MEDITERRANEAN FAILS

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28425, 4 November 1957, Page 4

MEDITERRANEAN FAILS

Conditions Against Him “The Press’ Special Service WELLINGTON, November 3. Mediterranean, one of the fancied light-weights in next Saturday’s New Zealand Cup, failed to make much impression in the Rangitikei Handicap at Bulls, but the conditions were against him. By the time this race was run steady rain had softened the track and made it greasy, and the turning Bulls track did not suit such a big and longstriding horse. Under normal conditions Mediterranean would have been withdrawn, but his trainer, S. Bryce, did not want to miss the last opportunity of giving the horse a strong gallop in public before the Cup is run.

Mediterranean has recovered from the injury he received on the morning of the second day at Trentham, when he finished brilliantly for second to Bridie in the Watkins Handicap. A. E. Skinner will ride Mediterranean in the New Zealand Cup at about four pounds overweight. Skinner will also ride the stablemate Gibraltar, in the New Zealand Derby.

W. J. Broughton will ride Salhia in the New Zealand Cup. This mare, which won over two miles in the Manawatu Cup last December, has shown little form in her six starts this season.

Broughton’s other mounts at Riccarton on Saturday are Somain in the Derby, Imitation in the Stewards’ Handicap, Belfast in the Riccarton Handicap and Clean Heart in the Hagley Handicap. Bugle Boy W. J. Bromby did not intend to run the Pearce Handicap winner, Bugle Boy, on the first day at Riccarton, but intended to reserve him for the two later days. However, when Bugle Boy drew No. 2 at the barrier in the Riccarton Handicap next Saturday plans were changed.

Bugle Boy will be ridden by the stable apprentice, W. D. Wylie, who won the Pearce Handicap on him. Wylie will also ride Culminate in the Spring Plate and Chattering in the Stewards’ Handicap. Chattering is a very smart hack with a fund of pace, but needs firm ground. Her chance at Bulls on Saturday deteriorated when the bad weather set in after the second race, and by the time the last event was run the track had become very soft and greasy so her third placing to Happy Warrior was fairly good in the circumstances.

Rover, which became the Derby favourite when he won the Buchanan Memorial at Motukarara last Saturday, will be ridden in the classic by the Hastings horseman, J. T. Anderson, who was on him when he ran Tawhiao to a nose in the Wellington Guineas. Anderson will also ride Medium in the Welcome Stakes and Regal Crests in the Stewards’ Handicap.