similar task in Imin 19sec, the last half in 52sec. Kjllfast beat Penetrate by a length over a mile in Imin 46 4-ssec. Both were stopping at the finish, the last half taking 55 3-ssec. Citril was under a nice hold to complete four furlongs in 50 2-ssec. In a similar task Erinborough could have improved on his 53sec. Front Page was going more easily than Eudora at the end of five furlongs in Imin 5 4-ssec, the last half in 52 4-ssec. Pensacola and Bridge Acre impressed when they completed six furlongs in Imin 17 2-ssec, the last half in 52 2-ssec. Both were well held, and Bridge Acre seemed keen to Improve. Test Pilot Schools Well

Test Pilot impressed in a schooling effort over 10 fences on the trial steeplechase course in company with Troy town. Test Pilot gave a perfect display, taking each fence in his stride, and never looked like making a mistake. Troytown hooked the first fence, a post, and rails, and shot his rider, M. McClintock, out of the saddle, but he regained his seat quickly. Troytown hooked the next fence, the sod Wall, but did not make any further mistakes. Bravura and Hughsotis jumped five fences in good style, with the latter putting in a particularly good jump at the last. Real Night, ridden by the amateur rider, Mr R. N. Burgess, also gave a good display over six fences. Grand National Hurdles Candidate After racing in the middle of the field for a good part of the journey, Boolamskee put in a solid finishing run that carried him into fourth place in the Claremont Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday. Boolamskee was having only his second race this year and he paraded in solid condition. He looks in even better order than he .did last August when he was runner-upr to Bramble Song in the Grand NaticnaT 'Hurdles with 10-1. This year he has 10-4 and such a solid stayer as he will make things interesting in the race. Eoolamskee is still being trained at Orari but is now under the care of L. H. Pratt. Visiting Horses Ai rive Soneri, Glad Fox, Panope, Leadership, Invest, Ella Shields, Master Francis, Sari, Lambro, Findon, Prize Ring, Frances, and Mr Buzz, which are engaged at the Grand National meeting, arrived at Riccarton yesterday. Needed the Race

Lack of condition told against Night Prince in the South Canterbury Steeplechase at Washdyke on Saturday. He gathered the leaders, Filibeg and Appeasement, with three furlongs to run, but could not improve on. his effort in the run home. As it was Night Prince’s first race since the Dunedin winter meeting last month it was an encouraging effort. He was quite sound after the race and he is an acceptor in the Homeby Steeplechase at Riccarton on Saturday. Night Prince won the Lawford Hack Steeplechase at the Hunt Club meeting last year and after falling in the Grand National and the Beaufort Steeplechases, came cut arid won the Hunt Cup Steeplechase on the third day of the Grand National meeting. With his experience, Night Prince should race prominently at Riccarton in the next few weeks. Spirillum For Riccarton The Auckland trainer, H. E. Gray, left for Riccarton yesterday with Spirillum, which is engaged in both the Grand National Steeplechase and the Grand National Hurdles. Spirillum had little difficulty with the brush hurdles in the Mount Albert Steeplechase at Avondale last Saturday, but will be more severely tested if raced over Riccarton country. Nevertheless he is very fit and should have prospects in any race selected for him.—(P.S.S.) An Unlucky Run Dash o’ Dink put up an excellent performance to finish second to Lord Dundonald in the Claremont Handicap at Washdyke last Saturday. He lost at least eight lengths at the start and was not prominent in the running until the field turned into the straight. He finished particularly well to run the winner to two lengths. Had Dash o’ Dink got a reasonable start it seems that Lord Dundonald’s task might have been made a difficult one. Dash o’ Dink only recommenced racing a month ago after a good spell,* and his owner-trainer, Mr C. T. Kettle, says that the gelding is in better order than ever. Won Race Last Year

Spanish Main struck out freely in a working gallop at Riccarton yesterday morping and looks all the better for his race in the July Steeples at Trentham. He has not shown up in his few starts over country this winter, but he is an experienced jumper, and with a race in the Homeby Steeplechase next Saturday should be quite fit for his Grand National Steeplechase engagement. Spanish Main won the Homeby Steplechase last year with 9-3, and with 9-0 followed up by running second to Dumbo in the Grand National. A Hard Ride Appeasement was going verv sluggishly in the early stages of the South Canterbury Steeplechase, and B. J. Langford had to keep him up to his work to stay within a reasonable distance of the leaders. He started to improve his position with seven furlongs to run, and once he caught the leaders at the five furlongs the situation changed, and after that he never looked like being headed. Appeasement is only a rising six-year-old. which is young for a steeplechaser, and is in his second season as such. His strong point is his staying ability. His sluggishness and his lack of pace may prevent him from rising to great heights but he is likely to continue to pay his way. King Tissa Destroyed The imported horse. King Tissa, has had to be destroyed because of an infection which developed after a leg injury. A four-year-old black horse by Colombo from Kilmurry, King Tissa was imported by Mr J. G. Alexander, of the Cranleigh Stud, near Wanganui. He possessed speed above the average and at his last start won the Matarawa Hack Handicap at Wanganui on February 8. Earlier in the year, Mr Alexander could have disposed of King Tissa at a good figure.