Talic Keen In Test

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31255, 30 December 1966, Page 4

Talic Keen In Test

Talic is being switched from sprinting to a middle distance in the St. Andrews High-weight at Washdyke tomorrow, and a good gallop at Riccarton yesterday raised hopes for his chances. Talic easily beat his two-year-old stablemate Billy Joe over half a mile on the trial grass yesterday and his time of 50 4-ssec on a slow track was meritorious.

Talic has been "running out of ground” in some of his sprint races. His latest effort was a strongly-finishing fifth over six furlongs on the first day of the South Canterbury meeting. Billy Joe did not earn a start at Washdyke with his gallop yesterday, and J. R.

Shaw will probably withdraw him from the Fairview Handicap. This could also end early plans to campaign Billy Joe at the Wellington Cup meeting.

May Wyne and Staegland, two newcomers from Riccarton at the South Canterbury meeting, were paired in another of the few gallops on their home course yesterday. May Wyne (R. K. Moir) sprinted keenly and beat Stageland (N. Cowles) by two lengths over half a mile in 51 4-ssec.

Cowles, who will ride Stageland in the St. Andrews Highweight at Washdyke, damaged a rib when Sleeky Fox fell in the birdcage on the first day of the South Canterbury meeting, but the trouble is not serious.

Not Guilty and Never Again, form runners for D. J. Thlstoll’s stable tomorrow, moved well in sprint tasks yesterday. Not Guilty ran half a mile in 52sec. and Never Again sprinted home from the three furlongs in 41 l-ssec.

Never Again won against the two-year-olds on the first day of the South Canterbury meeting, but might find James Arthur a stumbling block in her

attempt to round off a double on the course in the Fairview Handicap.

Pango and Tixall, two more members of the Thistoll team, may not start at Washdyke. Pango has trouble in a joint and Tixall ran poorly on Tuesday. Last Dip (Cowles), a lightweight in the President’s Handicap at Oamaru, sprinted half a mile in 51 3-ssec yesterday.

Early Dawn (J. Kerkvliet) was easing down but still a length ahead of Coseta (G. Gullery) after running half a mile in 52sec.

Faraday (C. T. Wilson) and Flair Go (Gullery) recorded 53 2-ssec.