RACING Riccarton Horses’ Good Record In Dunedin Cup

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28154, 18 December 1956, Page 6

RACING Riccarton Horses’ Good Record In Dunedin Cup

The good record of Riccarton gallopers in the Dunedin Cup—they have won all but two of the last 13 contests —could be taken a stage further on Saturday. Riccarton will probably have six representatives including Writer, winner of the race last year. The others in the field are Overboard, Royal Warrant, Watch and Wait, Relinquish and Bon Soir. The Washdyke-trained Canon and Humber Hawk will strengthen the possibility of a win for Canterbury. Writer won with 8-0 last year, when the minimum was 7-7. On a 71b lower scale he has 8-9 on Saturday. The Dunedin Cup was the first of Writer’s three wins last season. He has failed to improve his record in the mea'ntime, but has been placed three times and made an encouraging start over two miles in the New Zealand Cup, in which he finished fifth.

G. W. Mein will ride Writer, whose consistent form will be respected. Overboard has mixed his good runs with several bad ones, and has not gone as far as it was thought he would in his early racing. His lone success this season was at the Dunedin spring meeting, where he outstayed Silence. Horatius, and eight others over eleven furlongs.

Watch and Wait mastered one mile and a quarter to win the Waikouaiti Cup last season. She has pulled hard in some of her races, and much will depend on how she settles inside the first half mile.

Watch and Wait is trained by C. G. Humphries, who prepared Silver Sal for her success in the Dunedin Cup 11 years ago. Humphries was also successfully associated with the race as a jockey; he won on Tauramai in 1935. Winter Track Specialist Royal Warrant has achieved distinction as a very good miler on winter tracks, and is a dual Winter Cup winner. His best run beyond a mile this season was his second to Canon in the Fendalton Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at Riccarton last month. The track conditions will have the

most important bearing on Royal Warrant's chance.

Relinquish and Bon Soir complete the Riccarton representation. They have form close at hand. They were first and third respectively in a close finish to the Hororata High-weight, but have done little to inspire any great confidence in the class they will meet at Wingatui. The Washdyke pair. Canon and Humber Hawk, will have heavy support after showing good form at the New Zealand Cup meeting. Any easing in the ground will help Canon, which is strong in stamina, and still at the improving stage. Humber Hawk won a high-weight and beat all but Loyal Chief in the Otaio Plate at Riccarton. It is a difficult first test in open company. but his 7-0 will keep him in the picture to the end. • Rise and Shine will probably be Riccarton’s best in the Publicans' Handicap. A win for this fast Sun King mare would be popular because she has had luck against her in some of her races in open company. Her immediate form background is a close second to Curtain Raiser at Hororata. Rise and Shine’s wide barrier position could have cost her victory. She has had better fortune at W’ingatui, and over six furlongs should be a match for the best of the Otago and Southland sprinters. Like Watch and Wait, Rise and Shine is trained by C. G. Humuhries. Smart Two-year-old

The stable will have a third powerfull representative in Her Ex, whose record of two wins, one second, and one fourth in four starts gives her ranking as one of the best of her age in the South Island. Her Ex was not Quite at her best when Coq d’Or beat her in the C.J.C. Welcome Stakes, but she ran out five furlongs strongly for her win in the Pioneer Handicap on the third day of the New Zealand Cup meeting.

The Champagne Stakes distance is six furlongs, and it should not trouble Mr L. R. C. Macfarlane’s smart Gabador filly as much as most if not all the others.