All eyes on Triton during Riccarton track work

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32678, 6 August 1971, Page 3 (Supplement)

All eyes on Triton during Riccarton track work

Triton was the horse everyone wanted to see in the final gallops at Riccarton yesterday, and the Winter Gup favourite came up with a run right in character for a horse with an unbeaten record. jujbiim.:. ...

W. D. Skelt on had never ridden the Woodville “oicture” hnrsp in picture noise in a gallop before and thought he was on a ST nfiP S,Uggar ‘| soon after they moved away with Ayub Khan (D. Reed) near the six «” gs i But U ' y hen Skelton tapped the four-year-old down the shoulder the resnonse was . 1 tne 1 espouse was immediate and impresgive.

In less time than it takes to tell about it Triton had dashed away to a lead of between four and five lengths. They were galloping on the outside of the course proper on ground affected by overnight showers, but Triton

sped over the opening two furlongs in 26sec. Coming through the home straight, where the going was deeper, Ayub Khan reduced Triton’s lead, but not by much, and the Woodville speedster won the gallop by three lengths in Imin 21sec. The comment of Ayub Khan’s Awapuni trainer, R. G. Ivil, was expressive enough for the occasion. He said: “I would have been very surprised if they had finished together.” Earlier Ivil’s Avonhead Hack Handicap candidate Big Beam (Reed) beat Triton’s three-year-old stablemates, Classic Mission (W. D. Skelton) and Classic Nature (B. Brown) over six furlongs. They came to the post in that order at three-quarter length margins in Imin 22 1-5 sec, the last half-mile in 54 l-ssec.

It was an attractive gallop by all three northerners. RED CHIPS BEATEN His Ayr (R. McCann) gave Red Chips (Cowles) a sound beating over six. furlongs, finishing three lengths clear to record Imin 23 3-ssec, the final four taking 54 4-5 sec.

His Ayr looks bright and solid for his tilt at the Winter Cup. Origin (W. D. Skelton), another form runner from the North Island in the

Winter Cup, sprinted his six furlongs in Imin 24 l-ssec, the last four taking 57sec. He looks as if he has thrived on his recent racing. •Moubray (Gibbs) led Black Knight (G. Walters) by four lengths ending six furlongs in Imin 25sec, the last four in 56 3-ssec. Never Give In (M. McCann) gave Dark Song (P. Hely), Mammoth (W. D. Skelton), Princess Mellay (A. K. Robinson), and Status a long start from the nine furlongs, but a sustained run in the straight carried him through to the lead. They ran the last six furlongs in Imin 24sec, and the last half in 54 2-ssec,

ABILITY SHOWN The Riccarton three-year-olds Red Boy (Tucker) and Ennisk i I le n (Wakefield) showed ability in the conditions in running their halfmile in 52sec. They will represent G. D. Lee’s stable in the Craven Plate. Solved (Tucker) and Time and Tide (Mein) were clear of Tussle (Thornley) ending

half a mile in 54 2-ssec. Gold Count (Reed) and Sudden Change (A. Eastwood) followed in 55sec. Trelay (Robinson) and Stormy Seas (Couch) stayed on terms to the end of half a mile in 54 3-ssec, and both went about their work keenly. Gee Tee (R. McCann) and Shipmaster (Cohen) followed in 53 l-ssec.

Meldie (Couch) quickly went two lengths clear of Blank Cheque (Denton) after starting near the half-mile, but the Wingatui horse reduced that margin to a neck. Meldie’s rider was in difficulties near the end when his saddle worked forward. This fit Winter Cup candidate recorded 55 2-ssec for the halfmile and 41sec for the final three furlongs. Who Knows (Denton) led Bellandar (Ridley) by two lengths finishing three furlongs in 41sec. Kurdallah (Tucker) impressed with his keenribss while running three furlongs -with Bel Hat (Couch) in 40sec.