RACING Sound Riccarton Trials For Dunedin Meeting

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27455, 15 September 1954, Page 4

RACING Sound Riccarton Trials For Dunedin Meeting

The consistent Defaulter mare, Pleasure Bent, recorded a sound semifinal trial for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Ranfurly Handicap at Riccarton yesterday. Sprint honours of the morning were taken by the John Grigg Stakes winner. Russleigh, and the two-year-old Keep Time also recorded a fast half-mile. Russleigh has no engagement on the first day of the Dunedin meeting, but will run in the Dunedin Guineas next week. Keep Time is to run in the McLean Stakes on Saturday. The work was done on the No. 1 grass, which provided good going. Pleasure Bent (G. W. Mein) ran home from the mile in Imin 48 2-ssec. increasing speed to record 53sec for the last half-mile. She has made good progress since the Otago Hunt meeting, where she ran Peony Royal close in the mile Tally-Ho Handicap. Pleasure Bent runs few bad races, hut has been finding it hard to improve on a string or minor placings. Cullen (A. J. Stokes) and Strada (F. H. Skelton) were companions over a mile. They ended the trial on terms in Imin 51 2-ssec, the last half-mile taking 54sec. Cullen’s mission on Saturday is the distance hack race, the Clarendon Handicap. His chance will brighten if Stokes can stop him from pulling hard, as he has done to prejudice his chance in several races. Strada lost form after racing at Trentham in July, but he has been working boldly and may show something of his real ability at Wingatui. Working early, when there was a ground fog over the course. Blackfellow (G. Lee). Sovereign Salute (D F. Copmbe), and Peak Maru (C. McDonald) sprinted seven furlongs in Imin 31sec. finishing abreast. Elackfellow, second in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Islington Handicap at his last start, is one of the early favourites for the Ranfurly Handicap at Wingatui.

Sovereign Salute is to run in the distance hack race there. His recent performances have been disappointing.

Smart Sprint Russleigh (D. Finnie) dashed home from the half-mile in 51 sec without appearing to exert herself greatly. Her winning run in the John Grigg Stakes j n ? t a PP® ar to take any toll of her, and she is in good order to complete her preparation for the Dunedin Guineas. Agitate (J. Meikle) was no match for Keep Time (G. W. Mein) over half a mile. Dr. M. G. Louisson’s Summertime colt drawing out to win the trial by four lengths in 51 3-ssec. Given reasonable luck. Keep Time Should be well in the picture in the

finish of the McLean Stakes on Saturday. Scuppered (N. A. Dempsey) started from the six furlongs and joined Struggle (J. Meikle) and Aphelion (E. G. Low) going to the half-mile.

Scuppered won the trial by a length from Struggle, with Aphelion two lengths further back. Scuppered recorded 51 3-ssec for the last half-mile.

Scuppered’s programme at Wingatui on Saturday is not certain, but if the Trial Handicap is run outright, she will probably run in the Kaikorai Handicap. Tulagi (T. I. Smith), with the worst of the weights, was a length behind a Sabaean-Merial gelding (T. J. Smith) after running half a mile in 51 l-ssec. Tulagi has raced consistently but success eludes him.

Magic Carpet's Work Archbishop (T. J. Smith) led Magic Carpet (W. D. Skelton) by threequarters of a length ending half a mile in 53 4-ssec. Magic Carpet is to race at Wingatui, but Archbishop will be kept for the Geraldine Cup. Magic Carpet is in splendid order after his run in the McLean Stakes and his winning day does not look far distant. Dixie Leigh (F. H. Skelton) and Teko (K; Cotton) ended their halfmile on terms in 54 2-ssec, time they could have bettered. Dixie Leigh made a good impression when she won at Riccarton as a two-year-old last Easter, and she should be ready to show her best form against the hack sprinters at Wingatui on Saturday. Doctor Pippin (J. Thomson) beat Scotch Emblem (B. Lake) home from the half-mile by three-quarters of a length in 52 4-ssec, the latter making up ground near the finish. Kingship (W. D. Skelton) sprinted half a mile down the back in 55sec. C. C. McCarthy’s good galloper is in splendid order to complete his preparation for spring racing. All going weU m the meantime he will be at Trentham next month. The three McLean Stakes candidates from W. Welton’s stable, Skylight (W. D. Skelton), Instanter (D. F. Coombe), and Dark Dinah (B. McDonald) sprinted three furlongs, and could not be timed over this distance. Dark Dinah had a slight lead early, but Skylight was master over the last furlong, galloping powerfully and with something in reserve to neat the other pair by three-quarters of a length. .>• Humphries has brought Instinctive back into work and the Instinct gelding’s preliminary education for hurdling has started. Yesterday he was given some experience of the pony hurdles, first on the lead, and then ridden by G. G. Hampton.