Sultry May Be The Best Steeplechaser at Ashburton

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28001, 22 June 1956, Page 4

Sultry May Be The Best Steeplechaser at Ashburton

RACING

Sultry’s stamina may carry her to victory in the Dromore Hack and Hunters' Steeplechase ?t the Ashburton County Racing Club’s winter meeting This Riccarton-trained Sun K’ng pare became one of the early favourites for the race when she ran King Willow to three-quarters of a length at Camaru last Saturday. Sultry's jumoing lacked that spectacular touch that marked the winner, cut her workmanlike performance carried her forward several lengths over the last three furlongs and would have probably given her victory over her less-seasoned rival in another furlong or so.

That was Sultry’s first start as a steeplechaser, and her third appearance on her present campaign. If her jumping is up to standard she should be more than a match for the southern jumpers.

Gypsy Boy and Composition, both from H. A. Anderton's Wingatui stable, will both have solid backing after being placed over the Wingatui coun try earlier in the month.

Last start. Gypsy Boy beat all but Capet over two miles and a quarter in the Roslyn Steeples. Composition, the second favourite, ■was well up when he lost his rider at the third last fence. Two days earlier Composition was second, also to Capet, in the Tahuna Steeples, two miles and a half. He was seven lengths behind the winner, but four ahead of Gypsy Boy, which was running on past tired horses.

Gay Fenian, the veteran of this field, and the top weight, has not raced for 13 months and may feel the strain against the best of his seasoned opponents.

Waldeck has a win over the stiff Riv®rton countr y on his record, so the Ashburton fences should not trouble him.

Brer Broney. fifth in his lone appearance as a steeplechaser at Wingatui, and probably a better horse for the race, appeals most of the others. Export for Hurdles Export is not expected to find the top weight of 10-8 too burdensome or the best of his opponents too stron” for him in the Hinds Hack Hurdles. He was brought to Ashburton in May and earned 9-11 to an easy win in the Longbeach Hack Hurdles. Since then be has finished se-ond to Dustv Miller In the June Hurdles. He is versatile and his rise xn the weights should not keep him out of the finish. Cristatus made a promising start as a hurdler at the Ashburton autumn meeting. He was twice placed after jumping well each time. Improvement can logically be expected from this Hiccarton-tramed Royal Chief gelding which has not been raced during the las* few weeks.

Danger Point, the hurdles winner at Camaru. has stamina and good speed £ e 2 v '. 1 * probably be to the fore at tne finish. '

Argive, perhaps, will be the best of I*l® ? thers - P® did not get P ast the first jump at Oamaru, but won comfortably at Waimate. Unless there is a brilliant galloper among the unraced or lightly-raced the winner of the Lyndhurst Handicap should come from t°P part of the handicap. Purser and Nasib may be the best of this field. Nasib showed ability to win over this distance at Waimate last month.

Purser has not raced since Easter, when he failed at Riccarton. But he won over this distance at Oamaru before then.

Skyrain has been consistent, and Inishowen has shown speed, though his career will no doubt be affected by respiratory trouble.

Riverwood, a promising type, may be the improver lower in the weights; The consistent Skyrider should be a match for the best of the others in the Novice Stakes. He was just touched off by Dart Away over this distance the last time he raced at Ashburton, and ran gamely for second behind the fast filly Renloch over six furlongs at Oamaru last week. Mananui Scratched

Mananui has dropped out of the Moreton Hack Handicap. The best form credentials are held by West Indies and Column, both runners-up the last time out. West Indies was just beaten over seven furlongs at Woodville last month. Whipsnade just got up to beat Column over a mile at Oamaru last week.

An improving light-weight is Ngahuia. which came back to racing in encouraging style at Oamaru. where she was a fast-finishing fifth over six furlongs.

Royal Display has been treated for a corn this week, and is unlikely to run in the Seafield Hack Handicap. Iroquoi and Gay King were both winners at Ashburton last month and will be two of the best in this field. But both will be tested by St. Anthony. a newcomer to South Island racing.

In a stronger field than this, St. Anthony finished fast for third behind Lord Valna and Yoho in the Ruahine Hack Handicap, one mile, at Trentham in October. He has had only one race since he joined the Riccarton stable of C. G. Humphries, and he failed to show up after a slow start in a six-furlong race. But a smart sprint at Riccarton yesterday was a pointer to a good performance.

Selections are:— 11.5 a.m.—Hinds Hack Hurdles: Export. Cristatus, Danger Point. 11.45 a.m.—Lyndhurst Two-year-old Handicap: Purser. Nasib, Skyrain.

12.25 p.m.—Novice Stakes: Skyrider. Bagpipe. Lord Fane. 1.10 p.m.—Maronan Handicap: Lord Rowallan, Russleigh, Paulette. 1.50 p.m.—Dromore Steeplechase: Sultry, Composition. Gypsy Boy

2.30 p.m.—Mayfield Hack Handicap: Tra-jan-Inspire bracket. Massador, Super Corn. 3.15 p.m.—Moreton Hack Handicap: West Indies, Ngahuia, Column. 3.55 p.m.—Seafield Hack Handicap: St Anthony. Gay King, Iroquoi. The fields, with form and riders for the double races are:— MARONAN HANDICAP, Of £450. One mile. < « st. lb. 1042 Copenhagen (7), A. J. Stokes 9 0 1000 Fegardless (5). N. T. Cowles .. 8 11 0240 Paulette (2), C. McDonald .. 810 1002 Overboard (10), G. W. Mein .. 8 6 4001 Lord Rowallan (11). E. G. Low 8 6 0340 Russleigh (3), C. T. Wilson .. 8 4 0010 Macduff (13) ..8 3 0140 Roi de Bois (8) .. .. 713 0024 Royal Warrant (1) .. . . 7 13 0000 Ngapunawai (12). N. Eastwood 7 7 3000 Merrimayes (6). M. D. Alexan0400 Tiles (4) .. ..77 1010 Trustworthy (9) ..7 7 MAYFIELD HACK HANDICAP. Of £3OO. One mile and three furlongs. st. lb. 1411 Super Corn (12). E. G. Low .. 9 8 0000 Meadow Gold (7) .. ..8 9 3200 Beau Chat (2). C. T. Wilson 8 8 0330 Solstice (15). M. D. Alexander 8 8 0130 Big Ben (9) .. ..8 4 0203 Trajan (8). F. H. Skelton ..8 4 0020 Massador (6), G. W. Mein .. 8 4 0004 Incredible (4) ..8 3 4000 Inspire ill), N. Eastwood .. 8 3 0400 Cloque (13), R. W. Gould .. 8 0 00 Fastless (3). D. N. Hadfield .. 8 0 0000 Soothsayer (10), W. Hanlin .. 8 0 0014 Sun House <5), R. J. Skelton 8 0 4000 Sovereign Salute (1), R. J. Blair • .. .. ..80 34 The Sloucher (14) ..8 0 Bracket: Trajan and Inspire.