SHIPMASTER READY

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32215, 6 February 1970, Page 4

SHIPMASTER READY

Fast-run milts by Shipmaster and Pretentious at Riccarton yesterday widened Interest in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Midsummer Handicap tomorrow. Galloping 40 feet out on the course proper, Shipmaster (G. W. Mein) beat Roman General (C. T. Wilson) by six lengths and recorded Imin 45 3-ssec. The long-striding Shipmaster quickened readily to run his last half mile in 51 3-ss>ec. The course proper gave firm footing. Pretentious wont on the plough, running the distance solidly in Imin 44 2-ssec with a lead of half a length over Pseudonym (R. McCann) and Tulak (Cohen), which had led him to the straight. M. McCann found an inside run for Pretentious in the straight, and there was never any doubt that the Midsummer Handicap light-weight would gain mastery. He could have had a wider lead had his rider wished. Pretentious ran his last half mile in 51 l-ssec, and the final three furlongs in 37 4-s»ec. Visiting horses to attract most interest were Gay Gabador and Yipp, which are engaged in main races tomorrow. The efforts of Willie’s Pride and Persian Crusade also heightened interest in the chances of these visitors in the Post Handicap. Gay Gabador (R. Moir) w>as paired with his stablemate, 'Mon Amour (Mein), to run five i furlongs on the plough in Imin 13 3-ssec. the last four in 50sec, : the final three in 37 4-ssec.

Gay Gabador appears to have thrived since he returned from iTentham, and his two placed runs at the Wellington Cup meeting might establish him as favourite for the Midsummer Handicap. Yipp, the obvious favourite for the Craven Plate, ran three furlongs under a good weight on the outside of the course proper in 38 l-ssec. The stocky Southland sprinter was ridden by his Mataura trainer, N. Patterson. Watchman (D. Reed) and Aeolian (Mein) were two of the more impressive sprint trial! sts on the outside of the course proper. Their time of 50sec for half a mile so wide out was meritorious. Watchman, with the better of the weights, finished a neck in front. Willie’s Pride (Mein) showed his fitness for hack engagements at the meeting in running half a mile on the plough in 50 l-ssec. Persian Crusade (G. Jackson) easily outran Pavoluss (P. Anning) over five furlongs in Imin 3 3-ssec, the last four in 50 3-ssec. Gee Tee CD. Sanderson) started a half mile on the out-, side of the course proper a length behind the two-year-old, Secret Love (R. McCann), and finished three-quart era of a

length in front, recording 50 Gee Tee is not a class sprinter, but is game and consistent, and may be one of the hardest to beat in the Craven Plate. Celtic Chief (M. Skelton) and Overnight (Reed) showed they have fitness to back their form claims for the Halswell Hack Handicap in running a mile on the outside of the course proper In Imin 44 2-ssec. They started at a great rate, and not surprisingly lost much momentum in the straight and took 54 3-ssec for their last half mile. Bellaware gave E. G. Low some difficult moments as she tried to tear away before reaching the six furlongs. From there she came home keenly in imin 19 4-ssec, and was eager to improve on her 52 l-ssec for the last half mile. On the plough Hay Burner (Hunt) and Euripydies (Stewart) were going strongly on terms after running a mile. They went the last five furlongs in Imin 3 2-ssec, anji the final four In 50 2-ssec.

Hay Burner was markedly consistent as a hack, and bis debut in open company in the Midsummer Handicap should be interesting and might be rewarding. Hombre. (F. H. Skelton) also recorded Imin 3 2-Jsec for five furlongs on the plough, but recorded 49 2-ssec for the last half mile. Other gallops: Course Proper Half Mile.—Shipboard, 53 j 3- Grey Ghost, Officer’s I Mess, and Green Light, on terms, 51sec; Neil’s Bard and Strathganistan, 51sec. Plough Six Furlongs.—Quake and Jekover, Imin 18 3-ssec, last four in 51 3-ssec; Cyclone and Allspice, Imin 17 3-ssec, last three in 37 2-ssec: Kiowa and Quick Tide, Imin 20 l-ssec, last four in 52-sec. Half Mile.—Sweet Nothings, 52 l-ssec, last three in 38 4-ssec. Three Furlongs.—Screened, 37 4- Foxtail and Kophes, 37 3■ssec.