RACING Jay Ribbon Now Firmer Favourite For Cup

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31862, 14 December 1968, Page 6

RACING Jay Ribbon Now Firmer Favourite For Cup

Meldie was scratched for the Hororata Cup yesterday, leaving Jay Ribbon in a stronger position as favourite for today’s feature race at Riccarton.

The four-year-old, Jay Ribbon, was successful at nine furlongs in his first of three brilliant wins against hacks at Riccarton last Easter.

In the meantime, he has won the Wellington Racing Club’s Whyte Handicap, one mile, and the Waimate Cup over a middle distance. There ■. has been encouraging evidence of steady improvement -in his latest racing and he I should not go under without la big struggle with 7.12 today. Other four-year-olds well i fitted for bold runs today are Shipmaster and the Greymouth Centennial Cup winner, Bevlyn: and the three-year, Harold Bank, could help to show there is much to commend the chances of the younger briI gade. Good Trial Harold Bank galloped brilliantly at Riccarton on Thursday. He will be one of three runners for J. L. Barr’s

| stable, the others being Sabell iand General Gilbert. Riding engagements had not been settled yesterday for the stablemates. D. R. Tucker, who had been engaged for Meldie, has been offered the mount on the Gore veteran, Red Siren, but could still ride one of the Barr-trained trio. Red Chips, one of the South Island’s most consistent sprinters, looks equal to the task of winning the Gordon's Gin Handicap, second leg of the double, under top weight. Present plans are for Red Chips to travel north with Jay Ribbon next week for a holiday campaign in the North Island. Both have been entered for the Auckland Cup on January 1 but there are more definite programmes for them at Manawatu in the meantime. Pango, a stylish winner of the corresponding race last year, should be the hardest for Red Chips to beat today. But there could also be a formidable challenge from the Washdyke-trained Gay Doctor, J. R. Dowling’s! mount.