TRIALS BY GORE CANDIDATES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27443, 1 September 1954, Page 4

TRIALS BY GORE CANDIDATES

COMPOSITION SCHOOLS. WELL •Th* Press” Special Service DUNEDIN, August 31. Composition, which will be ridden by his part-owner, Mr E. R. Curtis, in the Wayte Memorial Steeplechase at Gore, on Saturday, gave a demonstration of nis ability over country in a good schooling bout at WingAtui yesterday morning. The ColumciUe gelding finished a good third in the Seaview Hurdles at Wingatui on Saturday, and the extra distance in the amateur riders’ race should not be beyond him. Ridden by stable jockey, B. R. Thomson, Composition was accompanied by Gabriel's Gully (G. Warden), and both horses accomplished their task well. In a mixed school, they jumped a brush hurdles, water jump hurdles, and brush double.

Showers and a cold southerly interfered with the work, and the track was heavy after rain in the night. The trials were held on the inside grass and the plough. Brian Baffles (J. D. Pankhurst), a double acceptor at the Eastern Southland hunt meeting, worked well for a maiden to keep on terms with Deodar (L. W. Hare) over six furlongs in Imin 23 2-5 sec. They finished well to run the last three furlongs in 43sec. Deodar's leg ailment, which prevented IWr from starting at Wingatui on Saturday, has responded well to treatment and there appears little doubt that she will be able to race in the Walkaka Hack Handicap. Cocos (Pankhurst) finished on terms with Jarl (R. J. Anderton) at the end of five furlongs In Imin 10 4-58ec, the first two furlongs In 27 2-ssec. Totrabar (I. Thomas) was several lengths back. Cocos, which has drawn one of the outside positions in the Knapdale Stakes, was bavin e his first serious task since joining J. W. Pankhurst’s team. Well Forward Reformed (R. J. Bain) and Lady Wanaka (B. D. Cunningham) covered five furlongs in Imin llsec, after taking 28 2-ssec for the opening two. This was their first appearance on the track for some time, but they have done a solid {reparation of road and hill work, and ook well forward. They will race in the President’s Handicap, a race which Re.fOrmed’won easily last year, when carrying the top weight of 9-0. Codger (E. -Sutherland) and the Royal Chief—Janet’s Pal three-year-old gelding. (B. E. Kennedy) were credited with the best sprint when they dashed home in 40 2-ssec.

A half-brother by Blue Flame to Snuffbox, Codger, which is owned by the Wingatui trainer, D. J. McDonald, had one race as a three-year-old early in the 1952-53 season, and was then put aside. Ascolta (F. Joyce) and a four-year-old Tiderace mare from Bee Acre, the dam of Bearo (L. G. White), covered the same ground in 42sec. Sir Zin (D. B. Cunningham), a candUdate for the open sprint, was accompanied by Field Chief (R. J. Bain) over five furlotags in Imin 10 2-ssec. the last half-mile in 56 4-ssec. J. D. Pankhurst,-who broke a collarbone playing in the jockeys’ football match In the Grand National week, expects a clearance from the doctor this week, and, if this is forthcoriiing, he will ride at Gore on Saturday. Brutus was sore when he returned to the birdcage after running second in the hurdle race at Wingatui on Saturday. The trouble is in a ligament, and he will be blistered and turned out until next season. Royal Simper, which finished second to Rudolph in the distance hack race at the Otago Hunt meeting on Saturday, has joined D. F. O’Connell’s team, and will be ridden at Gore by the stable apprentice. C. A. Whyte. Wealthy is scheduled to start in both the hurdles and the Eastern Southland Steeples on Saturday, and will be ridden by H. W. Skinner. R. J. Skelton has been engaged to ride Johnny Peep, but no decision has been made on the race in which this dual acceptor will start.