RACING Picket Has Form For First Leg At Westport

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30259, 11 October 1963, Page 4

RACING Picket Has Form For First Leg At Westport

- Picket could be Riccarton’s lone runner in the G. E. Craig Handicap at Westport tomorrow. If he runs to his best form he will be hard to beat in the first leg of the Westport Jockey Club’s double.

Picket has not won for his joint owners, Messrs D. F. Dailey and G. R. G. Woodham, this season, but he has had two sound placed runs.

The last time he raced Picket chased the speedy Cranibrook home over seven furlongs at Ashburton. Two starts before that he ran out a mile very well for second to Shakes in the August Handicap ait the Grand National meeting. He will race the same distance again on a less testing course this time. Picket heads those in the under 8-0 section of the handicap. He has 7-12, 161 b less than the top-weight, JuMioch, and 91b less than Ups and Downs and Vateris. With add of his weight Julloch is still bound to have solid backing. The last time he ran he was second to the consistent Meandering in the Geraldine Cup, and that was his second race in a fresh campaign. Second At Reefton Ups and Downs also found Meandering too good in the County Handicap at Reefton last week. But she should be improved by that race—her first tor two months. The last time Ups and Downs ran as a miter she was fifth in the Whyte Memorial at Trentham in July. A comparable run would be more than adequate to give her victory at Westport. VaJaris is another form runner. He was placed against the stayers on both days at Wingatui, but a mile may be a liittte short of his best distance. French Tray, which will be

bracketed with Julloch, and Queen of Sheba were third and fourth behind Meandering and Ups and Downs ait Reefton. But both were well beaten, and wouM still need to improve. The other Light-weights have little worth-while form. Master Conclusion, Gay Fiancee, and Imperial Storm were well beaten at Reefton, and

Elrtck failed to maiteh the sprinters ait Wingatui the last time he raced. Begarne, which like Picket is Riccarton-trained, has an alternative engagement against the back milers in the Colvin Handicap. The best of the ligbtweLgtutis without recent form could be Wyebank. At his peak this Btonheim-itraiined gediding would run a mite very well. It wifll just be a question of whether R. B. Taylor has him forward enough to test the distance ait has first start since May. The Second Leg Scribbler, Royal Pic, and Foxy Boy are form runners which Riccarton. trainers will saddle for the Colvin Hack Handicap, second teg of the double. Scribbler and Royal Pic both managed a mite very well the test time they raced. Scribbler beat ail butt Shalom in a high-weight at Ashbur-

ton, and Royal Pic won zrt Reefton last week. Foxy Boy was fourth against the hack milers at Ashburton tihe start before last. He might even have improved on that placing with a dearer run in tihe lest fuirtong. Because of good track wonk Begame was a strong fancy when he made a fresh start in the BelfleM Intermediate Handicap ait Orairi last month. He was unplaced, but ran into bother more than once in that race. Of the others King Panaiir may do best. This Nelsontrained gelding had has first race for almost two months ait Reefton Last Saturday, and ran Royal Pic to a head. Double fields, with form, are:— C. E. CRAIG HANDICAP,

£350; Im. 02 Julloch (12) st. lb 9 0 552 Ups and Down (6) 8 7 034 VaLaris (8) 8 7 6262 Picket (10) 53 French Tray (1) 7 12 7 10 4 Queen of Sheba (3) 7 9 Wyebank (5) 6 Master Conclusion 7 8 (2) 7 7 0 Begame (9) 40 Elrick (11) 7 4 7 4 6 Gay Fiancee (4) .. 7 4 7 Imperial Storm (7) 7 4 Bracket: Julloch and French Tray. COLVIN HACK HANDICAP. £200; Im. st. lb 0 Begame (6) 0049 Golden Days (2) .. 9 0 8 10 0602 King Panair (10) .. 8652 Scribbler (8) 8 9 8 9 4441 Royal Pic (11) 8 2 4 Stylish (3) 8 0 Awakeri (9) .. 7 12 3 Garwan (13) 7 12 045 Foxy Boy (14) Prince Command 7 9 (IS) 7 9 0604 Loch View (4) 7 7 Ralah (7) 7 7 Rural Life (1) 7 7 Tax Evader (5) 7 7 Bracket; King Panair Tax Evader. and