Racing RICCARTON WORK

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28952, 21 July 1959, Page 5

Racing RICCARTON WORK

Diinray Shows Pace Dunray, the early favourite for the Grand National Steeplechase next week, did pace work on the sand at Riccarton yesterday. He will have his first race test over Riccarton country in the Homeby Steeplechase at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting on Friday. “He will need a race before the National,” said his rider. J. R. Potter, yesterday Potter brought Dunray south Since the Wellington meeting Dunray has been on a farm in i the Wellington district. He is unmarked by his campaign at I Trentham where he won the Wei-; lington and Eric Riddifordi Steeplechases. Orelino and Consign, which will be two of Dunray’s rivals in the Grand National Steeples, arrived from the north at the week-end and were exercised at Riccarton this morning. They belong to the strong Preston team from Levin. They were accompanied south by the hurdler, Clinker, and the rising three-year-old. Huka Falls. It is an educational trip for Huka Falls. She will not race at Riccarton.

Today the Preston team will be reinforced with the arrival of Water Mill and West Derby, both winners at the Manawatu Hunt meeting on Saturday. West Derby was having, only his third run under colours when he won the Kennels Hack Steeplechase at «A wap uni. i West Derby was sent to Sydney to be trained by Frank Dalton, but showed no ability at all. He was sent bgck to New Zealand and gelded, and it was decided to try him again mainly because his younger half-sister. Huka Falls, was showing so much promise Another arrival from the north at the week-end was the steeplechaser, Bella Levare. This King’s Counsel mare had a rough trip south on Friday and bruised her chest, but it is hoped she will be fit to run in the Homeby Steeplechase. Bella Levare was a successful campaigner at the Auckland Racing Club’s Autumn meeting this year. In her second of two starts at Ellerslie she easily won the Autumn Steeplechase over two miles and a half. That followed a second to Lal purnia in the Mangere Hack Steeplechase.