Stablemates fancied for Ashburton double

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33942, 8 September 1975, Page 9

Stablemates fancied for Ashburton double

In Europium and Surge Again the Riccarton father and son combination of “Ned” and Lloyd Thistoll have the right material to carry off the T.A.B. double at Ashburton tomorrow.

Europium looks certain to put the metric-milers to the test in the Gordons Gin Handicap and no-one will be surprised if Surge Again makes a successful fresh start among the open sprinters in tne Flying Handicap on the first day of the Ashburton County Racing Club’s spring meeting. If Europium, which is right! at the peak of her form at | the moment, is successful in (the first leg she will have .given the Thistoll stable its second successive victory in the race. Twelve months ago Thistoll senior prepared and| saddled Kai Tak to win the Gordons Gin Handicap. | If Europium’s victory | against the sprinters at last) Saturday week’s matinee meeting is taken into account she will be going for her third successive win tomorrow. At her last start in a totalisator race she deadheated for first with Windvale in the Heathcote Handicap on the second day of the Grand National meeting. RIVALS If Red Royal is reserved for the Ashburton Cup next Saturday Europium’s strongest rivals are likely to be Rebel Lad and Scotch William. Rebel Lad, one of Riccarton’s most consistent middledistance performers last season, resumed after a spell with a fair sixth among the metric-milers on the final day of the Grand National meeting. Given good footing this free-goer could be aroundabout it all the way although 1600 metres might be a little short of his best distance. Although success eluded Scotch William last season it could hardly be said he did not get top marks for consistency. His two starts this season have already yielded a fourth and a third and his latest attempt to chase Kauere Lad and Zeback home over tomorrow’s distance in the August Handicap on the final day of the Grand National meeting raised hopes of a-,win close at hand. WELL FORWARD By finishing second to Europium at the matinee meeting last Saturday Audaciter showed that he is pretty well forward to start another campaign but 1600 metres fresh-up on a testing course like Ashburton is a difficult assignment. Of those further down in the handicap, Willoughby, Apanui and William Brown make most appeal. Although Surge Again has been off the scene since May, he showed, with a fastfinishing third three lengths and a nose behind his stablemate and Audaciter at last Saturday week’s matinee meeting, that he is fit and ready to make a bold bid for the honours at 1200 metres in tomorrow’s Flying Handicap. The two most talented sprinters Surge Again will have to cope with are Zebak and the top-weight, Grey Way. OFF THE SCENE If Zebak has held the form —- and his recent gallops in training suggest he has — which earned him a .first and

a second at the Grand National meeting he will certainly take beating. Although he has been off the scene since April Grey Way will also command respect, despite his 59 kilograms. The only doubt about him is that he might be a little under-done. His Washdyke trainer, Pat Corboy, would, no doubt, have lined him up at the matinee meeting at Riccarton if the ground had not been heavy. He also had to miss another run under race-day conditions when the Orari trials last Thursday were abandoned. If Butch came up with a run comparable to the one which earned him a fifth in the Winter Cup last month there could well be a “home town” victory. William Brown will be a well-supported light-weight if this race is chosen as his mission and of the others in the field. Red Student, Deep Mystery, and the three-year-olds, Jipcho and Sharon Jane, which will all be making fresh starts, appeal most. Fields tor the T.A.B. double races are:— 2.30 p.m.— GORDONS GIN HANDICAP $1510; 1600 m. 1 8916 REBEL LAD (7) 55 17 g My Pal—Blarney Stone, G. H. Humphries, Riccarton). Win, two starts back; was on his home track at Hororata meeting in May. Fair sixth when resuming among metric milers at Grand National meeting, Usually very consistent and might run this distance well on roomy course. I. Grant 2 3464) AUDACITER (1) 53.5 (7 g Mellay—Svelte, K. W. Quayle, Riccarton). Has been off the scene since March but shaped well at matinee meeting last Saturday week and might go well at this distance while still comparatively fresh. R. McCann 3 1781 EUROPIUM (3) 53.5 (5 m Gate Keeper—Aoudo, D. J, and L. J. Thistoll, Riccarton). Dead-heated for first with Windvale in Heathcote Handicap at Grand National meeting last time out. Won well among sprinters at last Saturday’s matinee meeting. Should be top chance. M. Mein 4 6433 SCOTCH WILLIAM (9) 52.5 (6 h Grey WilliamAlloa, B. T. Jones, Washdyke). About as consistent as they come. Seldom runs poorly over distances up to 1600 m. Will command respect. K. Morton 5 5120 WILLOUGHBY (12) 52.5 (5 g Grey William—Hunting Melody, W. W, Shirley, Washdyke). Against fairly stiff opposition here but latest form cannot be faulted. Would have to be rated among better chances. 6 0763 RED ROYAL (8) 52 (8

g Mellay—Cali Me Madam, J. B. L. Savill. Amberley). Last-start third was in Islington Handicap at Grand National meeting. Impressive winner at matinee meet-

ing last Saturday. Very: capable but is apparently, not certain starter. 7 1162 APANUI (2) 51 (5 gl Greek God—Treasure Lass, W. W. Shirley, Washdyke). Struck a purple patch of form in the lower grades iate in the winter and showed he has held his form well with a sound run for second to Red Royal at last Saturday week’s matinee meeting. Should not have much bother measuring up in this class.

J. Pankhurst 8 1100 GREEK PRINCE (6) 51 (5 g Greek God—Silver Princess, T. W. Lalor, Omoto). Went too badly to be true in two starts in the top grade at Grand National meeting. Showed much ability in the lower grades not long beforehand so latest lapse might only be temporary,

W. Skelton 9 0700 GOOD NIP (11) 51 (6 h Eastern Nip—Good Halyard, E. P. Corboy, Washdyke). Won them in a row in the lower grades. during the winter but form since he reached open class has left much to be desired. This would probably be too short anyway.

W. Berry 10 0966 MALING (4) 51 (7 g Campo—Legal Money. S. B. Laming, Rangiora). Has been out of form too long to be regarded with much confidence. 11 7798 RIBEIRO (10) 51 (7 g Ribotlight—Vivien Robe, J. Lalor, Ashburton). Showed speed for time at matinee meeting last Saturday but beaten too often in weaker fields than this last season to be rated much of a chance.

D. Walsh 12 5031 WILLIAM BROWN (5) 51 (5 g Grey William—Fernhill, M. R. Jones. Washdyke). Outclassed in Winter Cup—his lone start at Grand National meeting—but fared better over this distance when successful at Wingatui on Saturday. Could be one of the best lightweights. G. Mein 4.20 p.m.— FLYING HANDICAP, $1300; 1200 m. 1 2113 GREY WAY (10) 59 (5 g Grey William—Waybrooke, E. P. Corboy, Washdyke). Proved himself against the best last season and although he has not raced since April could still be the hardest to beat. J. Walker 2 2132 SURGE AGAIN (1) 52.5 (6 g Resurgent—Never Again, D. J. and L. J. Thistoll, Riccarton). Can usually be relied upon for an honest effort and although he has been off the scene since May looks in grand order to make a fresh start. M. Mein 3 0012 ZEBAK (2) 52 (4 g

Afghanistan—Pango, R. J. McCann, Riccarton). A bit disappointing al times last season but regained his best form at Grand National meeting. Capable of testing most in this field if he comes up with a peak run.

R. McCann 4 0074 NEW YORK (6) 50.5 16 m Grey William—Belle York, L. H. Pratt, Orari). Form was pretty patchy last season but still very capable on her day. Has not raced since April but could go well fresh on roomy track. E. Winslow 5 8319 BEAU TRIC (7) 50 (5 h Trictrac—Last Dtp, K. W. Quale, Riccarton). Stayer having his first race since May. Not really fancied at this distance.

I. Grant 6 2259 BUTCH (5) 50 (5 g Mellay—Debbie Marie, J. Lalor, Ashburton). Good race for fifth in Winter Cup last month but soundly beaten In other start at Grand National meeting. Has had time to freshen and might take beating on his home track.

W. Skelton 7 8522 RED STUDENT (11) 49.5 15 h Royal Student—Reddie, J. D. Pankhurst, Wingatui). Has been off the scene since Mav but has previously raced well on this track and could go well fresh.

R. McAra 8 0608 RIBALDO (8) 49.5 (9 g Ribotlight—Fleur, C. L. Austin, Riccarton). Former ton stayer which has been off the scene through injury since last Auckland Cup meeting. Will probably need this run and a few more to bring him back to form.

G. Mein 9 5031 WILLIAM BROWN (9) 48.5 (5 g Grey William—Fernhill, M. R. Jones, Washdvke). Beat metric-milers at Wingatui on Saturday and would have to be respected in which ever race is chosen as his mission. 10 1154 DEEP MYSTERY (3) 48 14 g Agricola—lnside Story, J. C. Tomkinson. Riccarton). Showed much ability as a snrinter-miler in the lower grades last autumn. Was been off the scene since May but would have to be considered anyway. M. MePhle 11 8«00 HAGEN'S CLOUD <l3l 48 (K m Copenhagen IT—Nimbus Clmid, B. T. Jones, Washdvke). Form has slumped badly in four starts since she won a snrint double at Wingatui at Queen’s Birthday weekend. Latest failure was in Panama Hanfi’nap at Grand National meeting.

12 .'l2O JIPCHO (121 48 (3 g Sovereign prince—lav Em. I. W. Thomas. Riccarton). Looked well above average at times last season hut ran as if he badlv needed the race when paraded at last Saturday week’s matinee meeting. Should be imnroved bv that run and might he all the bettor for this one too.

13 3194 SHARON JANE (4) 48 (3 f Battle Waggon—Summer S'™. C. G. Low and J. A. Wilson, Wingatui). High class fillv whose victories last season included the Chamnagne Stakes at TWooarton. Failed . in b’d ground at Wingatui on Satijrdav bn* should be Improved by run.