GINGERBREAD, RED CHIPS AT ORARI

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31501, 16 October 1967, Page 5

GINGERBREAD, RED CHIPS AT ORARI

Gingerbread and Red Chips, which are both being prepared for important engagements at the New Zealand Cup meeting next month, completed a T.A.B. double worth $86.50 for $1 at Orari on Saturday.

Gingerbread confirmed the worth of some very good gallops in training last week by winning the Members’ Handicap in style for her Prebbleton owner-trainer, Mr R. B. Mills.

Red Chips maintained an unbeaten record in the open sprints at the Geraldine Racing Club’s meetings this season by winning the Stewards’ Handicap in the colours of Mr J. A. Randle and his Riccarton trainer, C. McDonald. The Riccarton horseman D. N. Hadfield, who was having only his second race-ride on Gingerbread on Saturday, is keen to continue his association with Mr Mills’ Jekyll mare. Although nothing definite has been arranged yet, he hopes to be on her again in the Beehive Brandy Thousand at Rangiora next Monday. She will also be his New Zealand Cup mount if an offer is forthcoming. A rider for Red Chips in the Stewards' Handicap on New Zealand Cup Day has already been confirmed. The Wingatui horseman, E. J. Didham, who has ridden him in his two victories at Orari will have the mount

The Members’ Handicap was Gingerbread’s second race in a fresh campaign. It was also her first success since she won the Otaio Plate, for hack stayers, at the last New Zealand Cup meeting. In between times she had gained three minor placings in open class and had a trip toAustralia but did not race there.

Although the third favourite of 14. Gingerbread was at double-figure odds for a win on Saturday. The best of her rivals were also Riccartontrained. The runner-up was Sir Limond. one of the long-shots of the field, and the unlucky second favourite, Sabell, was a close third.

Red Chips, which was 2/1 in the betting but the popular fancy for the double, beat the win favourite Quick Flight in the Stewards' Handicap. The runner-up, a long-striding Magic Carpet gelding, was far from disgraced in defeat. Quick Flight could not manage the turns and was only beginning to stretch out in his best style when the race was virtually over. His performance did not discourage his

Ashburton owner-trainer, Mr B. F. Mears, from continuing plans for a campaign on the later days at Trentham. Quick Flight will be taken north thia week. Early Leader Gingerbread led the field while the rush for positions was on in the run to the first turn, but Hadfield secured a trail for her when Sir Limond went ahead running into the last seven furlongs. From there until the home turn Gingerbread had a perfect run. Soon after straightening for the run home she mastered Sir Limond. Gingerbread beat Sir Limond by three parts of a length and Sabell added fresh interest to the finish with a strong late run from the back. Sabell was five places back and on the inside at the seven furlongs but by the time they reached the half-mile he was second-last, and had a wall of horses ahead of him and Danny Kye on the outside. At that stage his chance of getting anywhere near the pace looked hopeless. P. J. Silver managed to get Sabell away from the fence on the home turn but he was still manv lengths from the leaders at the straight entrance. Once right out ;in he clear he finished determinedly and ran Sir Limond to half a head. Beau Supreme, a good way back in the early running but third equal on the home turn, plodded on for fourth. He was two lengths from Sabell and three parts of a length ahead of the favourite Royal Master. Although Royal Master had a good run—three places back and tracking Gingerbread all the way—he could find nothing extra when the pressure was on.

Rushed Up Fast Red Chips was last for a stride or two when the field cleared the stalls in the Stewards' Handicap but inside the first furlong E. J. Didham rushed him up quickly to join Monograph and Quick Flight in front and

just after the half-mile he and Monograph went ahead together. Monograph was beaten soon after straightening, and Red Chips ran into the last furlong with a lead of two lengths. Quick Flight set out to bridge that gap a little closer to home but the Riccarton sprinter won bv half a length. In a tight finish for third, three-quarters of a length back, Etoile Este nosed Castle Flight out in the last stride. She came from the fifth line for her placing but Castle Flight was second equal with Quick Flight and Carolina on the home turn.

Sandbank made an encouraging start to another campaign with a close fifth. He was the tail-ender half a mile out but was only a neck from Castle Flight at the end. Although Riccarton stables were represented successfully in the major events on the programme they did not fare nearly so well in the minor events. But Pango, a member of D. J. Thistoll’s team, turned in a first-class performance to beat the hack sprinters in the Gladstone Improvers’ Handicap. Mr A. Davis’ My Pal mare was nearly down at the end of a furlong yet recovered to win going away from the pacemaker, Donald Mac. You Tue, from Washdyke, and the Wingatui-trained Smiley, was the successful combination in the on-course double. They paid $24.55 for $l. The supporters of You Tue and Jay Ribbon, the runner-up to Smiley, received a concession dividend of $11.55 for $l.

The Invercargill trainer, R. E. Humphries, saddled Cortigiana and Fox Gold to finish first and second in the Nightmarch Stakes, for two-year-olds. The Winchester ‘ Stakes went to the Wingatui-trained Botan and Mephisto, from Waimate, won the Arundel Hack Handicap. The meeting was held in fine weather before a fair crowd. The track was firm. NORTH CANTERBURY RACING CLUB INC. TRAVEL VIA NEW BRIDGE TO RANGIORA ACCEPTANCES i ACCEPTANCES for the above Club’s race meeting at Rangiora on Monday, October 23, 1967, close at 4 p.m. TODAY, October 16, 1967, at the Club’s office: BYRNE and CO., 661 Colombo Street, CHRISTCHURCH. Telephone 65-029, Christchurch, Telegrams: “BYROC,” Christchurch. —Advt.