Francisco Injured, But Likely To Start

Press, Volume C, Issue 29623, 20 September 1961, Page 4

Francisco Injured, But Likely To Start

Francisco will be taken south today and wijl rjin in the Dunedjn Guineas at Wingatui on' Saturday. But after two set-backs he has missed some work and will probably be below his best for his first meeting this season with Burgos.

Francisco was only recovering from the effects of a cold at the week-end when he damaged a foreleg in a fence. He could not gallop at Riccarton yesterday.

C. T. Wilson, who has ridden three Dunedin Guineas winners, will ride Francisco on Saturday.

R. J. Skelton will ride Burgos, which jan seven furlongs keenly on the No. 1 grass at Riccarton yesterday. Burgos was ridden by the light-weight A. H. Eastwood and started a little behind Balallan (A. J. Stokes) and Wellington (B. Collins). Burgos ranged up to the others before they went far, and won the trial by threequarters of a length from Balallan. Wellington was a little over a length back at the rear. Burgos ran the seven furlongs in Imin 34 2-ssec and the last half-mile in 53 3-ssec. Times were not fast. There had been rain overnight, and the ground was rough in places on a track that has had a lot of use over the last few weeks.

One of the jockeys said that the track was very rough in the straight. '.

Waverky Fit Waverley, runner-up to Burgos in the John Grigg Stakes at Ashburton, showed good speed over six furlongs. Waverley’s next race is the Belfield Hack Handicap at Orari next Monday and there is little doubt he will be favourite.

Ridden by G. W. Mein. Waverley sprinted six furlongs in Imin 18 3-ssec yesterday. His stablemate Magic Circle (A. H. Eastwood) started from the mile, and had to burry to range alongside before the six furlongs. Magic Circle recorded Imin 44 l-ssec for his mile in a good trial for the Geraldine Cup.

Waverley won the trial by a neck, and appeared to be going easily at the end. He ran the last half mile in 52sec. Hand Over (A. H. Eastwood), a Geraldine Cup lightweight, led his stablemate Quite Able (C. T. Wilson) by half a length after running a mile a Imin 48 4-ssec, the last half in 54 l-ssec. Quite Able, one of the best of the younger handicap stayers last season, will have his second start for the sea.son in the Grandstand Handicap at Wingatui on Saturday. He may lack the racing condition to run over 11 furlongs this early in the season. The stablemates, Packwood (D. N. Hadfield) and Ghana (P. J. Kempton), sprinted seven furlongs in Imin 33 l-ssec, the last four in 53 2-ssec. Cup Trial My Fair Lady (Hadfield), another member of the Polling team, ran seven furlongs easily in Imin 38 4-5 sec. She is being prepared for the Geraldine Cup. Quick Time (Baldwin) and Picwyn (Collins) recorded Imin 37 4-ssec for seven furlongs, and 54sec for the last half-mile.

Quick Time is another Geraldne Cup candidate. Search Warrant (McGuire) kept up a strong gallop to the end of seven furlongs to beet Omaha (Mein) by two lengths and a half. Search Warrant recorded Imin 35 1-ssec for the distance and 53 4-ssec for the last halfmile.

Water Boy (A. H. Eastwood) recorded Imin 36 2-5 sec for the seven furlongs, and 52 2-ssec for the last half-mile.

McCool (C. McDonald) loafed over seven furlongs in Imin 37 2-ssec. He will be one to drop out of a capacity field for ttie Geraldine Cup next Monday; he drew one of the outside barrier positions. Lady York (Hadfield) and Scribbler (Kempton) stayed on terms to the end of six furlongs, and recorded Imin ISsec.

Scribbler, a winner at Ashburton, will take beating in the Ohapi Handicap at Orari Surrend (Beck) and Coral Ring (Taggart) ran six furlongs in Imin 20 2-ssec, the last four in 52 l-ssec. For Wingatui Coral Ring has engagements at Wingatui and Orari at the week-end. He showed finishing speed for eighth against the sprinters at Ashburton. where he made a fresh start for the season. One of the best of the shorter sprints was 51 l-ssec for the last four of five furlongs recorded by the stablemates, Tidal Wave (Mein) and Riboflavin (Palmer). Riboflavin, a fair fourth at Ashburton, is engaged in the

Ohapi Handicap at the Geraldine meeting.

Tidal Wave lost his chance in his race at Ashburton in unusual circumstances. Mein, who was riding him, was blinded by mud, and had to halt him in the straight. The fastest half-mile was 51sec, recorded by Royal Bag (M. J. Skelton). Royal Bag won this gallop by a length from the two-year-old. First Watch (A. H. Eastwood), and Explain (C. T. Wilson) was two lengths back at the rear. Explain trailed the others from the start. First Watch is being taken to Wingatui for the Juvenile Handicap on Saturday. He is a promising colt by Red Marlin from the good winner, Watch and Wait. C. G. Humphries trains First Watch for Mr L. R. C. Miacfarlane. Other gallops:— Half Mile.—Bagful (Mein) and Arouse (Williams), 52 l-ssec; Rustle and Zetland Leigh, 54 3-ssec; Matauwhi (Leach), length and a half to Whiohau (Mein), 55 3-5 sec; Bridie O'Cally (Henneberry), 52 4-ssec; Sailorman, (Laughton) and Payout (R. McDonald), 54 4-ssec; Noliebelle (Kempton). 54 4-ssec; Cheyenne (C. T. Wilson), three-quarters of a length to Gaytana (M. Skelton), 53 1-5 sec; Picright (Wildermoth) and Candida (M. Skelton), a length and a half to Vitamise (Mein), 51 4-ssec; Paua (N. Eastwood) and Glancing (Kempton), 53 l-ssec: Roman Maid (Baldwin), 53sec.