BRIGHT FUTURE FOR RYELAND

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27097, 21 July 1953, Page 4

BRIGHT FUTURE FOR RYELAND

BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE ON SATURDAY

Ryeland, whose brilliant winning performance in the Teschemaker Steeplechase was the outstanding feature of the South Canterbury Hunt Club's meeting on Saturday, will not have to make much more progress to take high ranking with the best steeplechasers in New Zealand. A more impressive debut over country could not have been wished for than Ryeland's at Washdyke.

Without exception his jumping was fast and clean and his pace could have carried him to the front much further from home than it did. 'Die Riccar--ton-trained Nightly gelding, a rising seven-year-old, may be one of the cross-country stars of next season. He may do much towards ending the run of successes enjoyed by the northern jumpers during the last few years. Ryeland fell short of the best class of hurdlers during the last two seasons but he was able to build up a useful record in that role for his Christchurch owner, Mr L. Harris. He was hunted in the Auckland district during his northern campaign earlier in the year, returned south from that trip showing the effects of racing, but recovered remarkably before the Wellington winter meeting, where he ran second to Colonel Argosy in the Lambton Hurdles.

Ryeland’s high standard of jumping over fences on his return south from Trentham brought him strongly into favour for his race on Saturday with the result that he was sent out favourite. His many supporters never had a moment of anxiety. Ryeland’s jumping leaves little room for doubt about his ability to master the taller fences at Riccarton, and he should improve his record before the Grand National carnival ends. Ryeland has been trained throughout his career by E. J. Jennings. Stablemateg Amiss D. V. Pankhurst’s pair, Riverstone and Cheerio, both knocked themselves in their training recently and were unable to race at the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s meeting on Saturday. It is thought that they will recover in time to fulfil their engagements at the Grand National meeting. Chowder’s Reappearance Chowder, now back in the Washdyke stable of P. H. Andrews, had his first race since April at the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s meeting on Saturday. He Kraded for the Claremont Handicap iking in great order, but he drifted into the ruck in the early stages of the lace. x Chowder, winner of the Dunedin Guineas and the John Grigg Stakes in the spring, does best when he gets firm footing. He has been nominated for the Winter Cup. in which he has 8-1. Hurdling Career in View Modern Times has joined R. C. Whitford’s stable at Riccarton and is to be educated for hurdling. This rising five-year-old Defaulter gelding has raced disappointingly since his return from the North Island earlier in the season. His form in hack class as a three-year-old was good, leaving the impression that he would continue to race well when he entered open company.

Trainer’s Good Record The Awapuni trainer, J. J. Waller, must surely have the strongest team of jumpers in New Zealand. Personality and Norfolk Boy, two horses from his stable, won twq of the main cross-country events at the Wellington winter meeting, where Tabor Islet, another member of the team, earned stake money with a fourth. Waller’s record with jumpers improved at the Manawatu Hunt Club’s meeting on Saturday when Ivanhoe won the Hunt Cup. This was only Ivanhoe’s third appearance over country. In his previous attempts as a steeplechaser he ran third in the A.R.C. Hunt Cup Steeplechase at Ellerslie last month, and second to Fox Fun in the Mariri Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase on the first day of the Wellington meeting. On Saturday Ivanhoe was toward the rear early, but moved up starting the last round, racing in third place till the three furlongs. He then produced a strong run which gathered in the pacemaking Louisville in the final furlong, and he won going away. Has Family Speed Half-brother and half-sister, Regoli and Suncrest, won at widely separated places on Saturday. The five-year-old Regoli carried 9-5 to a narrow win in the open sprint at the Canterbury meeting in New South Wales. At Washdyke his two-year-old half-sister Suncrest (by Sun King) easily won the novice race at the South Canterbury Hunt meeting.

Regoli. which had two races in New Zealand earlier in the season and is now trained by M. McCarten, is a son of Royal Arch and is fully related to the speedy Royal Symbol, a stablemate of Suncrest.

Suncrest had four races earlier this season in the colours of her breeder. Miss J. Ed gar-Jones, but on Saturday she raced for Dr. A. Owen-Johnston and Mr A. Ryder.

Suncrest showed much of the speed of her close relations, leading practically all the way and winning with ease. She should soon take* her winning record a stage further. Travesty Should Improve Maritea, winner of the Claremont Handicap at Waahdyke on Saturday, has not been nominated for the Winter Cup. but the minor place-getters. Hunter’s Choice and Battle Ensign, are candidates for the big mile event at Riccarton; and so are Taj and Travesty, fifth and sixth to finish.

Of that lot Travesty and Battle Ensign may be the horses capable of improving enough to fare well in the stronger class at Riccarton.

Travesty had his first race for Messrs T. Coltman and E. R. Curtis on Saturday; it was also his first appearance since Easter, so he should be still at the improving stage. The New Zealand record-holder for a mile and a quarter. Travesty won good races for Mr H. D. Greenwood, but many of his other performances fell short of the standard expected of him. He appeared to be easily unbalanced in big fields, and heavy tracks did not suit his style of galloping. Travesty has 8-8 In the Winter Cup. He usually comes to hand quickly and should be fit for that test.

Battle Ensign’s bold finishing run into third place in the Claremont Handicap was a minor feature of the race. He was well out of his ground starting the last half mile, and was still a long way from the leaders on the home turn. His final effort was characteristic of his winning performance over the same distance in a strong field at Trentham last January. That day he was ridden by N. Eastwood, who was also his jockey again on Saturday. Battle Ensign may need time to work up to his best speed. In his previous start at Washdyke he was “kept closer to the leaders, but his finish was weak. The roomy Riccarton course should suit this Washdyke-trained Peak Halyard colt which has a good lightweight’s chance in the Winter Cup. 4