Plans for Golden Sam after Trentham

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32860, 8 March 1972, Page 8

Plans for Golden Sam after Trentham

"The Press" Special Service

WELLINGTON.

The Dunedin galloper, Golden Sam, might not go on to Tauranga for the $20,400 Stars Travel Invitation Stakes after the Wellington autumn meeting ends on Saturday.

Golden Sam is a leading hope for Saturday’s $14,000 H. R. Chalmers Stakes after his brilliant late run for second in the President’s Handicap on the first day. He has not tried two miles, but has won twice at a mile and a half. He started in the 13-furlong Invercargill Cup at New Year but was off form and showed no dash. Before that, he had won the Hororota Cup (lOf) and the Dunedin Cup (12f), and last month won the Benson and Hedges Inter-Island Handicap, also over 12 furlongs. On these performances, there is every reason for optimism that Golden Sam will go two miles in the Chalmers Handicap, but regarless of his fortunes there, his trainer, A. N. Didham, said yesterday that he was not keen, so soon after the

two-mile race, to start the four-year-old at Tauranga. Didham also feels that Golden Sam is still at a position in the weights where weight-for-age racing is not forced on him. If the chestnut does return to the South, his next big-race opportunity there is probably the George Adams Handicap, another 12 furlong race, at the Riccarton Easter meeting. After Saturday’s race. Golden Sam did not gallop yesterday. He looked well as he did pace work, and Didham seems satisfied with his condition. R. J. Skelton will ride him in the Chalmers Stakes.

Mr Spy, another Chalmers runner, ran the fastest time in a very limited session yesterday when he finished the last four furlongs of seven in 49sec, and the last three in 35sec.

Testemall was not going freely in the early part of his trial over a mile and a quarter. The final mile took him imin 47 3-ssec, but he ran the last half-mile in 52 4-ssec, and three furlongs in 37 l-ssec. J. Riordan has been engaged to ride him in the St Leger. Testemall’s stablemate, Triple Test, also started at the 10 furlongs. He took Imin 47 l-ssec for the mile, 51sec for the last half-mile, and 36 3- for the final three furlongs. Queen Mellay went quietly over a half-mile in 56 2-ssec, the last three furlongs in 40 4- The handsome Mellay mare ran a dashing race for fifth in the Thompson after sharing the lead, especially considering that at some stage of the race she lost both front plates.