RACING Loyal Chief Expected To Win At Washdyke

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28160, 26 December 1956, Page 4

RACING Loyal Chief Expected To Win At Washdyke

Ix>yal Chief, runner-up to Relinquish in the Dunedin Cup on Saturday. is expected to improve a solid record by winning the Christmas Hanoicap on the first day of the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s summer meeting at Washdyke on Thursday. Loyal Chief was favourite for the Dunedin Cup, which was his first start in open company. He carried 7st 61b. including 61b overweight, and followed the winner. Relinquish, over the last five furlongs. Loyal Chief did not trouble Relinquish—he was two and a half lengths from the Riccarton galloper—but he had many good gallopers struggling a long way behind him at the end of a fast-run mile and a half.

The distance of the Christmas Handicap is one mile and a quarter. Loyal Chief has the early speed to take up a good position, and his stamina and light weight will keep him to the fore all the way if his strenuous race at Wingatui did not not dull his zest and keenness.

Canon, Watch and Wait and Royal Warrant were beaten some way out in the Dunedin Cup. but their form at a mile and a quarter has been good. The last time they met over this distance was in the Fendalton Handicap at the New Zealand Cup meeting. Canon beat Royal Warrant bv three-quarters of a length for first. Watch and Wait was a weakening fourth. The track was soft and Canon and Royal Warrant have shown their best form under those conditions, although Canon has been more versatile in that respect than the Riccarton horse.

Watch and Wait won the Waikouaiti Cup, over one mile and a quarter, last season. Success has eluded her this season, but a galloper of her ability must always be reckoned with. The top weight Writer, is to run on the second day of the Dunedin Cup meeting, and will probably miss the South Canterbury meeting because of his New Year campaign in Southland. Chance For Tess Tess, one of Riccarton’s best sprinting mares has shown good form up to a mile that a sound run over a mile and a quarter is likely. She made a very good start for the season to beat all but Royal Zorra in the Members’ Handicap at the New Zealand Cup meeting. Her only appearance since was against the sprinters at Hororata, where she did not settle down to gallop with any freedom on the small track. Since then she has worked soundly over more ground at Riccarton. Keep Time and Desert Cloud have done most of their racing over shorter journeys, and their best performances nave been of a good standard. Desert Cloud was a disappointing failure over 11 furlongs on the second day of the Southland Centennial meeting, but Keep Time, a strong -finisher in most of his shorter races, should not be embarrassed by this distance. In his first of two races at the New Zealand Cup meeting he was running on for third behind Shoal and Prince Filou at the end of nine furlongs in the Riccarton Handicap. Before that he was fourth in the mile Pearce Handicap at Trentham. . The Washdyke course may suit Keep Time more than it would Shoal. The distance will not trouble Shoal, but in most of her races she has made her run from a long way back. Riccarton and Ashburton, with their long and roomy straights, suit Shoal, but she will not be so much at ease on the smaller Washdyke track. Apart from Loyal Chief, the best light-weight will probably be Mundus. This Riccarton-trained Newton Pippin gelding shaped like an early winner in open company at this time last year, but his form slumped at the Dunedin Cup meeting. He raised hopes for a return to his best form when he finished brilliantly for fifth against the sprinters at Hororata, and from his position in the handicap he could fulfil those hopes on Thursday. The Second Leg Riccarton stables will be strongly represented in the Fairlie Hack Handicap, the second leg of the double. Kansas, lone, Bagatelle, Water Boy and Cheyenne are hack sprinters of ability, and the winner could be among them, although there will be stiff opposition from the Washdyke gallopers Pennant, Looking Forward and Aquarius. Pennant and Aquarius were un-

placed in the Mornington Hack Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday, but the former struck trouble and lost a good position early in the race. Kansas won this race a year ago. Two thirds have been his best runs in seven starts since, but there was a promise of early success for this former North Island galloper in his fifth over seven furlongs on the second day of the New Zealand Cup meeting. That was in the Apprentices’ Handicap. won by Dart Away in which Pennant and lone filled the minor places. Honours of that race were with lone, one of the slowest beginners. Another slow start cost her a chance on the third day of the meeting, but if she were to reach speed quickly from the No. 1 few, if any. of the others would beat her over this distance. Bagatelle will not find it easy to win from the No. 15 position, but she begins brilliantly and should sustain her speed over six furlongs. Looking Forward has tried to win his last two races—both seven furlong races—by leading all the way. He has finished third each time, placings that place him among the favoured lot in a test over six furlongs.

Aquarius was very consistent in his two-year-old racing, though he could not improve on a string of minor placings. However, he made an early return for the Methven owner. Mr K. G. McLaughlin, at the Southland Centennial meeting, where he won stylishly against the novices. His failure on the first day at Wingatui could safely be regarded as an asolated lapse. He will be a formidable light-weight if this race is chosen for him.

Cheyenne was a good third over seven furlongs at the Hororata meeting, and may be too good for those alongside and below him in the weights. Riding engagements include:— N. T. Cowles: Lamas. A. H. East wood: Royal Avon, St. Anthony (Christmas Handicap). C..T. Wilson: Watch and Wait. Blue Borage, Cribbage, Water Boy. Falstaff, St. Anthony (Temuka Handicap). A. J. Stokes: Shoal, lone, Vivien Leigh. Mark Seven. G. W. Mein: Pink Rose. Merrymayes, Golden Demonic, County Fermanagh, King’s Song, Post. Demolish. B. Taggart: Rags and Patches. B. W. McDonald: Hunter’s Praise. Tamarisk. Pictavia Melody. G. G. Hampton: Shame. D. J. Thistoll: Luxurious, Meteorologist. D. N. Hadfield: Aquarius, Desert Cloud. Selections:— 11.30 a.m.—Stafford Stakes No. 1: Pink Rose, Heath, Pelota.

12.10 p.m.—Juvenile Handicap: Vivien Leigh, The Mint, Keep Clear. 1 p.m.—Christmas Handicap: Loyal Chief, Keep Time, Tess. 1.40 p.m.—Stafford Stakes No. 2: Willie Wolseley, Tonka, Rendova. 2.25 p.m.—Pukaki High-weight: Prince Filou. Super Corn, Demand. 3.10 p.m.—Fairlie Hack Handicap: lone, Kansas. Bagatelle. 3.50 p.m.—Levels Hack Handicap: Teaka. Rhythmonic, Hay Time. 4.35 p.m.—Temuka Champion Hack Handicap: St. Anthony, Beau Chat, Mark Seven. The fields, with form, for the double races are:— CHRISTMAS HANDICAP,

Of £700. One mile and a quarter. st. lb. 0004 Writer (2) * .. . 8 10 0100 Canon (9) . 8 3 20 Tess (15) 8 3 0400 W’atch and Wait (11) . 8 2 0200 Royal Warrant (1) . 8 2 00 Royal Voyage (4) . 8 1 4300 Keep Time (10) . 7 12 0100 Shoal (8) 7 12 1414 County Fermanagh (13) 7 9 2112 Loyal Chief (12) . 7 5 £►010 Lucky Sal (3) . 7 5 0000 Mundus (14) • 7 4 1120 Humber Hawk (5) . 7 3 0201 St. Anthony (6) . 7 3 Scratched: Desert Cloud. FAIRLIE HACK . HANDICAP Of £275. Six furlongs. st. lb. 3200 Pennant (3) 9 0 0000 Appreciate (18) . 8 11 000 Kansas (2) . 8 8 3400 Gay King (10) . 8 5 0303 Bagatelle (15) . 8 4 1230 Ione (1) . 8 0 0010 Barbara’s Treasure (13) . 7 13 3C00 Water Boy (4) . 7 12 0033 Looking Forward (12) . 7 11 0040 Red Elf (7) . 7 9 0040 Stunner (14) . 7 9 1003 Cheyenne (9) . 7 8 1440 Keel (17) . 7 8 Patriona (16) . 7 8 010 Post (8) . 7 8 La Fontaine (6) • • . 7 7 Red Peak (11) •• . 7 7 Scratched: Aquarius.