RACING MELODIC PICKED IN AUGUST HANDICAP

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30206, 10 August 1963, Page 4

RACING MELODIC PICKED IN AUGUST HANDICAP

Palisade Fancied In First Leg Melodic came up against a galloper of exceptional quality in Lei in the Winter Cup last Saturday, and had to settle for second. He will have nothing as good as Lei to oppose him when he contests the August Handicap, the second leg of the Canterbury’ Jockey Club’s double today, and looks one of the brighter winning prospects on the programme.

Melodic is top weight with 9-6, and will be giving away from 81b to 201 b. The stiffest part of his contract may be to give the hardy Riccarton four-year-old, Shakes, 181 b and a beating.

♦hakes started his open racing promisingly with • strongly-finishing second to John Jameson over seven furlongs on Tuesday. He has come through his racing well, and his versatility keeps him in favour whatever the track conditions . Saint Nicholas will be the North Island's lone runner in a Wmali field. On his Winter Clip fifth he seems likely to nA well, but his chances of biting Melodic do not look bgght. A change to loose, slushy cAditions would help both S«nt Nicholas and Picket. fconna Maria, a stablemate oapicket, also has useful form asS a miler on winter tracks arjh should be all the better foe her race in the Heathcoje Handicap on the second of the meeting. * Wide Open South Island horses will hK'e no northern competition inZthe Islington Handicap, the fi*t leg of the double. B it the race still looks the mist open on the programme. Palisade, a winner against tl< sprinters on the first day off the meeting, may be the favourite, but he will have a bajtle to justify it against Slimgri-La. Personify. McCapl, Windvale Lad. all strong gallopers on winter tracks Bhangri-La is one of the srtjallest in the field, and one oft the veterans. She is also top weight with 9-1, but will solid backing after a

close and unlucky second to Manana in the Heathcote Handicap, her only previous start at the meeting. Mhor and Ups and Downs are light - weights with chances. They showed they are in or close to their best form in the Heathcote Handicap, in which Mhor was third and Ups and Downs was fifth.

Mhor might not run if there is any deterioration in the track today, but his connexions were hopeful of a start for him yesterday, when the weather was sunny after a frost.

Light-weight Prospect

Ups and Downs ran usefully at a mile and 11 furlongs in her Trentham engagements. and she could take beating with 7-9. No Offence and Dusky Prince were the dominating figures in the finish of the Lincoln Steeplechase a year ago.

No Offence won with 10-2 and has made a great name for himself since with wins in the Grand National and the McGregor Grant Steeples. Today he has 11-11 and has 201 b more than Dusky Prince, which was short of racing when he started his present Riccarton campaign, but showed some slight improvement with a third in the Beaufort after a distant eighth in the National.

The fast-jumping No Offence will be given a hero's

welcome if he wins the Lincoln, a race that has eluded many Grand National winners.

Now that the ground has become heavy. Double Fling could be the best in the bottom half of the handicap. He fell in the Grand National, but jumped safely enough in the Beaufort, only to peter out after speed duelling with Grant in the lead for a good way. Cretan, the Grand National Hurdles winner, is also engaged again today, and he looks fit and fresh enough to take beating in the Sydenham Hurdles, of two miles. He is second top weight with 9-13, and could be kept very busy conceding 21b to Mireusonta and 71b to Royal Count.