TRACK WORK AT RICCARTON

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25249, 30 July 1947, Page 4

TRACK WORK AT RICCARTON

RACING

NATIONAL CANDIDATES GIVE DULL DISPLAY

The five Grand National candidates which did not race in the Homeby Steeplechase last Saturday, Red Glare, Town Survey, Spirillum, Roman Ned, and Tamerlane, were schooled over the steeplechase course at Riccarton yesterday morning, but their efforts in the main were far from impressive, and the spectators who turned out in the expectation of seeing some good National schooling must have been sadly disappointed. Half-mile sprints constituted the major proportion of the fast work on the flat, while most of the horses that raced last Saturday were let off with light tasks. A heavy frost overnight delayed work somewhat and the track was still firm when galloping started, but eased as it thawed out The first National candidates to school were Red Glare, Filibeg, and Spirillum. Starting off at the sod wall near the nine furlongs post. Red Glare was soon clear of Filibeg and Spirillum, and jumping in his usual free style. Although he hooked the sod waU at the five furlongs, Red Glare continued on about eight to 10 lengths clear over the big • brush at the top of the straight and the carriage paddock brush, and increased his lead down to Cutts’s, where the partially frozen ground on the take off side caused him to misjudge his jump, and he almost fell on landing, dropping his rider in the process. Filibeg and Spirillum took Cutts’s safely together. Except for his mishap at Cutts’s Red Glare gave the best display of the morning. Filibeg and Spirillum jumped quite safely though the latter, having his first run over the course, was inclined to be careful. He should improve with the experience and will be schooled again to-morrow morning. Rea! Night started off to follow the above horses, but after hitting the second fence, the post and rails, refused at the next the first of the kennels double. He was taken back and continued on at a slow pace to Cutts’s, where he refused the first time, but cleared ft at a second atteßoman Ned and Town Survey, the next pair to school, were far from impressive. They took the sod wall well, but Town Survey jumped the post and rails slowly and was run off by Roman Ned at the first of the kennels double. Town Survey’s rider did not persevere with him further, but Roman Ned continued on at a moderate pace and jumping slowly. He did not have enough pace on approaching Cutts’s and ran off, but was taken back and jumped it safely from a very short run. It was an unimpressive display on Roman Ned’s Part, but he would have done better with a mate. Paladeo was the only other horse to complete a round. He started off with Tamerlane, which ran off at the second of the kennels double, but continued on tn the brush at the top of the straight, where Tamerlane’s rider lost his irons, and he was pulled up. Paladeo continued on to take Cutts’s very slowly, after he looked like refusing approaching the fence.

Three Hurdlers Show Up Ruling Moment, Wane, and The Crofter were the most impressive of the hurdlers schooled, most of the others giving mixed displays. Ruling Moment showed that he has taken no harm from his fall at Trenthem by giving a good display in a run over six hurdles with Battle Chief. Over the first two Ruling Moment was in front, but the pair were together at the third. Going into the last hurdle Ruling Moment had to be held back to Battle Chief, which was not jumping as well as usual.

King’s Ace was soon well clear of The Dude in a run ever four hurdles. King’s Ace showed a lot of pace, but ran about a bit going into the first two hurdles. The Dude was sore and unable to hit out. The Crofter went freely to lead Aldis Lamp and Kosciusko over four hurdles, after which he was pulled up, the other pair going on to clear six hurdles. The Crofter jumped much the best of the three. Wane, Montello d’Oro, and Turf Topic were associated in a run over six hurdles. Turf Topic knocked the top panel out of a section of the first hurdle, but lost little ground. At the fifth Montello d’Oro evidently did not like the look of the broken panel and ran off, and Wane jumped clear of Turf Topic, finishing well clear at the last fence. Montello d’Oro moved up to join Turf Topic again, going into the last, and the pair cleared it together. Knight Crusader went well in a run over five hurdles, while John Gay went ever three. Smart Sprint Al Sirat did the best sprint of the morning when he came home from the four furlongs in 48 l-ssec. Others that impressed in their work were Rival Chase, Graeme, and Bridge Deficiency ran four furlongs in 54sec, and could have improved. Lord Elgin went over the same ground in 53 3-ssec, and could have done likewise. Miss Medley was three-quarters of a length in front of Lady Welbeck on the completion of six furlongs in Imin 18 l-ssec, the last half in 51 l-ssec, with Miss Medley going the better. Graeme again worked freely, beating All’s Fair by a length and a half at the end of five furlongs in Imin 3 3-ssec, the last half in 50 l-ssec,. Graeme appreciates the track conditions ruling at present.

Rival Chase sprinted four furlongs in 48 4-ssec, and Zorro returned 50 3-ssec for a similar task.

Kirkella went evenly throughout to complete a mile in Imin 45 l-ssec, taking 52 3-ssec for each half. Falconbridge was restricted to a mile in Imin 48sec, the last half in 54 2-ssec.

All Quality beat Desert Victory by a length over six furlongs in Imin 18 4-5 sec. the last half in 52sec.

Bridge Acre returned the best time oi the morning for a mile when she ran the distance in Imin 44 2-ssec, the last half in 50 3-ssec.

Bay Robe was restricted to half a mile in 54 2-ssec. Finalist completed a similar task In 53 l-ssec, and Eudora in 51 2-ssec.

Sari returned Imin 32 2-ssec for seven furlongs, and could have improved. She completed the last half in 53 2-ssec. Citril beat Precipitate by a neck over five furlongs in Imin 6 2-ssec„ the last half in 53 l-ssec. Both were under a nice hold at the finish. Bruce and Royal Robe went over the same ground in Imin 6sec. and finished together, the last half taking 54sec. Gold Medallion ran four furlongs in 51 2-ssec, Sahib returning 52 3-ssec. Rider for Howe? Although no rider has been definitely engaged for Howe in the Winter Cup, it is probable that he will be ridden by L. J. Ellis if the colt’s regular rider, W. J. Broughton, rides Soneri. L. J. Ellis said yesterday tnat he was asked if he would be available to ride the horse, and he had said that he would. Had an Easier Win Soneri was not worked at Riccarton yesterday morning. There is still a little heat in the joint she knocked before she came to Riccarton, and after her effort in mastering 10-13 in the Brabazon Handicap last Saturday it was only logical that she was not allotted any tasks yesterday. Although Soneri was probably not far from the limit of her weightcarrying capacity in the Brabazon Handicap, she actually won the race more easily than she did last year, when she had to be ridden to catch Leigh Barton just short of the post. J, G. Farrell Leading Trainer Last Saturday closed the 1946-47 racing season in New Zealand, and as neither the Stratford trainer, J. G. Farrell, nor the Invercargill owner-trainer, Mr W. E. Hazlett, produced a winner on the day, Farrell remained at the head of the winning trainers’ list with 28 wins. Mr Hazlett as runner-up had 27 wins, and the Matamata trainer, G. Cobb, is third on the list with 25 wins. Then follow G. W. with 23 ’ G - W; B - Greene 22, A. E. Didham 21, L. Knapp 20, F. W. jfellis 19, M. Conza 17, T. E. Pankhurst 17, F Trilford 17, H. A. Anderton 16, G. S. Walton 15, J. R. Cochrane 15, C. J. Thomson 15, H. Dulieu 15, R. H. Martin 15, J A. Wilson 14. W. McEwan 14, H. E. Gray 14, D. P. Wilson 14. Gold Medallion Sold The Ric Carton trainer E. J. Jennings has purchased the Defaulter gelding Gold Medallion from Mr T. J. Lister. In his recent races Gold Medallion has shown encouraging form, and ran a good race in the second division of the Haldon Stakes last Saturday after being slow away. Gold Medallion was bred by Mr G. H. Loffhagen at Culverden, and sold as a yearling for 470 guineas. His dam, Quick Plunge, is a Stonyhurst-bred mare by The Ace from Brave Deed, by Antagonist from Gallantry, a half-sister by Clanranald to the successful racehorse and sire Autumnus. Ernada to Race at Riccarton As a result of his two wins at the Avondale Jockey Club’s winter meeting, it has been decided to send Ernada to Riccarton for. the Grand National meeting, and he will leave on Thursday. Ernada is not engaged next Saturday, but will race on the later days. He is good in soft ground, and appears to be right back to his best form. His special mission will be the Grand National Hurdles. Ernada is a six-year-old gelding by Plato from Royal Shadow, and is trained by R. H. Martin at Matamata. Leader for Eighth Time For the eighth time since he began riding. W. J. Broughton heads the winning jockeys’ list. His win on Soneri last Saturday brought his total number of winning rides to 75. There is a big drop to the runner-up, N. B. Holland, who rode 38 winners. Then follows: J. Campbell , 36, C. A. Bowry 32, R. B. Ireland 32, W.

Connor 31, H. N. Wiggins 28, G. F. Hughes 28, C. C. Stokes 27, K. B. Ford 27, J. A. McFarlane 25, J. Williamson 24, B. J. Langford 24, T. W. Green 23, L. J. Ellis 23, W. F. Ellis 22, F. Cleaver 22, A. J. Stokes 21, C. H. Mackie 21, N. L. Cavaney 20, B. S. Wilson 20, N. R. McKenzie 20. C C. Stokes, who is the leading South Island rider, might have been two places higher but for the injuries he received in the Whyte Handicap at Trentham, as Copper Coin, which he had been engaged to ride, won at Trentham and again at Riccarton last Saturday.