Warlight sprints well in training

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33370, 31 October 1973, Page 8

Warlight sprints well in training

Wariight might not have the most appealing form background of the Stewards’ Handicap acceptors but he should certainly be one of the south’s fittest contenders for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s big sprint if his gallop in training at Riccarton yesterday was any indication. Warlight, with his race rider, M. J. Skelton, up, completed his work 40 feet out on a firm course proper in 49 3-ssec and made it look easy. The only trialist to better Warlight’s time during the training was the Welcome Stakes candidate Lidoson. In the hands of E. G. Low he dashed over 800 m in 49sec.

Other trialists to break 50sec during the training were Europium and Polystyrene, which have engagements in minor events on Cup Day. Europium (P. Thistoll) took 49 4-ssec for her 800 m and Polystyrene (S. Ching) recorded the same time. Donnybrook Fair, the south’s brightest New Zealand Cup hope, continued his preparation with a work-out over ground. He was timed for the last 1800 m of his solo effort in 2:0 1-5 and came the last 800 m in 52 l-ssec. N. T.

Cowles was his rider in yesterday’s trial but J. R. Dowling will have the mount in the New Zealand Cup. The Wingatui-trained maiden, Nickaburn, showed that he might not be out of his depth in the Spring Plate when he matched the Welcome Stakes prospect, Shudup, in a fast 1200 m. They ran the distance in 1:15 1-5 and came the last 800 m in 50 l-ssec. Sudden Change (G. Mein) and Entourage (A. Eastwood) were together throughout their 1200 m in 1:18, the final 800 m in 50 4-ssec. Entourage is one of the local form runners for the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas and Sudden Change’s first-day assignment will be the Riccarton Handicap. Other Riccarton Handicap rivals to work at speed were Diamond King, Mellie and Ash. Diamond King (G. Gullery) rounded off his work with 800 m in 50 l-ssec; Mellie (D. Reed) took 51sec and Ash (P. Smith) 53sec. Jury (G. Mein) took 51 2-ssec for his 800 m and his stablemate, Baltic Blue, with the same rider up, took 51sec. Mein will ride Baltic Blue in the Stewards’ Handicap and A. H. Eastwood will be Jury’s rider in the same race. Frosty (P. Thistoll) and Kai Tak (M. Cowan) w r ere paired for 1400 m in 1:34. the final 800 m in 42 3-ssec. Frosty will contest the Waimairi High-weight and Kai Tak the Hagley Handicap on Saturday. The Riccarton Handicap lightweight, Rebel Lad (D. Sanderson). was partnered by King’s Gate (L. Molloy) over 800 m in 52sec. Galapan (M. Thornley) and Moats (I. Grant) took 51 l-ssec for their 800 m. Galapan is one of the local form runners for the Welcome Stakes. Kllala. one of the doubtful 10 now for the Spring Plate on Saturday, was to have worked with Castle Hill but broke away from the crossing and could not be restrained by her rider. D Reed. Even so. she went 600 m up the back in 40 4-ssec and completed 1400 m in 1:33 1-5. Wigs (Cowles) and All Out (Lucas) were together throughout 800 m in 51 l-ssec, and Takings (M. Craig) took 50 3-5 sec for her solo task.