Min Flicka Fit For Gold Cup

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31520, 7 November 1967, Page 6

Min Flicka Fit For Gold Cup

Min Flicka and Empyreus are brilliant gallopers fro ;n the North Island which will supply fresh interest on the second day of the New Zealand Cup meeting.

They showed they will be strong contenders for the Canterbury Gold Cup when they made attractive gallops on the trial grass at Riccarton yesterday. Min Flicka (W. D. Skelton) was shading Millie Small (E. G. Low) throughout the last furlong of seven furlongs, and recorded Imin 29 l-ssec on a track that was slightly easy after week-end rain. Min Flicka, winner of the Pearce Handicap at Trentham at her last start, ran the opening half-mile in 50 l-ssec, the

last half-mile in 50 4-ssec. Empyreus (R. B. Marsh) and Misjudge (A: H. Eastwood) sprinted seven furlongs, the last four boldly in 49 4-ssec. Empyreus rates a strong chance in the Canterbury Gold Cup on his placed run behind Laramie in the Harcourt Stakes at Trentham on Labour Day. Baloo, looking better if anything for his record-breaking run in the Riccarton Handicap on Saturday, was paired with his stablemate, Rahpete (H. N. Rauhihi) over seven furlongs in Imin 32sec, the last four in 52 l-ssec. E. G. Low rode Baloo in a trial not meant to make any strenuous demands on the brilliant veteran. The best at a mile was Time and Tide (A. J. Stokes), which sped home in Imin 42 2-ssec, the last half in 50 l-ssec, the final three furlongs in 37sec. Gingerbread (Miss L. McPhie) recorded Imin 43 4-ssec

after cutting out the opening half in 50 2-ssec. Both Ways (L. K. Tinsley) showed ability for a hack in running six furlongs in Imin 16 3-ssec, the last half-mile in 50 3-ssec. Royal Chase (W. D. Skelton) and Le Danois (K. Boiko) followed in Imin 16 2-ssec, the last four in 50 4-ssec. They were going nicely on terms at the end. El Beka (Tinsley) led Magic Way (G. Gullery) by a length and a half finishing seven furlongs in Imin 29 2-ssec. They were at speed quickly and cut out the opening three in 36 2-ssec. Lassie’s Romance (Rauhihi) and Coral Prince (D. Tucker) sprinted seven furlongs in Imin 30 3-ssec, the last four in 51 2-ssec. Rauhihi will ride Lassie’s Romance in the Stonyhurst Handicap on the second day of the meeting. Conqueress (N. Eastwood) and Subtitle (E. J. Didham) took Imin 32 4-ssec for seven

furlongs and 51 3-ssec for the last half-mile. Royal Escort (Constable) and Mary Ann (F. H. Skelton) sprinted six furlongs in Imin 18 3-ssec, the last four in 51 3-ssec. Royal Escort’s race on Saturday appeared to have helped him. Glocca Morra (Brown) and Wytell (Wright), both newcomers at the meeting, showed dash in running their half-mile on terms in 49 4-5 sec. Royal General (Foley) was slowing in the last 100 yards of his mile and took Imin 47 4-ssec after recording 52 3-ssec for the opening half. Summer Sand (R. N. Marsh) dashed in from the three furlongs in 36 2-ssec. The Levin-owned and trained Wingman (N. Eastwood) also pleased in running his half-mile in 50 2-ssec. He missed a start on the first day of the meeting because of some bruising above the ribs. Turtle (Brown) led Rich Light (E. J. Didham) by half a length after running seven furlongs in Imin 33 3-ssec, the last four in 52 3-ssec.