RACING Quick Time Resumes After Winter Spell

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29901, 15 August 1962, Page 4

RACING Quick Time Resumes After Winter Spell

The veteran Riccarton stayer, Quick Time, is back in work again. Mr B. F. Mears’s 11-year-old Defaulter gelding rejoined J. L. Barr’s team last week.

Quick Time thrived during a winter spell on his owner’s farm at Springburn. If all goes well with him between now and November, he will be prepared for the New Zealand Cup and other major races during the summer.

In spite of his years. Quick Tune has compiled a sound record in “Cup” races, but so far victory has eluded him in two attempts for New Zealand Cup honours. Quick Time was nine before he cleared hack class and the 1960 New Zealand Cup was his first race in open company. He showed his potential as a two-miler by finishing fourth to Oreka. Port Wine and Quite Able. It was then decided to try to qualify him for the Wellington Cup the foL owing January. He followed up his New Zealand Cup placing with a second to Gay Defoe in the Metropolitan Handicap then finished third to Quite Able and Great Sensation in the Dunedin Cup. Two successive wins were to follow—in the Timaru and Waikouaiti Cups—but the first of those victories came just too late to enable him to be entered for the Wellington Cup. Three Days Late One of the conditions of the 1961 Wellington Cup was that at time of entry a horse must have won a flat race, other than a hack race, to the value of £5OO or more to the winner. Quick Time’s prize for first in the Timaru Cup was £550. but it came three days after nominations for the Trentham two-mile event closed. That condition could have cost Quick Time the chance of earning at least part of the £lO,OOO stake. Quite Able and Great Sensation, which had been separated by a head and which beat Quick Time by half a length in the Dunedin Cup, battled out the finish of a record run

Wellington Cup and the decision went to Great Sensation by a head. The third placegetter, Ilumquh, was six lengths back. Quick Time’s form tapered off as the ground eased towards autumn and he was put aside until the spring of last season. It took him three starts to regain winning form at Orari in October. Then followed four successive placings, including a third to Quite Able and Nerula in the New Zealand Cup. Quick Time was given a short let-up after the New Zealand Cup meeting. His next two races were the Dunedin Jockey Club Handicap, which he won handsomely, and the Dunedin Cup, in which he was beaten by a long neck by Great Sensation, at Wingatui in December. Four days after his Dunedin Cup placing he won his second Timaru Cup from his stablemate, Kastanea.

Quick lime’i good form fell away early in the New Year. He contested the Wellington Cup and was seventh to finish. 1110 best he could manage in seven subsequent starts was a third to Gay Filou : id Gay Tommy in the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton in April.

Quick Time was the biggest stake-earner among the horses J. L. Barr saddled to win 27 races last season. His total of £2775 was £235 more than his stablemate. Roman Maid, whose four wins included the Great Easter Handicap. Engaged At Carterton The Te Rapa owner-trainer, J. C. Coffey, left tor the north last evening with Lord Pilate

and Straight Irish. Before returning home both horses will race at the Carterton meeting at Tauherenikau on Saturday. A decision on their individual programmes—both are dual acceptors—will be made later in the week. Both are in the field for the New Zealand Hack Stayers’ Plate. Lord Pilate’s alternative engagement is the Carrington High-weight while Straight Irish has also been accepted for in the Carterton Racing Club Handicap. The Riccarton horseman, W. H. Beck, will have the mount on Straight Irish. Beck will also ride Skibo, one of three unraced maidens from R. E. Cropp’s Opaki stable engaged in the Belvedere Plate.

W. D. Skelton’s Rides

The Oamaru horseman, W. D. Skelton, will be riding at Tauherenikau on Saturday and the Riccarton sprinter Derailment will be one of his mounts.

Derailment, which was purchased from Mr H. D. Greenwood by Mr M. M. Hibbard, of Christchurch, during the Grand National meeting, will have his first race for his new owner in the Taratahi Handicap, second leg of the Carterton double. Derailment will be taken north by his Riccarton trainer, K. J. Thomson, tomorrow evening. Skelton flew north last Sunday and this week is helping In the Levin stable of his father-in-law, F. C. Pratt, who is suffering from influenza.

Voltaire, a last start winner at the Wellington winter meeting, will be the lone representative from the Pratt stable at Tauherenikau. He will be ridden by Skelton in the Bunny Memorial Hack Handicap. Career as Jumper Wellington is making satisfactory progress in his preparation for a jumping career. Mr V. A. Voyce’s Pride of Kildare gelding made a sound showing over four pony hurdle* and two standard hurdles at Riccarton yesterday. The pony hurdles presented Wellington with no problems, but he was more cautious when tried over the bigger fences. He jumped them both slowly and high, but made no serious mistakes. He was ridden by the stable apprentice, T. W. Wilson. All going well, Wellington may make his debut as a hurdler at Rangiora in October.

J. L, Barr has temporarily lost the services of Thumper. A tendon has been bothering the Count Rendered gelding for some time and he has been turned out to spell. Thumper’s place in the stable has been taken by Lovely Clover. Mr G. A. Hutton’s three - year - old Jimmy Flash filly furnished considerably during her winter spell.

Additional Acceptor

(N.Z Press Association) DUNEDIN, Aug. 14. Lord Garnish (9), 9-0, was omitted from the list of acceptors for the Seaview Hack and Hunters’ Hurdles, at the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting on Saturday. 2-Year-Old Parade At Wingatui "The Press” Special Service DUNEDIN, Aug. 14. A two-year-old parade will be held at the Otago Hunt meeting at Wingatui on Saturday. If there are sufficient entries it will be divided into two sections—one for fillies and the other for colts and geldings. Starting stalls will not be used. The distance will be two furlongs.