Bellecko might test favourites

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32885, 7 April 1972, Page 1 (Supplement)

Bellecko might test favourites

By

J. J. Boyle

Bellecko, an impressive winner at Riverton on Tuesday, comes to Riccarton with a big reputation for the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton tomorrow.

If he is as good under normal Riccarton conditions as he was in the mud at Riverton, Bellecko should give Ribaldo and WataUan plenty to do at the end of a mile and a half in the first leg of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s T.A.B. double. ' Ribaldo and Watallan were the best behind Beatnik in the George Adams Handicap on the first day of the meeting. Watallan’s prospects of winning that race for a second time faded when the track remained firm on Monday. He paraded looking a picture of condition but bandaged in front, and he could not find the speed on the firm track to strike a blow at Beatnik. Riccarton’s Ribaldo is an every-day type, a stayer lacking the sharp acceleration that distinguishes the top horse from the useful one. On his latest form he looks one of the more attractive prospects, but those who nave seen him in most of his racing will be paying some attention to his place dividend. Foxy has formidable work ahead of her to come through the meeting unbeaten in three starts in five days but she is on the short list of top chances because

she has winning form up to a mile and a half and has come back to Riccarton in the right condition to meet all the demands of a busy campaign. Bellecko will have strong Southland backing on the strength of an impressive record in open company. He is partly-owned and trained at Invercargill by W. F. Ellis, who was associated with his father, Fred, in some notable Riccarton autumn raids a few years ago. The father-and-son combination of Fred and Wilson Ellis as trainer and jockey won big races on the final

Cochrane’s Gore team showed ability on his summer campaign to win the Wyndham Cup and Gore Cup, both at a mile and a quarter. Lovely Honey will be the only colour-bearer for the North Island, but probably a worthy one, in the Waltham Handicap, second leg of the T.A.B. double. She carried 7.8 into third place in the Great Easter, will not have Palley in opposition this time, and will meet Queen Mellay, runner-up in that race, 101 b better over the same distance. Queen Mellay has since won at a mile on Wednesday, and is top-weight day at Riccarton in the autumn with the likes of Excellency and Salmon Spear. In Bellecko Wilson Ellis might have material to take value out of form from the first and second day’s racing at Riccarton. Haste Ye Back failed in the mud in the Riverton Cup, in which Bellecko was second. But this member of R. J. here with 8.10. Just Ace. a stablemate of Palley, gave the southern sprinters a sound beating at

six furlongs at Riverton on Monday. He is a quick front runner, but might never get far away from Lady Mellay and Honey Queen. Lady Mellay commands respect on her third at a mile in the Warstep Stakes. Equally impressive was Shipmaster’s close second to Queen Mellay over a mile on Wednesday after being late to clear a pocket on the inside.