Surging Tested In Six-Hurdle School

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30453, 29 May 1964, Page 5

Surging Tested In Six-Hurdle School

"The Press’’ Special Service

MATAMATA, May 28. Surging, favourite for the Great Northern Hurdles, and two other prominent candidates in Triple Count and Chef were the centre of attraction at Matamata this morning. It would not surprise those who saw them if they all played a very prominent part in the finish of the Great Northern. Surging has never won a race at Ellerslie and his school over six hurdles righthanded this morning was the acid test as to how he would jump that way around. He passed it, but,, it must be admitted. not as brilliantly as his final school left-handed before his Waikato Hurdles triumph. Surging, ridden by W. Short, jumped the first two well, but got in a little close to the third, recovering well and jumping the fourth in his usual good style. He then came around the corner towards the back straight for the fifth which he jumped very awkwardly without striking it and landed almost flat-flooted.

He does not jump as well right-handed as left, but that still leaves him jumping far better than most. The hurdles circuit is not a big one and he would be expected to act far better on about a two furlong bigger circuit in the race at Ellerslie. He looks very bright in condition. 11 Furlong Gallop His rival, Triple Count, did not school, but galloped about 11 furlongs with J. Gibbs up, with Monoceros (Riordan), running the last six furlongs in Imin 22 2-ssec, a sound time for the conditions. He looks brighter than before any of his attempts at Ellerslie.

' Chef (Old) did strong pacework over about two miles on the plough, ending with a sprint down the back on the inside grass, the last three furlongs in 42sec, the final two impressively in 27 l-ssec, a gallop over the slowest part of the track. His condition is a credit to his trainer and he could upset Saturday, especially if he gets the slushy ground he revels in.