RACING Bridie O’Cally Bought By Christchurch Owner

Press, Volume C, Issue 29672, 16 November 1961, Page 4

RACING Bridie O’Cally Bought By Christchurch Owner

Bridie O’Cally had her last race in the colours of her Hororata breeder, Mr F. J. Thwaites, in the New Zealand Oaks at Riccarton last Saturday. She will do her future racing for Mr D. W. Wild, of Christchurch, to whom she was sold early this week.

Bridte O Oily’ a three-rear-old daughter at Callander and Steel, has been prepared for all of her racing by P. H. Jones at Riccarton. Although her ownerahip has changed she will remain In the same stable. Jones also trains the two-year-old SabBean colt. Apache, tor Mr Wild. Bridie OCailys second reason has not been as profitable as her first. Since August she has contested eight races and the best she has managed was one second worth £6O. That was in the ID telongs Swannanoa Hack Handicap at Rangiora last month. It marked her first test beyond a sprint distance so there is hope that eventually ehe may develop good staying form.

As a two-year-old Bridie O’Cally showed high promise. In fact the only Riccarton youngster to better her record last season was Burgos. and be was the South Island's top two-year-old. In her first season Bridie O’Cally won three of her 12 races and gained minor places in five of the others. Her stake earnings amounted to £960. Bridie O’Cally’* wins were tn the Rakaia Handicap, at lAttuburton. the Middle Park Plate, at Riccarton, and the Bradley Handicap at Motukarara But each time she clashed with Burgos—and that was only twice—she had to be content with a minor prize. Both were having their second Mart when they first met in the Loburn Handicap st' the North Canterbury

meeting held at Riccarton on Labour Day last year. Burgos beat Bridie O’Cally convincingly by three lengths. - They were not rivalsagain until the Champagne Stakes on the same course at Easter. In that race Burgos beat Lady York for first and Bridie O’Cally was third. Probably one of Bridie O’Cally’s most notable placings last season was in the Pioneer Handicap at the New Zealand Cup meeting. In that race she led the cbaae all the way after the brilliant Commanding which a week earlier had out-run Aratiatia and Burgos in the Welcome Stakes.

Bridie O’Cally will be given a short let-up now before being prepared for another campaign. Ride At Woodville The Riccarton apprentice. M. J. Skelton, will ride at the Woodville Jockey Club's meeting next Saturday week. During the New Zealand Cup meeting arrangements were made between the Riccarton trainer, J. A. Cox, to whom Skelton is apprenticed.

and F. C. Pratt, of Levin, to have Skelton go north to ride Pine Ridge in the Apprentices' Heck Handicap on the first day at Woodville. There is a possibility that Skelton will also have the mounts on Gold Find, the Spring Kate winner at Riccarton. and Lady Mayo. Team Thins Out Count Pedro and French Leave, which both started their race careers at the New Zealand Cup meeting, are to be turned out in North Canterbury until after Christmas. Both are two-year-olds in C. G. Humphries’ team. First Watch, another Humpihriesasrained two-year-old. has been sent to Washdyke to further his education. This gelded K» of Red Marlin and Watch and Wait has developed a fear of the starting stall*. Mr J. M. Shaw, who is clerk of the course to several Canterbury dubs, will try the youngster in harness in the hope that the feel of shafts will help him overcome the fear of the stalls rubbing against his flanks.