Chiave d’Oro Impresses

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31753, 9 August 1968, Page 4

Chiave d’Oro Impresses

Chiave d'Oro showed she was thriving on recent racing, which has been of a good standard, by running the fastest half-mile of the training on the outside of the course proper at Riccarton yesterday. She sped over the distance on a summer-like track in 50sec. She was ridden by the light-weight, J. F. Harris, but there was obvious merit in this gallop as a trial for the Islington Handicap, first leg of the T.A.B. double on the final day of the Grand National meeting.

Other dashing sprint trialists were Ronray, Barclay, Smiley, and Pretentious.

Ronray (G. Jackson) dashed over half a mile in 50 l-ssec. It was a smart run for a hack, and it brought her into further favour for the Aylesbury Handicap. A wide barrier position could have cost her victory—she was third —in the Avonhead Handicap last Saturday. Barclay »Parr) and Smiley (Couch) sprinted from the halfmile on terms in 50 3-ssec. Barclay will have footing to his liking in the August Handicap,„in which he will be ridden by W. D. Skelton. Pretentious <R. McCann) gave Allspice (Tucker) a start of a length and a half from the six furlongs, but ran up keenly in the straight and won a good gallop by a length in Imin 20 4-ssec. The last half-mile took 53 3-ssec, but it could have been bettered with ease.

The Winter Cup winner, Free Pass, was not asked for much in his trial for the Islington Handicap. Ridden by the jumping rider. B. E. Craig, he trailed Early Dawn (Harris) by two lengths at the end of a mile, run in Imin 50 2-ssec.

Quetta (Low) took the honours in his trial with the North Island three-year-olds. Stevedore <R. B. Marsh) and Pallas Athena (Harris). Quetta trailed the others for a start, but drew up in the straight and finished alongside Stevedore, threeouarters of a length ahead of Pallas Athena. They ran their

six furlongs In Imin 20 2-ssec, and the last half-mile in 52 2-ssec.

Downside (Dodds) led Bright Blue (Apes) by half a length finishing five furlongs in Imin 5 2-ssec, the last half-mile in 53 l-s«ec, the final three furlongs in 40 4-ssec. Downside will have his first start for his Australian owner in the Aylesbury Handicap on the final day of the Grand National meeting. Ruakiwi Lass (Willetts), which is practically assured of favouritism in the August Handicap, has thrived since her Winter Cup second, and was let

off with a three-furlong sprint yesterday. She brushed home keenly in 39sec.

Other gallops:— Half-mile. Grenade and Okana Star, on terms, 51 l-ssec; Jigger and Equal Chance, 51sec; Pharasal, 53 2-ssec; Dory, 52 4-ssec; Cantostan, 52 4-ssec; Might, 53 3-ssec; Narcotic, 52 l-ssec; Carpenter and Irish Gloss, 52 2-ssec; Roman General, 53sec; Synthetic, 53 3- Every Post, 52 2-ssec; Casca and Royal Master clear of Chariborough, 53 l-ssec. Three Furlongs.—Capasco, 38 4-