Meldie Fit To Make Fresh Start At Riccarton

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32295, 13 May 1970, Page 4

Meldie Fit To Make Fresh Start At Riccarton

Meldie and Watchman heightened interest in their chances in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Westport Handicap next week by running one of •the fastest half-miles of the training at Riccarton yesterday. Galloping on the trial grass, (which bad been affected by I heavy week-end rain, they sprinted half a mile in 51 4-ssec. With D. Tucker tip, Meldie carried more weight than Watchman (D. Reed), and finished half a length behind, but there was clear evidence of pleasing progress since he rejoined J. L. ' Barr’s stable «ome weeks ago. Meldie has not raced since the spring when knee trouble, ended plans to take the Bell i

borough geldipg to Melbourne for the Caulfield Cup. Watchman is also engaged in the Amberley Cup on Saturday, and is one of the form runners after a fourth at the Hororata meeting last month Smart Gallop The two-year-old I Spy (R. McCann), came strongly into reckoning for the Waipara Trial Stakes at Amberley by 1 beating her stablemate Gringo (A. Hunt) and Coun try Doc (Cohen), over half a mile in 51 3-ssec. It was a smart gallop in the conditions. Tumble showed his liking l for the conditions in the • hands of the light-weight P. (Smith while running half a mile in 51 3-ssec. He has also already won two Amberley Cups, and is in grand shape for another bid on Saturday. Encouraging Trial Cyclone was one of the more impressive of those tried over more ground. Ridden by P. Thistoll, he was going strongly half a length ahead of Lord

Macquario (R. McCann) ending a mile in Imin 48sec, the last half-mile in 54 l-ssec. Cyclone is a form runner for the Starky Memorial, second leg of the Amberley Racing Club’s T.A.B. double. The stablemates, Kophes (Fitzgerald) and Uncertain (A. Eastwood) ran their mile in Imin 50 2-ssec, the last half in Celtic Chief (P. Anning) showed he had freshened nicely since his placed run at Rangiora on March 23 while running a mile in Im tn 52 l-ssec, the last half in 55 2-ssec. He was keen to quicken. Shipboard (Mein), which has no immediate engagements, sprinted half a mile keenly in 52 3-ssec. Harold Bank (Colville) and Sweet Nothings (Kerkvliet) joined up near the five furlongs and sprinted the last four on terms in 53 3-ssec. Early Promise Harold Bank shaped like an early winner for the J. L. Barr stable in running a close second to Aeolian at the Hororata meeting.

Time and Tide (Mein) finished his work with a half-mile in 54 2-ssec. The easing in the tracks should help him to recapture form quickly. The Amberley Cup will be only his second start after a spell. Meneleus (Low), a promising

second-‘ffrst up at the Hororata meeting, was shading his stableniates, Stream (G. Lee) and Bog Roy (Colville) finishing half a mile -in 54 3-ssec. Foreign Aid (Holmes) beat Mr Breckon (P. Thistoll) and One Spot (Miss Morton) frpm the half-mile in 55 2-ssec. W. D. Skelton,, who won on Foreign Aid at the Hororata meeting, will ride the South-land-owned gelding again at Riccarton next week. . Screened (Mein) recorded 53sec for her half-mile. She will make her open class debut in the Amberley Cup with promising credentials—wins at her last two starts. Place Prospect Eastern Gold (Jackson) also ran her half-mile in 53sec. She is speedy and a place prospect in the race chosen for her at Amberley. Sea Serpent (Mein) was clearly better than The Pines (Jackson) and Outlook (Cowles) over half a mile in 56 l-ssec. Bimerah (Reuben) and Count Sigma (McLean) took 56 3-ssec, but had good weights up. Foxtail (Fitzgerald) led Expel (A. Eastwood) by a length and a half ending half a mile in 54 3-ssec.

Master Leigh earned a qualifying ticket for hurdling with a safe round. He was careful, and probably capable of faster jumping with a companion.