PICCA LEIGH BACK IN FORM

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30636, 30 December 1964, Page 4

PICCA LEIGH BACK IN FORM

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, Dec. 29. Picca Leigh broke a long run of outs when she won the President’s Han dicap against the open sprinters on the first day of the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting at Washdyke yesterday. Raced in partnership by Mrs G. H. Murfitt, jun., and Miss E. Oliff-Beddis, Picca Leigh found success elusive in all her four-year-old racing last season, and she was unplaced in seven starts earlier this season.

Today she showed speed to overcome a slow start and pluck to battle her way to a short lead after a sustained battle with Deladana. There was only half a neck between

them, a neck to the favourite Newbrook, and half a neck to Gabbler in the best finish of the day. Deladana and Waverley cut at each other in front, going at a great rate around to the home turn. Waverley was beaten in a few strides on straightening up. but Deladana was almost immediately challenged by Picca Leigh. Newbrook found a rails run and made a likely looking challenge going to the furlong. but he did not go through with it strongly enough to gain mastery. Still, it was a meritorious run as he had drifted back towards the rear after starting from the inside. By A Length Gabbler, which was alongside Newbrook, but had to be brought fairly wide, beat General Gilbert by a length for fourth. Fairlane led the others in, just ahead of Royal Leigh, which was slow away

and tailed the field to the turn.

Pawnee gave Riccarton a successful start for the day in the Albury Stakes. Mr D. W. Wild’s three-year-old Dogger Bank filly challenged strongly from behind the leaders and drew out to win decisively by a length and a half from Tolcarne, which beat Wynsome, another long shot, by a length. LASTED FOR VICTORY The two best-backed runners dominated the finish of the Rosewill Stakes. Golden Boy, the second favourite, lasted for victory by half a head over the first choice, Race Goer, which finished doggedly from towards the middle of the field. Golden Boy's win was another win for Riccarton. The Golden Galleon gelding is owned and trained by Miss J. Edgar-Jones, and was ridden by F. H. Skelton. Fairayne led the others in, two lengths behind the winner and runner-up. SOUND BEATING

Messmaid brought off the major surprise of the day when she gave the others a sound

beating in the Fairview Improvers’ Handicap. Mr G. D. Cameron’s four-year-old Messmate mare, a member of M. J. Wadley’s Riccarton team, joined Llansfair in front on the home turn and dashed out to win by two lengths and a half from They Told Me, which beat the top-weight. Status Symbol, by a length. Messmaid paid £67 17s 6d to win. Her victory signalled the return of M. J. Skelton to race riding in the South Island. He moved from Riccarton to settle in the North Island earlier this year, but has now decided to settle at Wingatui, where he will do the riding for J. B. Brown's stable.

Misjudge, well ridden by C. T. Wilson, took an inside gap quickly In the straight and mastered Coral Prince close to home to win the Smithfield Improvers’ Handicap going away by half a length. Misjudge, the fifth favourite, is owned by Mr J. B. Douglas-Clifford, and trained at Riccarton by R. Preece. FAVOURITE WON Crossway, the each-way favourite, just lasted to beat the faster-finishing Cumberland for third.

All against form earlier this season, and for much of last season, Cantelo was made win favourite for the Pentlow. Intermediate Handicap. The support for this Wash-dyke-trained mare .came at the right time. She dashed clear straight away, went away to a lead of three lengths on the home turn, and though shortening stride near the end she lasted it out by half a length from Etoile Este, her most strongly supported rival. Donna Gola, Race Guide, and Scuffle came to the post almost abreast in the battle for third, the camera placing them in that order.

J. A. Messent Suspended

(N.Z. Press Association)

TIMARU, Dec. 29. The Riccarton apprentice, J. A. Messent, was suspended from the end of today’s racing until 5.30 p.m. tomorrow, December 30, for causing interference during the running of the Albury Stakes at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting at Washdyke.

Messent, the rider of Tolcarne, was charged and found guilty of causing interference to Amandell (J. M. Cappie), which in turn interferred with Lucky Crown (L. N. McGuire). An inquiry was held into the performance of Frigid, which finished a distant last in the Fairview Improvers’ Handicap. The horse was found to be very sore when he returned to the birdcage. Later Frigid’s trainer, A. S. Ellis, advised the stipendiary steward that the horse would be spelled before he raced again.