RACING Meldie In Dashing Training Sprint

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31989, 16 May 1969, Page 4

RACING Meldie In Dashing Training Sprint

Meldie could have been hardly more impressive when he galloped with his stablemate Harold Bank on the outside of the course proper at Riccarton yesterday. Meldie’s form, which includes a win at Trentham after a close second in the Nelson Cup, has made him a ready-made favourite for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s May Handicap next week.

He was ridden yesterday by W. Hastie, and was conceding Harold Bank (Donaldson) a lot of weight, but there was no doubting his superiority.

Meldie had the outside running, was allowed to run along easily at the girth of Harold Bank for much of the way in the straight, and then pulled up easily in the last few strides. The two horses galloped 40ft out on the course proper, and had good footing, running the six furlongs in Imin 20 2-ssec, the last half-mile in 52 3-ssec.

Sailing Home came back into reckoning as a lightweight chance in the May Handicap when she beat David William by six lengths over si mile. Sailing Home, a good third in the Great Autumn Handicap the last time she raced at Riccarton, ran her mile in Imin 44 4-5 sec, and the final three furlongs in 40 2-ssec. His Lordship (M. McCann) and Crepe de Chine (Smith) took Imin 48 3-ssec for their mile, but quickened readily for the last half in 52 2-ssec. Smooth Run Time and Tide (Mein) ran seven furlongs without any great show of exertion in Imin 33 3-ssec, the last halfmile in 52 3-ssec. He seems to have lost some of his early speed in recent sprint races, but a switch back to a middle distance for the May Handicap next week might be a rewarding one. Pango (Gullery) did well to run six furlongs in Imin 18 2-ssec as a solo effort The stablemates, Billy Joe (Stammers) and Aeolian (Sanderson), also recorded Imin 18 2-ssec, and kept up a good gallop throughout the last half-mile in 51 4-ssec. Displease (A. Eastwood) ran through six furlongs easily in Imin 22see, showing she has held her form since her Amberley Cup fourth. 1 The stablemates Tumble (Mein) and Water Deer (A. Eastwood) kept an even pace throughout their mile in Imin 49 l-ssec. A foot bruise cost Tumble a start in the Amberley Cup, but he is making steady progress in training for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s May Handicap. Fathom Five (Sanderson) and Chilli Bean (Stammers) ran seven furlongs in Imin 34 3-ssec, the last four in 55 2-ssec. Earlier, Chilli Bean made several refusals when tried at the pony hurdles. First Sprint Hombre (F. Skelton), one of the earliest workers, sped over half a mile in 50 4-ssec. The hurdles fancy, Running Scared, worked over a bit of ground and was joined for the last half-mile, run in 53sec, by Ruby James, a Fountainhead—Tauntress filly. Watchman (Wilson) was going keenly on the inside of Burns Knight (Beck),

finishing half a mile in 51 3-5 sec. Later, Watchman’s stablemale, Her Pal (Taggart), sprinted half a mile alongside Grey Ghost (Wilson) in 53 2-ssec. Gold Nip (Smith) and Golden Promise (M. McCann) recorded Imin 19 3-5 sec for six furlongs, and 53 3-ssec for the last halfmile. After wins at two of his last three starts, Gold Nip should be one of the stronger contenders for the honours in the Lewis Pass Handicap on Tuesday. Screened (Gullery) picked up ground close to home to finish half a mile alongside her stablemate Pavoluss

(Hunt) in 53sec. Uncertain's 51 2-ssec for half a mile was an attractive run, but no more attractive than the 52sec recorded by Kophes a little earlier. The stablemates were ridden by A. Eastwood. Cosmetic (Featherston) recorded 52 2-ssec, and Flower Girl and Silver Kingdom completed their work with a half-mile in 54 l-ssec. Nursie (R. McCann), which has disappointed since her good run in the Warstep Stakes at Easter, ran half a mile keenly in 52 l-ssec. Domic (Mein) brushed over three furlongs easily in 41 2-5 sec.