TRACK WORK AT RICCARTON

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25389, 12 January 1948, Page 4

TRACK WORK AT RICCARTON

IRANBYCRQFT AND INDIAN DAWN IMPRESS A brilliant gallop over seven furlongs by the Wellington Cup candidate Indian Dawn, and a solid mile by two other candidates, Authentic and Lord Elgin, provided the main interest in the track work at Riccarton on Saturday morning. Tranbycroft' was the most impressive of the remainder of the candidates for the Wellington meeting with an excellent sprint over six furlongs. The No. 2 grass track was in use and provided hard but not fast going. The rain last Friday was not sufficient to ease the going at Riccarton on Saturday, but the fall during the week-end will help considerably. Palomino worked over six furlongs m Imin 20 2-ssec. She did not have much pace on over the first two, but ran the last four in 51 4-ssec. She is engaged in the mile Anniversary handicap on the first day at Trentham, and is in good order for her engagement. Authentic and Lord Elgin were together at the end of a mile in Imin 43 l-ssec. They set off at a solid pace, the first half taking 51sec, and were both galloping freely at the finish. Lord Elgin, which had the best of the weights, does not usually wqrk so freely on firm going. Pimlico started off at the nine furlongs and picked up Shere Khan at the seven, the pair coming home from there in Imin 30 4-ssec, the last four in 53sec. Shere Khan, with a pull in the weights, drew out over the last furlong and finished five lengths in front. Silver Link was half a length in front of Broie, with four lengths to Diameter, at the end of six furlongs irf Imin 19sec. the last fbur in 52 4-ssec. Diameter had a good weight up, and was not pushed over the last furlong. Irish Note was restricted to six furlongs at three-quarter pace. He has improved in condition since he raced at Dunedin, and is an acceptor in the Telegraph Handicap on the first day at Trentham. Citril was always under a good hold over four furlongs in 53 2-ssec. She is not engaged on the first day at Trentham. Balkis drew out over the last furlong to finish four lengths clear of Robin Redbreast, with half a length to Assault, at the end of five furlongs in Imin 4 4-ssec, the last four in 51 3-ssec. Balkis should be prominent in the Fitzherbert Handicap at Trentham next Saturday. Indian Dawn galloped particularly well over seven furlongs in Imin 27 2-ssec, after taking 13 l-ssec for the first. She was joined by Beechwood at the five furlongs, and the pair ran the last four in 50sec. Tranbycroft showed his usual brilliance when he returned Imin 15 2-ssec for six furlongs, the last half in 50 l-ssec. Tranbycroft’s racing on the West Coast has brought him on nicely, and he will be a strong candidate in the Pencarrow Hack Handicap at Trentham next Saturday, in which he will probably be ridden by H. W. Hibberd. Lorna Leigh Back at Riccarton Lorna Leigh is now a member of E. J. Jennings’s team, and has come in in good order to begin another preparation. Lorna Leigh was trained at Riccarton earlier in her career, when she was a member of J. Olive’s team, but early in her three-year-old career she went south to join J. A Wilson’s team at Mosgiel. E. J. Jennings alfeo has Gold Medallion in work again after a spell since the Grand National meeting. Rounding Into Shape The three-year-old colt Helio is gradually assuming racing shape. On Saturday morning he was galloping very easily alongside the two-year-old Valley Gold at the end of a four-furlong sprint in 51 4-ssec. Helio injured himself when playing in his yard just before the Grand National meeting, and was very big in condition when he was put into work again some weeks ago. He is a solidlymade and low-set black colt by Neptune from the Silverado mare Glowlight, trained by C. C. McCarthy for Mr N. H. Barlow. He showed some ability as a two-year-old. and has always shaped as if he would stay. As Neptune’s stock have shown improvement with ago. Helio may be all the better for the delayed opening of his three-year-old career. On Active List Again Coral Arc is again an active member of J. C. Tomkinson’s team, but will be kept in only light work until the tracks are easied properly. The Lang Bian gelding, Pimlico, which has been a member of the team since the Wellington spring meeting, will travel to Trentham this .week and be returned to his owner. Pimlico is engaged in the high-weight and distance hack events at Trentham this month. Diameter to Reappear Included in F._ A. Roberts’s team for Trentham is the big Defoe four-year-old Diameter, which will be making his first appearance for the season. Diameter showed good form at Trentham last January when still a green three-year-old. On the first day of the meeting he put in a phenomenal run to get up into third place in the mile • Halswell Hack Handicap after being at the rear •of the field with three furlongs to'go. On the second day he put in ’another good run from well back to finish second to Brown Derby in the Pencarrow Hack Handicap of seven furlongs. Diameter was unplaced at his next two starts, but in his last two starts for the season won twice at Riccarton. His winning stakes total £475, so he still remains eligible for hack races at Trentham where he will be ridden by L. J. Ellis. From Warstep’s Family

The Wairarapa Cup winner Lady Burford had not previously been successful over middle distances, but on her breeding it will be surprising if she is not successful beyond a mile and a quarter. She is a four-year-old bsy mare by Coronach from Fortunio, by Rapier from Warlove, by Martian from Stepdancer, by Stepniak. Fortunio had previously bred two moderate performers in Gunyah and Dies Faustus. Her dam, Warlove, won five races, including the New Zealand Oaks and the Dunedin Cup, and was a sister to the great mare Warstep, winner of 12J races and £10,200 in stakes, including the Auckland and Canterbury Cups and a dead-heat in the New Zealand Cup. This family produced many other notable winners for the late Mr C. G. Dalgety, the majority of which stayed on well. It will be surprising if Lady Burford is not successful again over middle distances at least. Not Encouraging

Red Pickle was tried over a mile and a quarter in the Southland Handicap at Invercargill, but his display was far from encouraging. He started to drift in the middle stages of the race and finished last. Before that Red Pickle had raced poorly in the Hazlett Gold Cup at Dunedin. Good for Her Size

Aggravation has won at five of her six starts this season, and she will be an interesting candidate for the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham. Aggravation has not a great deal of size, but she has more than her share of speed and has raced solidly this season. Aggravation is a four-year-old mare by the massive Defaulter from a speedy mare in Erambie, which was by Iliad from Chiefava, by Chief Ruler from Nottava, by Solferino from Stepka, a granddaughter of the famous foundation mare Steppe, the ancestress of many high-class horses such as Rapier, Reputation, Lord Chancellor, and others. Chiefava, the granddam of Aggravation, was a sister to Miss Nottava. which was one of the best mares for her inches ever to race in Australia. She won 14.2 events and also won the A.J.C. Summer Cup and the Sydney Handicap. Aggravation may not be in Miss Nottava’s class, but, like the latter, she shows a good measure of ability for her inches. Wellington Rehandicaps

The following rehandicaps have been declared by Mr W. P. Russell for the first day of the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting next Saturday:—Te Marua Highweight Handicap: Tremello, 101 b, to 11-12; Tribute, 71b, to 9-7. Anniversary Handicap: Deprive, 41b, to 9-10.