RACING Surrend Has Good Chance At Ashburton

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28890, 9 May 1959, Page 6

RACING Surrend Has Good Chance At Ashburton

Surrend, which races in the interests of her Riccarton trainer, D. M. Kerr, is expected to gain her first win in the Lauriston Two-year-old Handicap at the Ashburton County Racing Club’s autumn meeting today. Surrend, a daughter of Royal Commission and the good race mare Surprise Ending, should handle the soft track competently, although this will be her first test under such conditions. The stock of her sire are noted for their ability in going affected by rain and Surrend is unlikely to prove an exception. To date Surrend has weighed-in in five of the seven races she has contested. Most of her best efforts have been marked by a powerful finishing run, a quality which she should be able to use to advantage with the long run in at Ashburton.

Although not as well seasoned. Last Link has already proved his capabilities on a heavy track. He won the Golden Bay Handicap at Nelson three weeks ago with a brilliant late run from the rear. Two days later, at the same meeting, he made another sound showing for third on a track which was drying out quickly. His win came as his second start of a race career which began at Blenheim last month.

The top-weight Gladwyn and Prince Morocco are the only others in the field which have shown winning form. Gladwyn’s win was gained on a fast track at Motukarara in March, but he has shown in his training at Riccarton this week that the heavy going had not affected his galloping ability. Prince Morocco was a last start winner on an easy track in the Nursery Handicap at Blenheim on April 13. Five days earlier he had been a fast-finishing second to Stiletto on a heavy track in the Juvenile Handicap at the same meeting.

The best of the others may be Gabelle and Anaconda, the runner-up and fourth respectively in the Novice Stakes at Amberley last Saturday. My Fair Lady was scratched yesterday for the Lauriston Two-year-old Handicap. First Leg

The scratchings of Romancing, Bagman and Ration Time have allowed Hannibal, Lord Fane and Royal Warrant to re-enter the field for the Ashburton County Handicap, the main race and first leg of the double. Pink Rose, a powerful finisher for third in the Amberley Cup last week, will probably be a pronounced favourite for this race.

Hunted, Tombola and Panda will be a favoured trio in the second leg of the double, the Coldstream Hack Handicap, from which Awatere, Black Ray and Gambol have been scratched. Bosky and Border Reiver, which

is to contest the Alford Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase, have been scratched for the Winchmore Hack Hurdles. Favouritism for the hurdles may be disputed by Montrose and Van da Hum, the winner and runner-up in the Perswick Hack Hurdles at Riccarton at their last encounter. Other scratchings yesterday were The Gael from the Alford Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase and Amenity in the Apprentices’ Hack Handicap. There have been scratchings from the Trial Stakes in which Jimmy Hill. Super Robin and Breaker are on the waiting list.

The weather in Ashburton cleared yesterday after heavy rain earlier in the week. The track is certain to be soft.