Monday trip for Thomas Mellay
Thomas Mellay, a strong South Island hope for the $40,000 Avondale Cup next week, will be flown from Christchurch to Auckland on Monday morning. But his trainer. Michael McCann, will leave him in the field for tomorrow’s Christmas Handicap at Riccarton in case the promising young stayer is unexpectedly dropped from the field when acceptances for the Avondale Cup are taken today. McCann said yesterday that he had engaged Ron McMurdo to ride Thomas Mellay in the first leg of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s TAB. double. He would have run his horse on his home course if he had failed to get a flight north by Monday.
“The horse is stronger than he was last year, but we are not prepared to give him two races in five days," McCann said yesterday. McCann said that even if Thomas Mellav fails to survive a ballot for the Avondale Cup field the horse will go to Auckland and run on the second day of the Avondale meeting LEG TROVBLF
The C. J C Christmas Handicap lost a form runner yesterdav when the Hiccarton trainer. Ned rhistoll, scratched Classic Legend. l eg trouble has put Classic Legend out of action, and it is another link in a chain of misfortunes for the stable which has also had to
sideline Karnak, Ruy Lopez, and Surge Again in the last few weeks.
The Washdyke stayer. Royal Dell, named as a doubtful starter by his trainer Barry Jones on Wednesday, remained in the field for the Christmas Handicap yesterday.
If Royal Dell is reserved for the Dunedin Cup meet ing the situation will be more clouded than ever. Beau Trie might be best able to capitalise on such a situation, and Cappello and Deep Mystery' will capture more attention.
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Press, 10 December 1976, Page 1 (Supplement)
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298Monday trip for Thomas Mellay Press, 10 December 1976, Page 1 (Supplement)
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