USEFUL SPRINTS AT RICCARTON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27098, 22 July 1953, Page 4

USEFUL SPRINTS AT RICCARTON

ATTRACTIVE EFFORT BY THE TONGS

ENTRANCING IMPRESSES OVER SIX FURLONGS The Tongs, Entrancing, Argument, Bosky, Elack Briar, and Denominate sprinted soundly in their trials on the outside of the course proper at Riccarton yesterday. A frost on a track that had been well soaked by rain earlier in the week created conditions under which fast times were out of the question. The Tongs, ridden by E. G. Low, did well to record 51 4-ssec for his halfmile. He galloped late in the morning, after the thaw, and appeared to do his work well. The Tongs, a good fourth in the Claremont Handicap at Washdyke on Saturday, appears to be at the improving stage, and he may open his winning record for Mr R. Cross at Riccarton. Entrancing (D. J. Thistoll) was too good for Instinctive (M. O’Brien) in their run from the six furlongs. Entrancing drew clear in the straight, and finished two lengths in front to record Imin 24 l-ssec, the last half mile in 56 2-ssec. Entrancing did her work very freely. She is fit for immediate engagements, though the tracks will need to firm somewhat before she will be seen at her best. Argument (A. McKay) was well clear of Royal Mail (E. G. Low) ending six furlongs in Imin 25 2-ssec. Both were easing in the straight after dashing over the first two furlongs in 26 l-ssec. Argument does not appear to have taken any ill-effects from his racing at Trentham. where he was a good third in the Whyte Handicap. Black Briar (B. S. Finlayson) and Bosky (F. H. Skelton) were on terms after running six furlongs in Imin 23 4-ssec. It was the best time of the morning for the distance. The last half-mile took 55 3-ssec, Bosky was galloped on in one of his races ■ at Trentham. but he is fit for his engagements at Riccarton, where he raced well last year. Black Briar was also prominent in his races at the Grand National meeting a year ago. Smart Effort Denominate (A. J. ’Stokes) was several lengths clear of Corolight (G. Walsh) on completing six furlongs in Imin 24 3-ssec. The last half mile took 56 2-ssec. Denominate has freshened up well since he last raced, and he should be successful in one of the hack sprints at Riccarton before the Grand National meeting ends.

Ballast (R. E. Johnstone) and Steadfast (A. J. Stokes) were on terms ending seven furlongs in Imin 40 2-ssec. The first three took 42 3-ssec. Ballast ran two good races at the Wellington winter meeting, and if he has held his form, he may win a race at Riccarton. Sir Abbot (R. McSeveny) gave Belle Nuit (F. H. Skelton) and Profane (K. Nuttall) a start from the mile, and beat them home by a head in Imin 57 l-ssec. They took 58sec for the last half mile. Copenhagen (A. J. Stokes) and Pretender (R. L. Gibson) were on terms at the end of half a mile in 54 4-ssec, Copenhagen showed smart from in two-year-old races earlier in the season and his winning day may not be far distant. Ptarmigan (N. A. Dempsey) beat Teko (F. H. Skelton) artd Adaris (R. McSeveny) oyer five furlongs. The last half mile took 54 l-ssec. Adaris, after tailing off early, made up some ground in the straight, but was still a length behind Ptarmigan at the post.

Leofa (L. Woodhouse) and Bright Robin (P. Hill) ran their mile ir Imin 55 l-ssec. The last Jialf took 58 2-ssec. Notable (P. H. Jones) and Quarry (A. J. Stokes) recorded 53 3-ssec for the last four of six furlongs. They finished on terms.

Attractive Gallop „ Trustworthy (H. W. Hibberd) and Squabble (B. S. Finlayson) dashed over half a mile in 52 l-ssec—a smart effort under the conditions, particularly by horses of their class. Trustworthy appeared to be going a shade better than his stable-mate at the finish.

Tamrin (A. J. Stokes) took 56 2-Ssec for his half mile, and William Hyde (N. A. Dempsey) and Teresa Gamba (R. McSeveny) followed over the same distance in 56 3-ssec. J. R. Cochrane’s hurdlers, Black Tartan (E. G. Low) and Cogitation (A. McKay), were two lengths clear of Rex Dollar (L. French) after running seven furlongs in Imin 40 4-ssec. the last half mile in 57 3-ssec. Cogitation, at his last start, ran third in the Winter Hurdles at Trentham. Declare (N. Symons), which is about to make a fresh start after a spell, sprinted six furlongs in Imin 25 4-ssec, and took 58 l-ssec for the last half mile. Mightgo (G. G. Hampton) had a narrow lead from Make Haste (C. C. Stokes), with a gap of four lengths to The Bat (H. W. Hibberd), on completing a mile iri Imin 53 l-ssec, the last half mile in 58sec. The Bat won the Beaufort Steeplechase on his last trip to Riccarton a year ago, but he has not been successful since then. However, he showed ne is fit for another jumping campaign by running two sound races on the flat at Trentham. Bahrein (D. J. Thistoll) was a neck in front of Sawdust (K. Nuttall), with Captain Flint (N. A. Dempsey) half a length back, after running half a mile in 56 2-ssec. Captain Flint gave the other two a start. Margundi’s Sprint Margundi (L. Woodhouse) and Cristatus (R. Forward) sprinted the last four of six furlongs in 54 l-ssec. Margundi appears to be making good progress in preparation for another campaign. Valescure (J. Meikle) completed his work with half a mile in 54 3-ssec.

Black Wealth (G. W. Mein), a promising newcomer to the hurdling ranks, ran home from the seven furlongs in Imin 38 2-ssec. The last half-mile took 55sec. Deodar (D. Ta Hott) and Janice Claire (E. G. Low) sprinted their half mile in 53sec, and finished on terms. Deodar, a member of R. Heasley’s Wingatui team, has been at Riccarton for a few weeks now, and is in good order for early racing. Sovereign Salute (G. W. Mein) and Americus (T. J. Smith) ran home from the half mile in 56 4-ssec, and finished on terms.

Sovereign Salute has had only one race since he won at Riccarton at Easter, but G. R. Felling has him well forward. Colonel Argosy (H. W. Hibberd) ran home from the mile in Imin 57 l-ssec, the first half in 59 4-ssec. He has recovered well from his racing at Trentham, where he won the Lambton Hurdles, and ran second in the Trentham Hurdles. Caversham (R. McSeveny) was threequarters of a length clear of Sir Galahad (L. W. Hare), with half a length to Accountant (K. Nuttall) and a length to Red Magic (C. McDonald), at the end of half a mile in 56 2-ssec. Novices Sprint Well Merryman (R. L.' Gibson) and Canzona (P. Hill) did well for novices to record Imin 24 4-ssec for six furlongs, the last half-mile in 56sec. Sheriff (N. A. Dempsey) and Moidore (D. M. Kerr) sprinted their half-mile in 55 2-ssec. Ryeland (G. W. Mein) could have improved on his Imin 41 3-seec for seven furlongs. The Washdyke winner ran his last half-mile in 57 3-ssec. The stablemates Mari tea (E. G. Low) and Low Tide (A. McKay) were on terms after their half-mile, run in 56 l-ssec. Sarada (C. C. Stokes) and Tassin (R. E. Johnstone) were kicked up over the last furlong of six furlonbs to finish well clear of Reade (G. Lee). Sarada was first home by a neck to record Imin 24 3-ssec, and 55 3-ssec for the last half-mile. Lancaster (L. W. Hare) sprinted home from the half-mile in 54 2-ssec. A winner and an unlucky fourth at the Dunedin winter meeting, Lancaster appears to be well forward. Pack Drill (A. J. Stokes) and Late Fee (D. Tallott) recorded 53 4-ssec for their half-mile. Gold Scheme (F. Osborne) was half a length clear of Danger Point (C. McDonald), with Gardez (K. Nuttall) a length further back, after running half a mile in 57sec. Spike Jones (D. M. Kerr) sprinted his half-mile in 54 4-ssec. The Ellerslie-trained jumpers Dunwold (R. J. Tumwald) and Roman Ned (N. A. Dempsey) recorded ■ Imin 45sec for seven furlongs. They maintained a steady pace of 15sec to the furlong all the way. Inspire (R. L. Gibson) recorded 53 4-5 sec for his half-mile. Doctor Pippin (B. S. Finlayson) followed over the same ground in 56 2-ssec, and King O'Day (R. McSeveny) and Cornflake (K. Quill) in 56 4-5 sec. Made Ground Brutus (K. Nuttall) gave Blackfellow (C. McDonald) a start of two lengths from the seven furlongs, but reduced that to half a length by the time they reached the post. Blackfellow’s time for the distance was Imin 38 2-ssec. lhe last halfmile took 56 3-ssec. Original (G. W. Mein) and Card Game (B. Lake) sprinted their half-mile in 55 sec. Fortnight (L. W. Hare) sprinted half a mile with his stablemate, Royal Monarcn (H. W. Hibberd) in 54 2-ssec. It was Fortnight’s first test for speed since he returned from Trentham. He was not raced there because of the heavy state of the track. J. R. Shaw’s pair, Spar (G. W. Mein),

and Hermes (B. Lake), recorded 56 2-5 sec for their half-mile. Direct Passage (B. S. Finlayson) broke away from the half-mile in front of Surprise Ending (D. M. Kerr), and held a lead of four lengths to the post to record 55sec. The Invercargill-trained jumpers, St. Simper (M. H. Hillis) and Gay Fenian (W. J. Hillis), were amqpg those to do strong pace work. Exchequer (E. G. Rosewarne) was well clear of Scuttle (B. R. Thomson), with another gap to Symbolic (L. French), at the end of a run over six hurdles. Celerite (H. J. Ford) was on terms with Exchequer going to the second last hurdle, but he' somersaulted there, and left Exchequer well clear.