Fair Catch Fit For Race At Ashburton

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 4

Fair Catch Fit For Race At Ashburton

Fair Catch and Baron Bold, rival candidates for the Maronan Handicap at Ashburton, appeared to be evenly matched in one of the best gallops at Riccarton yesterday. They sprinted six furlongs on the No. 7 grass, and appeared to handle the heavy ground well.

Fair Catch was ridden by W. Beck, and Baron Bold was ridden by M. Skelton. They recorded Imin 23 3-ssec for the six furlongs and 42 l-ssec for the last three.

Cheroot showed ability for a hack in running one of the fastest six-furlong trials of the morning. Ridden by A. H. Eastwood, he recorded lmin 21 4-ssec and finished a length ahead of Omaha (R. McDonald) Omaha also shaped well. She was in a gap behind Cheroot at the start of the gallop. Cheroot will make a fresh start in the Moreton Hack Handicap at Ashburton, and may be taken to Trentham next month. He has not raced since December. Keep Time (G. W. Mein) also ran six furlongs in lmin 21 4-ssec. He accelerated quickly and did the first three furlongs in 39 l-ssec—good galloping on the rain-affected track. Form Runner

Keep Time is a form runner for the Maronan Handicap at Ashburton.

Zayton fP. Graham) led Hand Over (R. B. Taggart) and Coral Ring (C. T. Wilson) to the end of six furlongs in lmin 27 3-ssec. Zayton could be the best of the light-weights in the Mayfield Hack Handicap, the second leg of the Ashburton double.

The stablemates Voysa (W. Hanlin) and Balrannach (M. Wildermoth) ran six furlongs in Imin 27 2-ssec, slackening speed after recording 42 l-ssec for the first three. Royal Duke (M. Wildermoth' was going well a length clear of Timna (W. Beck) and Master Main (G. W. Mein) finishing three furlongs in 43sec. Royal Duke acted well in the conditions. He is by Royal Commission, which sired some good mudlarks. High Score sprinted from the three furlongs in 43 4-ssec. He will have his first race at Ashburton. where he is in the Lyndhurst Two-Year-Old Handicap. Ashleigh <L. McGuire) was clear of his stablemate Jack

Ashore (W Hanlin) after running six furlongs in lmin 26 3-ssec, the last three in 45 2-ssec. Ashleigh was left clear when Jack Ashore’s saddle slipped about two furlongs from the finish.

Jack Ashore, ridden by C. T. Wilson, later sprinted three furlongs alone, but was not timed. The Oamaru winner Carrageen was ridden by his trainer, P. H. Jones, in a six-furlong sprint. He took lmin 25 l-ssec, slackening speed after running the first three furlongs briskly in 40 4-ssec.

Cheyenne (W. Hanlin) sprinted six furlongs evenly- in lmin 26 4-ssec. He will begin a fresh campaign in the Maronan Handicap at Ashburton. Any drying in the track will brighten his chance.

Offend (L. McGuire), although easing up in the last few strides, led Navarone (P. Graham) by a neck finishing seven furlongs in lmin 38 3-ssec, the last three in 42 l-ssec.

Offend appeared to handle the conditions well. She may be one of the best of the light-weights in the Maronan Handicap at Ashburton.

Gay Tommy (C. T. Wilson) was much too good for his stablemate Last Link (N. Cowles) over six furlongs. Gay Tommy soon went clear and won the trial by three lengths. He ran the distance in lmin 26sec and the last three furlongs in 43 3-ssec. Kelp (B. W. McDonald) was well clear of Corowa (G. Baldwin) and Instanter (W. Hanlin) was in another long gap finishing six furlongs in lmin 24 l-ssec. the last three in 42 2-ssec.

Kelp is all the better for his latest racing, and should not be one of the lesser lights in the Maronan Handicap at Ashburton. Kalan (G. Baldwin) led Shoal (C. McDonald) by a length finishing six furlongs in Imin 27 3-ssec. They kept an even pace from the start. Paua (M. Skejton) and Andaman (W. Beck) sprinted from the half mile and recorded 41 2-ssec for the last three furlongs. They worked well. Nehru (K. Reggett) worked away from the six furlongs, and quickened for the last three in Grand Choice (N. Cowles) jumped safely in a run over six hurdles, improving as he worked up to a stronger pace about half way through the trial.