RACING Drying Track Would Help Dalvui Today

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31654, 15 April 1968, Page 4

RACING Drying Track Would Help Dalvui Today

Dalvui arrived at Riccarton from the North Island at the week-end looking in great shape for his engagement in the $7200 George Adams Handicap on the first day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting today.

But he will carry 7 full stable confidence only if today’s weather is fine and the track is reasonably good.

Dalvui’s Hastings trainer, D. Jones, looked with disfavour at a leaden sky at Riccarton yesterday morning and invited the assistance of any prayerful people who felt their efforts could have any influence on the weather. The Levin trainer, J. K. Searle, was prepared to be more philosophical about anything the weather held in store leading up to today’s feature race. Searle trains Point Duty, a horse with good form on both firm and soft tracks. Versatile Horse Point Duty showed his versatility at the two-day meeting at Trentham last May when he won twice, the first time over a mile and a half on a firm track, the second time over 11 furlongs when the ground was easy.

In the mile and a half race, the Gloaming Stakes, Point Duty only nosed out Dalvui which, with 9-0 was attempting to concede the winner 191 b. In today’s race Dalvui will meet Point Duty 151 b better.

Dalvui is right in form, having won the weight-for-age Ormond Gold Cup last time out, and in W. D. Skelton he has a jockey in spectacular form. Late Decision The Awapuni-trained Look Up was scratched from the George Adams Handicap at the week-end, leaving a field of 10. The Riccarton trainer, J. C. Tomkinson, will decide this morning about a start for Shipmaster, which has developed his best form on firm tracks. N. Eastwood will ride Shipmaster if he starts, and has an alternative in Royal Blue

if the three-year-old is taken out of the field. If Eastwood is not available for Royal Blue, A. J. Stokes will ride Mrs W. H. Williamson’s four-year-old at 71b overweight. Royal Blue has thrived since he won at Rangiora but his trainer, J. R. Shaw, regrets he missed a gallop because of the storm last Thursday. Royal Blue had a testing 11furlong gallop on Saturday and will be given another run this morning. Millie Small, another Riccarton candidate with good form on soft and firm tracks alike, showed signs of weakening near the end of a mile at Riccarton on Saturday and

yesterday she ran six furlongs | in Imin 29 l-ssec on the No. 7 ] grass. ] N.I. Runner Pasa Dobie will be the < North Island’s only runner in s the Great Easter Handicap, < the second leg of today's i T.A.B. double. Tracey, a stablemate of Point Duty, was scratched yesterday. Pasa Dobie arrived from the North Island on Saturday and was given light exercise at Riccarton yesterday. He looked promising early in the season and could improve the solid record of the Woodville stable of E. Ropiha on the course. Glamis Lad could be the South Island's top prospect for the Great Easter if the track is soft or easy. James Arthur, winner of his last five races: Captain's Command, a big Wingatui sprinter with a

preference for firm footing; Middy, a five-year-old with a high percentage of wins to starts at seven furlongs; and Red Chips, a consistent sprinter on his home track, could supply much of the strength of the field for the $4OOO sprint