WINGATUI WORK

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28551, 2 April 1958, Page 5

WINGATUI WORK

Ark Royal In Form “The Press" Special Service DUNEDIN. April 1. Ark Royal, the top-weight in the £2OOO Great Autumn Handicap, the feature event at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting at Riccarton on Monday, showed a return to his brilliant best at Wingatui this morning. Ridden by his trainer, A. 1. Powell, Ark Royal covered seven furlongs on the outside of the course proper in Imin 32 4-ssec, the opening halfmile in 52 3-ssec. The first and the last three furlongs took 40sec, and at no stage of the gallop was he asked of his best. During his Australian campaign and his subsequent races in New Zealand Ark Royal was disappointing. Some time ago, he was found to have a back injury, but he has responded to the treatment and care of his trainer. On the postponed second day ol the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Cup meeting on March 8, Ark Royal won the James Hazlett Gold Cup in race record time. His attractive performance today confirmed the opinion that he has trained on well, and he will be one of the early favourites tor the Great Autumn, which he won at the end of his brilliant three-year-old career. The trestles were about 50 feet out and the conditions were ideal. Over the same ground. Promise (L. W. Hare) and Arabian Chief (R. J. Skelton) were together in , imin 38 2-ssec, the last three furlongs in 43sec. Arabian Chief enhanced his prospects for the Opawa High-weight at Riccarton when he easily beat the hacks in the distance event on the second day of the Oamaru meeting. Promise is in grand order for the Dominion Handicap on the second day at Riccarton. Blue Count (R. J. Skelton), Vivite (L. W. Hare), and Smart (B. Blair) were together in Imin 37sec. They ran the first half-mile in the smart time of 52 2-ssec, but they were easing up over the concluding stages. Blue Count will be ridden by B. P. Kennedy in the Riverton Cup. but no rider has yet been engaged for Smart in the same event. Count Aven (E. O’Brien) drew attention to his prospects in the Pourakino Handicap when he finished in front of his stable-mate Central King (G. E. Lowry) at the end of six furlongs in Imin 23 2-5 sec. They ran the opening three furlongs in the smart time of 38 3-ssc*c. Central King is a form candidate for the Riccarton Courtenay Handicap. in which he will be ridden by W. D. Skelton. King Cossock (G. E. Lowry) and Sir Gerald (E. O’Brien) ran the first two furlongs in 25sec and were on terms at the end of five furlongs in Imin 7 2-ssec. Salonica (R. J. Skelton) and Renway (E. O’Brien) set the main lor the sprinters when they dashed over three furlongs in 38 2-ssec. Both horses are well forward lor their Easter engagements. Salonica will be ridden by the promising stable apprentice, E. O'Brien, in the Great Easter Handicap. O’Brien will also have the mount on Renway in the Aparima Handicap at Riverton. Relation (R. J. Skelton) and Dollar Girl (J. M. Surgenor) completed their task by dashing home over the last three furlongs in 40sec. Relation is likely to be at short odds in the Riverton Trial Handicap after her showing at Oamaru. Palace (D. Dawson) was not extended over the same distance in 41 2-ssec. No rider has yet been engaged for Palact? in the Great Blaster Handicap.