QUETTA IN FINE RUN AT TRIALS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31775, 4 September 1968, Page 4

QUETTA IN FINE RUN AT TRIALS

Dashing runs by four members of J. L. Barr’s team marked barrier trials on the course proper at Riccarton yesterday. One of the most Impressive .of them was by the three-year-old, Quetta, which ran one of the fastest trials over the distance of approximately five and a half furlongs.

Quetta recorded Irnln Bsec, finishing alongside his stablemate, Longsltp, and well clear of the others in the fifth heat. Quetta was ridden by E. G. Low in this encouraging trial for the Lagmhor Stakes No. 1 at Ashburton next week, and carried more weight than Longslip (Carston).

A few minutes earlier Barr’s pair, Early Dawn (Donaldson) and Harold Bank (Carston), were first home in the fourth heat. They ran the distance in Imln 8 2-ssec, and finished on terms, clear of Master Sheeny (F. H. Skelton) and His Lordship (Mein). Harold Bank won three races for the Barr stable as a two-year-old last season, and should be a force in South Island three-year-old spring races if he has made average improve ment with age. Every Post, one of the early favourites for the John Grigg Stakes' on Saturday week, Sprinted keenly for D. R. Sand efson to win the first trial in Un in 8 l«ssec.

Evflry Post finished two lengths clear of Next Please (Low). Red Chips (Cowles) was third. Next Please and Red Chips were good winners for Riccarton stables last season, and are now shaping as if they will quickly recapture their best form. They are top-weights in the main flat races at Ashbur ton next Tuesday. Roman General (A. H. Eastwood) passed Burns Knight (Miss Kerr) close to home to win the third heat in Imln 9sec.

Pharasal (Stokes) also picked up ground to finish alongside Burns Knight and close behind Roman General. Krazikid (Low) was fourth after being eased slightly in the final fur long. Cattegat (Kerkvlict) shaped encouragingly for a maiden to finish fifth in this company. Roman General and Pharasal will meet in the Tinwald Han dicap on the first day of the Ashburton meeting. Pharasal’s two placed runs on his home track recently could assure him of favouritism in the Ashburton mile. He was the South Island’s best behind the northerners. Barclay and Ruakiwi Lass, in the August Handicap, one mile, on the final day of the Grand National meeting. Irish Moss, one of the reserves in the field for the Lagmhor Stakes at Ashburton, ran keenly In the hands of P.

Smith to win the sixth heat In Imln 9sec. She finished two lengths clear of her younger stablemates, Equal Chance (Mein) and Crepe de Chine (Stammers), which also have engagements at Ashburton. The slowest of the six heats —it was run in Imln 9 3-ssec —was won by Walaroo (Apes), which shaded Avobelle and finished clear of Royal Encounter. The Auckland jockey. R. J. Skelton, will ride either Time and Tide or Manana in the Tinwald Handicap, and has been engaged for Royal Encounter in the Flying Handicap and Cattegat in the Lagmhor Stakes No, His brother, W. D. Skelton, will ride Early Dawn in the Tinwald Handicap and Mister Bud in the Flying Handicap. Other riding engagements for the T.A.B. double races include: A. J. Stokes: Pharasal, Shipmaster. E. G. Low: Next Please, Krazikid. G. W. Mein: His Lordship. G. Gullery: Roman General. N. Eastwood: Hombre. E. J. Didham: Time and Tide or Manana, Red Chips. D. Sanderson: Displease. P. J. Silver: Pango. B. S. Dodds: Shoshone. M. J. Skelton: Royal Master.