Minor winners show promise

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32788, 13 December 1971, Page 8

Minor winners show promise

Balay, Annanlc, and Revell's Road, winners of three minor races at the Hororata mooting at Riecarton on Saturday, have potential backed by appealing family ties that might make them Important figures on the South Island racing scene In the next few months. Belay, winner of the Ribotlight Handicap at odds of better than 30/1 is raced in partnership by the professional trainers, J. A. Wilson (Wingatui) and J. C. McKerrow (Washdyke), who have done well with this youngster’s half-brother, Blank Cheque. Belay was a December foal but this strong, well-grown youngster showed resolute qua!Itles to snatch a head victory over Danish Girl on Saturday. Belay, a bay colt by the successful sire, Mellay, was having only his second start on Saturday. He win have his next race at the' South Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting. Annenic, winner of the Trial Plate No. 2 by four lengths, la the first to cany the colours of Mr and Mrs 1. W. McGregor, of Southland. She is by Gate Keeper and is closely related to last season’s Auckland Cup winner. Artifice. Annenic is trained for Mr and Mrs I. W. McGregor by A. E. Didham, who recently sold Igloo to a patron of T. J. Smith’s Sydney stable for *50,000. Before he returned to Wingatui on Saturdoy Didham heard the news that Igloo had won

his first race from Smith’s stable, the Christmas Cup, by 10 lengths, v A year ago Igloo won against the open sprinters at the Hororata meeting. Revell’s Road came from the back for a half-neck victory in the Trial Hate No. 1 on Saturday. It was an impressive debut by this Canterbury-bred Sedgewick colt for Mr and Mrs R. K. McDonald, of North Canterbury, who bought him for *2OOO at a South Island bloodstock sale in Christchurch. Revell’s Road, one of a group of promising young horses in R. B. Taggart’s team, is a halfbrother to The Gent, a winner In Australia.