GOLD SCHEME FIT FOR TRENTHAM

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27169, 13 October 1953, Page 4

GOLD SCHEME FIT FOR TRENTHAM

WELLINGTON HANDICAP CANDIDATE Gold Scheme, on which Riccarton’s hopes of a Wellington Handicap victory at Trentham next Saturday run high, had his final home gallop on the No. 1 grass track yesterday. Ridden by his trainer, L. J. Ellis, he was accompanied by the Wellington Guineas candidate, Overboard (H. W. Hibberd). The pair completed the final half-mile of five furlongs in 51 2-ssec. Later in the day, Gold Scheme left for Trentham, as did W. A. Welton’s pair, Bahrein and Sawdust, and Lord Fort from Washdyke. Gold Scheme is to be ridden in Saturday’s big handicap by the Riccarton horseman, A. J. Stokes, and it is expected that this highly promising stayer will be close at the finish. At his last start at Trentham, Gold Scheme won the St. Leger Stakes, his most important success to date. He has yet to win an open handicap event, but a fourth in the Sockbum Handicap at Riccarton last Easter (his final race last season) and a close second’ at Washdyke recently in the Donald Grant Memorial Handicap, are pointers which suggest that his four-year-old season will not be long under way before he gains his first important handicap win. Other Work The grass track was used by several other Trentham horses, including Trustworthy (H. W. Hibberd), which strode over half a mile in 55 2-ssec. Declare (N. Symons) was keen to go faster than the 53 2-ssec he took for his last four of six furlongs. Copenhagen (A. J. Stokes) travelled easily over a similar journey in 57 2-ssec. and William Hyde (L. Woodhouse) also completed useful work over seven furlongs by coming home in 54 2-ssec.. Today’s Gallops For those horses which will travel to Wellington tonight and tomorrow night, it is probable that the outside of the course proper will be available this morning. This will be appreciated by trainers who were denied the opportunity to use it on Saturday because of the bad weather.

Interested Spectator The Dunedin owner, Mr A. N. Smith, was an interested spectator at Riccarton yesterday. He was passing through on his way to Wellington, from where he will fly to Sydney today. Mr Smith has the Riccarton-trained Tamrin and Hush Money racing at the approaching Trentham meeting, but as he will be in Australia until early next month, he will not see them race. With Copenhagen and Declare, they will leave for Trentham tonight. Riding Engagements Riding engagements for the first day of the Wellington meeting include:—W. Barr: Travesty. H. W. Hibberd: Overboard. B. S. Finlayson: Corolight, Trustworthy. C. McDonald: Princess Neptune, Kingship, Valescure, Royal Invader. D. J. Thistoll: Bahrein, Maid of the Woods. A. J. Stokes: Copenhagen, Hush Money, Declare. Gold Scheme, Desperado, Surprise Ending, Adaris, High Peak. N. A. Crombie: Sawdust. By Air Valescure and Kingship will be flown to Paraparaumu tomorrow. They will be accompanied by some horses from Washdyke and Oamaru.