RELINQUISH SELECTED TO WIN AT WASHDYKE

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27698, 30 June 1955, Page 4

RELINQUISH SELECTED TO WIN AT WASHDYKE

RACING

Relinquish is expected to improve his record to three wihs in his last four starts in the Timaru Cup, the first leg of the double at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s winter meeting on Saturday. Relinquish, which has an alternative engagement in the Seadown Handicap, will be ridden in the Cup by N. Eastwood, who was also associated with the five-year-old Finis gelding when he won the Oamaru Winter Cup and the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s Rangitata Handicap. All has gone well with Relinquish since his decisive win under 7st 121 b in the Oamaru Winter Cup, one mile and a quarter. He has Bst 41b to carry in a stronger field and over more ground on Saturday, but he should not fail for want of stamina and should be equal to the task of giving away up to 111 b to those below him in the weights. Wingatui form, and it may not altogether be an accurate pointer, will ensure solid backing for Blackfeliow. Ballast, and Baffling Eyes. Blackfellow and Baffling Eyes were first and second on a very heavy track in the Provincial Handicap on the concluding day of the meeting. Ballast failed to master the conditions in that race when favourite after a sound run for second behind Good Abbot in the Birthday Handicap. The Birthday Handicap, one mile and a half, was run cm the first day of the meeting under slightly better conditions. Ballast stays well and should have a better track this time. From his place in the weights he may be too good for Blackfeliow and Baffling Eyes. Blackfellow is top weight with 9st 61b. He is hardy and consistent, and probably capable of improving a good record. Lean Patch Royal Voyage, the only other horse above Relinquish in the handicap, has had a lean patch in his early winter racing. His last performance of note was his close second to Americus in the Sockbum Handicap, one mile and a half, at Riccarton. The nine-year-old Gold Mine had his chance in the Oamaru Winter Cup, but failed to stay. Improvement would be necessary to bring him success in this field. One better equipped to master this distance is Demand, which beat all but Demijour and Field Chief the last time he raced at Washdyke. Demand lacks race finishing brilliance, but he is a tough battler and seldom runs badly. The Invercargill trainer, F. W.

Ellis, has two strong candidates in Suphero and Chandelle. Suphero had to miss the Dunedin i winter meeting, but resumed against j the sprinters at Oamaru. finishing | boldly for fourth after losing ground i at the start. He was tested for stamina on his I home track in May and his third be- I hind Good Abbot and Danger Point in the Awarua Hack Handicap, eleven | furlongs, left little doubt of his ability I to make good over a middle distance. Chandelle was one of the stars of the staying hacks in Southland earlier in the season, and her fifth in the Oamaru ■ Winter Cup stamped her as an early j winner in open company. She may be the best of those on the minimum, with Wise Belle next in ; favour. Prospects are: Relinquish, Suphero,, and Ballast. i The Second Leg Success for Relinquish in the first leg would make a stable double for the Riccarton trainer, G. S. Barr, a strong ! possibility. That happened at Oamaru, where Dahlia rounded off the day's : double with a decisive win against the sprinters. Dahlia will again be the stable’s representative in the Seadown Handicap and in her present form this Dunedin-owned Super mare could make it two on end. Dahlia has Bst 81b to master over a ; mile and 35 yards, 81b more than she j carried to an easy win over seven fur- ; longs at Oamaru. She won over a mile and was placed beyond that distance in her hack races, and her consistency i i makes her at least a good place prospect in this field. One of Dahlia's strongest opponents will probably be Cock Crow. This Washdyke-trained Balloch gelding soundly beat Relinquish and 10 others over a mile and 150 yards at Waimate on May 28. He carried Bst 81b, 61b less than his weight this time. A start for the top weight, Gold Scheme, is not certain. Brooke, closest to Gold Scheme in the weights, did not distinguish him-| self at Ashburton and may not be able to show enough improvement on that performance to make his mark in this field. Declare is one of the best-performed milers in the field. His field-shyness when racing next to the rails has cost him winning chances, but when he has had his races run to suit him he has dene well in stronger fields than this one. The recent form of the others has been nothing to enthuse about. Cock Crow, Dahlia, and Declare appeal most.