Jay Ribbon Gives S.I. Win At Trentham

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31725, 8 July 1968, Page 4

Jay Ribbon Gives S.I. Win At Trentham

Jay Ribbon and Royal Theme, principals in the finish of the Whyte Handicap at Trentham on Saturday, are to meet again at a middle distance in the Parliamentary Handicap on the second day of the Wellington winter meeting on Wednesday.

Both overcame difficulties in the running in the first leg of the T.A.B. double on Saturday. Both finished with the greatest of determination on a heavy track once they got into the clear.

Royal Theme’s rider, H. N. Rauhihi, felt the result swung Jay Ribbon’s way when the Wingatui three-year-old beat him to a gap near the three furlongs.

The Parliamentary Handicap should show whether the Whyte Handicap would have had a different result with different fortunes in the running: Royal Theme and Jay Ribbon have both distinguished themselves at middle distances.

Jay Ribbon was one of three three-year-olds in the Whyte Handicap field, and his

(victory was also notable be'cause it broke a long drought for the South Island in the race. This was his second open class win—the Waimate Cup was the other—but his second behind Royal Blue at Ashburton at his previous start also held high promise for Saturday’s rich race. No Special Plans “Well take the races as they come provided he keeps thriving,” said the Wingatui owner-trainer, J. A. Wilson, on Saturday soon after E. J. Didham had ridden his Fountainhead gelding to a well-judged win. Didham said he needed all the luck that was going to clear a tight spot down on the inside just before the home turn, but the response had been good when he brought Jay Ribbon into the clear.

Jay Ribbon’s win gave the Canterbury - based sire Fountainhead a ‘‘possible.’’ He was the Gold Nib horse's only runner on the programme.

Gus lost no favour for his attempt this week to win his second Parliamentary Handicap. W. D. Skelton brought him forward on a big run wide out on the home turn and his chance looked bright when he edged ahead of Dunraven and Washdyke’s Glamis Lad.

Glamis Lad faded to seventh, but it was a run that held high promise for his engagement in a weaker field and at a furlong less in the Members’ Handicap on Wednesday. Kalott, which will race again on the final day of the meeting, ran one of her best races for fourth. She was far back in the early scramble for positions but made a big

run up close to the leading line on the home turn. Monastic shaded Blue Turtle and Glamis Lad for fifth.