RACING His Lordship Should Be Fit For First Leg

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31991, 19 May 1969, Page 4

RACING His Lordship Should Be Fit For First Leg

A start for His Lordship in the May Handicap at Riccarton tomorrow seemed unlikely for a time on Saturday morning;

But he responded so. well to week-end treatment to a foreleg that he is almost certain to start. It seems just as certain that he will also run well in the first leg of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s T.A.B. double. His Lordship ruptured a blood vessel in a joint when he struck himself after springing a shoe in a gallop on the outside of the course proper at Riccarton on Saturday. He was showing signs of soreness after the gallop, but he was quite sound on it when trotted round the stalls before being taken home. Tubbing and packs at the week-end improved the affected part and his trainer, P. H. Jones, is confident he will be able to work Mr A. Bailey’s chestnut this morning and produce him at his best tomorrow.

His Lordship, the winner of his four races this season and a last-start fourth at Trentham, will be ridden by the successful young Hastings horseman, R. B. Marsh. G. W. Mein, who has partnered His Lordship in several of his races this season, will ride Time and Tide in the May Handicap. Time and Time is being switched back to a middle distance after a short programme of sprints. One of his peak efforts at a mile and a quarter would be more than many of the others could cope with. Solid Form Sandbank won the Dominion Handicap over this distance under 8-4 at Riccarton at Easter and his only start at a middle distance since produced a second to Every Post in the Amberley Cup.

Middy was one of his beaten rivals in the Dominion Handicap but comes to this field as a form runner for Otago after winning over 11 furlongs at Wingatui on Anzac Day. The Southland pair, Glocca Morra and Western Gale, failed in the main race at the Winton meeting, but a heavy track might have been all against them. Glocca Morra’s best - form has been marked by solid runs at the end of her middle distance races. Her greatest handicap here will be the size of the field, which might be all against a back runner unless there is a break-neck pace early. Two of the more interesting light-weights are Lady Glory and Sailing Home.

Lady Glory won her last two races in hack class, both with bold finishing runs which hold Out promise for

her prospects like Riccarton’s.

Placed Form Sailing Home, a last-start fifth in the Amberley Cup after having to be brought wide in going for a run, was fourth in the Great Autumn Handicap at her previous start. J. L. Barr lost a top form contender when Meldie was scratched on Friday, but Harold Bank and David William are possibilities in an openlooking field. Harold Bank was the Amberley Cup third, and David William’s last-start fifth at Nelson held out promise of a return to form by this four-year-old. Opstan, a winner over Ilf against hacks at Nelson, and Displease, which made a stayer’s run for fourth in the Amberley Cup, are other lightweights. whose form has brought them in for some attention. Sprint Fancy Bargain Hunter’s hollow victory over eight sprint rivals on'a heavy track at the Winton meeting last Saturday week might assure the Wingatui three-year-old of favouritism in the Westport Handicap, second leg of the T.A.B. concession double. Bargain Hunter was one of the best of the hack sprinters at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting, winning stylishly on the final day. His win at Winton was at only his second start in open company.

Being only a three-year-old Bargain Hunter should find more improvement from race to race than most of his Westport Handicap rivals. The only other last-start winner in the field is the Washdyke-trained Gay Doctor. He triumphed over 11 others with 8-0 over seven furlongs

iat the Amberley meeting. This field is larger but not I that much stronger and he should rgach one of the places.