Stormy Seas In Fine Wingatui Gallop

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 4 (Supplement)

Stormy Seas In Fine Wingatui Gallop

“The Press’* Special Service DUNEDIN. Stormy Seas showed his fitness for the Craigmore Handicap, the six-furlong sprint for two-year-olds at the South Canterbury Hunt meeting, when he worked well at Wingatui yesterday.

Overhead conditions were cold and fine and most of the fast work was held on the sand, which was slushy on top but firm underneath. Stormy Seas, which was left at Wingatui after his win at Waimate last week, has thrived in the meantime. The Whistling Willie colt was ridden by his race rider, J. Pankhurst, when he worked with rival candidate, Harold James (M. Denton), over five furlongs in Imin 7sec, the first two furlongs in 26sec. Both worked well, but Stormy Seas appeared to have the edge. Pinetree (G. Mee) was given an easy task in imin 14sec after taking 29sec for the first two furlongs. His trainer, D. P. Wilson, said there was every prospect of the Mellay gelding taking his place in the field. His stablemate, Kindle, was given a similar task. The Bellborough mare has not raced since she was badly injured during the running of the Pencarrow Hack Han dicap at Trentham in Janu ary but she has fully recovered and is ready te make her debut in open company.

Belshazzar (J. Pankhurst) rounder 1 off his preparation for the Teschemaker Steeples with a sound six furlongs in Imin 25sec, the first three in 42 l/ssec. Abacus (L. Didham) and Gay Gabador (E. Didham) worked on the grass, which was heavy. They ran three furlongs down the back stretch in 43sec and were then eased up. Abacus is a

brother to Bellition, which made a name for herself in Australia. Grey Sating ridden by his Hadlow Hurdles jockey, L. Didham, could not have been more impressive in his schooling over six flights of hurdles.

Berwen (G. Mee) and Ngatua (B. Kennedy) led Juimark (P. McKay) in the early stages over four steeplechase fences in two rounds but Julmark improved as he warmed up and was with his stablemates at the finish.

Heavy tracks on the South Canterbury circuit have upset plans of the trainer, J. S. McKay, with his promising steeplechaser, Casca. McKay said yesterday that Casca would remain in his box over the week-end. He does not want to race him in the heavy going at Washdyke.

The Agricola gelding has engagements in both the Teschemaker Steeplechase and the Claremont Handicap. This might cause a change in plans for the Grand National meeting as he would not be seasoned enough for a tilt at the Grand National. An alternative race on the first day of the Canterbury meeting is the Jumpers’ Flat, in which the McKay-trained Segundo ran second to Foxonewa last year.