Apathy Fit For Big Race At Riccarton

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30406, 3 April 1964, Page 4

Apathy Fit For Big Race At Riccarton

Apathy and Count Pedro showed fitness and ability to run a mile in fast time in training at Riccarton yesterday. Apathy, a newcomer at the C.J.C. meeting has been brought from Southland for the Great Autumn Handicap, first leg of tomorrow’s double.

Count Pedro is top weight and the likely favourite for the Autumn Plate, which will be his last race as a hack. Apathy was ridden by her Riverton trainer, W. J. Hillis, so had a good weight up, but she stayed alongside Count Pedro (E. G. Low) to the end of their mile on the trial grass. This track gave firm, fast footing, but by any reckoning their Imin 42 l-ssec for the distance and 50 2-ssec for the last half-mile were creditable times.

Earlier, Apathy’s stablemate Eiffel Tower (Hillis) and Great Howe (M. J. Skelton) were also teamed over a mile. They did well for hacks to run the distance in Imin 45 3-ssec, and the last half-mile in 51 3-ssec. Eiffel Tower has a strong record, and may make a good first impression for the meeting in the Autumn Plate. C. T. Wilson will ride him.

Tundra (Sinclair) dashed home from the half-mile in 50 2-ssec, and did the job well. She was an unlucky second in the Warstep Stakes on Monday, and will have a big following in her race tomorrow.

Polly’s Pal (Hadfield) was keen to quicken while running half a mile in 51 l-ssec. She damaged a leg early last week, and missed a run in the Champagne Stakes on Monday, but she is fit to run against the two-year-olds tomorrow. Natavia (M. J. Skelton) was to have accompanied Polly’s Pal, but finished up running three furlongs on another track in 38 l-ssec. Satinette (J. R. Dowling) sped over three furlongs in 36sec. Pomare’s Trial Pomare (Bowry) jvas going well alongside Valuate (Swanson) and two lengths clear of Navarro (Messent) finishing seven furlongs on the plough in Imin 31 2-ssec, the last half-mile in 50 l-ssec, and the final three furlongs in 36 3-ssec. Navarro worked lazily. Pomare appears to have thrived on the trip and will be a solidly-backed lightweight in the Great Autumn Handicap after his third behind On Purpose and Bandon last Monday. Certainly (Wlldermoth) sped over six furlongs in Imin 15 1-5 sec, the last four In 49 4-ssec. She is well forward to start another campaign within the next few weeks. First Mink (Turnbull) led his stablemate Lucky Son (R. J. Skelton) by a length after running five furlongs in Imin 2sec, the last four in 49sec. Length in Front Earlier Vitamise (Mein) ran this distance in Imin 2 3-ssec and beat his stablemate Trove (Reriti) by a length. Vitamise also ran his last half-mile in 49sec.

The two-year-old Chantenay (Brunning) sprinted half a mile in 50 3-ssec. She has shown no form in three starts so far, but this gallop was promising. Last Dip (Moir) followed in 51 3-ssec, and Highbank (Coe) took

52sec when he beat Lianaway (Collins) by a length. Jayess (N. Cowles), which appears to have strengthened in the last few weeks, took 52 3-5 sec for his half-mile, but was not hurried.

Shipmate (Stokes) sprinted three furlongs in 36 4-ssec. He will have his final race tor the season in the Richmond Handicap tomorrow, and should win it if the ground stays firm. Great Sensation (R. J. Skelton) was allowed to quicken slightly to run in from the three furlongs in 40 2-ssec. He looks all the better for his race in the George Adams Handicap on Monday.