St. Malo, Royal Duke Shape Well At Trentham

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30178, 9 July 1963, Page 4

St. Malo, Royal Duke Shape Well At Trentham

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, July 8. The Riccarton stablemates, St. Malo and Royal Duke, ran one of the fastest halfmiles of the training on a soft grass track at Trentham this morning.

St Malo will make a first appearance at the meeting in the Juvenile Handicap on Wednesday. He has impressed northerners with his looks and scope and his chances are regarded highly ir a field o.‘ average strength St Malo is not a keen brack worker, and his race rider. N. Eastwood, had to shake him up this morning to stay on terms with Royal Duke (B F Andrews) They ran home in 54 2-ssec, the last three furlongs in 38 4-ssec. Royal Duke acted well in

tre soft ground. He did not run well on Saturday, but was showing signs of soreness alter toe race. He may be herder to beat in the Petone Handicap on the second day of toe meeting. Fastest Half-mile Bairam, one of St. Malo’s rivals in the Juvenile Handicap. ran the fastest half-mile of the morning. He recorded 51 4-ssec but worked before the track cut out and had better footing than the Riccarton youngster Another newcomer to Impress in a training run was the hack hurdler Hilight. He gave every appearance of enjoying two rounds of pace work, quickening slightly to run his final half-mile in 56 2-ssec. J. A. Gibbs rode him. Action Packed, a Parliamentary Handicap candidate ran seven furlongs in linin 33 3-5 seC. He was joined at the halfmile by Miss Halo (K. Cullen). They recorded 54 l-ssec for the last half-mile and 40 3-ssec for the final three furlongs. Action Packed was ridden by P. J. Kempton, who may also be the race rider. Foxy Boy's Trial The Riccarton-owned and trained Foxy Boy (Fisher) was paired w’ith the Parliamentary Handicap candidate Heidi (Medcalfe) tor six furlongs. They recorded Imin 23 4-ssec, the last four tn 55 4-ssec. and the final three in 40 4-ssec.

Foxy Boy acted well in the conditions and may be hard to

beat in tile Seatoun Handicap on Wednesday. Kumai (B. J. Anderton) and the Takaninl-trained Obrana (Andrews) worked easily from the six furlongs to the three, then quickened to sprint home in 41sec They were going well on terms at the end.

Kumai looks a picture. He had a more strenuous gallop on Saturday, and is very fit for his attempt to win his second Parliamentary Handicap. Te Mapara (Kempton) ran half a mile In 56sec. and appeared to be tiring in the ground near the end. This twoS ear-old from Takaninl has een nominated for the Caulfield Cup this year. He will have the second start of his career in the Juvenile Handicap on Wednesday. Royal Ransom (C. Walker) Jumped eight hurdles at a hunting pace. This Gisbornetrained Faux Tirage gelding is in the Corunna Hurdles on Wednesday. He has been placed in his last two races. Nupla and Daysun, two jumpers from the Waikato, arrived at Trentham this afternoon. Nupla is engaged in the Matai Steeplechase on Wednesday and Daysun has been brought here for the Winter Hurdles on Saturday. Nupla. which is a rising 12-year-old, has done nothing of any account lately, but he acts well in bad ground and will not be opposed by the top ’chasers on Wednesday. "He has lost some of his speed but would have a battler's chance," said his Te Rapa trainer, H. Long, this morning.

All going well in the meantime Daysun will be taken on to Riccarton for the Grand National Hurdles. Pace Work Most of the horses that raced on Saturday were given pace work this morning. They included Mantovani, Beauzami. My Contact. Shangri-la and the Riccarton gallopers McCool. Waverley and Apache. Waverley blew hard after his race on Saturday. He may be a light-weight improver in the Members Handicap, in which he will be ridden by W. D. Skelton. Other riding engagements include:— B. L. Hillis: Bargoed, K. S. Cullen: Think Fast or Meressa. Marcato. J. P Hayes; Supreme Gold. A. T. Jones: Alphie. D. J. Strawbridge: Henry. C. McGovern: Nupla