RACING Point Duty, Court Belle May Dominate Finish

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31659, 20 April 1968, Page 6

RACING Point Duty, Court Belle May Dominate Finish

A keenly-run half-mile on the trial grass in 51 l-ssec at Riccarton yesterday left no doubt about Court Belle’s fitness for today’s Great Autumn Handicap, a race she has already won twice.

Court Belle, E. J. Didham’s mount in the first leg of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s T.A.B. double, had her race rider up when she sprinted on a track that had been softened by overnight rain. Court Bell'; has 8-1 and is the South Islander closest to I the top-weight. Dalvui, win-; ner of the George Adams Handicap on Easter Monday. Palisade, which had been second top-weight with 8-7, was scratched yesterday. Point Duty, with 84. is in form and has conditions to suit him for the Great Autumn Handicap, and if he dodges pacemaking he could come out on top. Point Duty will be ridden by J. R. Dow-i ling. Millie Small, the George: Adams Handicap third, has not had her prospects: dimmed in any way by the| rain on Thursday night Her regular rider, D, R. Tucker, had influenza earlier in the l

I week, but felt he had recovjered by yesterday afternoon land is to take the ride. • Field Reduced Three scratchings yesterday reduced the Waltham Handicap field to 12. On veterinary advice Never Again is to be spelled until next season and her stablemate. Pango, has also been taken out of the field. Track conditions have also been against Sailor’s Flight and she was also taken out of the field for the second leg of the double yesterday. The thinning in the field, and the softening in the ground yesterday should help none more than the Great Easter winner, Pasa Doble. The Washdyke pair, James Arthur and Glamis Lad, should be two of 'he stronger chances of the South Islanders. The Peerswick Hurdles, the first jumping event of the year in Canterbury, takes on additional interest because it is the first leg of the oncourse concession double. Lonvato, from Gore, and!

Istan Light, from the powerful Hillis stable at Riverton, could be the pick of the hurdlers. Lonvato was a winner for the Cochrane stable over hurdles at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s autumn meeting. Istan Light won over light fences at the Eastern Southland Hunt meeting last spring. He has done his,latest racing over bigger fences at Riverton, and had no success. Anvil, Master Leigh, Cattegat, and Running Waters could supply the strength of the field for the Yaldhurst Handicap, second leg of the course double. Hard Treble Jay Ribbon’s attempt to complete a difficult treble for the meeting will put additional interest into the Autumn Plate, the race for hack stayers today. Jay Ribbon's earlier wins at the meeting were in the Merivale Handicap, nine furlongs, and the Shirley Handicap, one mile and a quarter. Last year Millie Small was

unbeaten in three starts at the meeting. She had successes in the Warstep Stakes and the Tasman Handicap leading up to a meritorious win under 9-0 in the Autumn Plate.