Half-sisters might keep Great Easter in family

Press, 11 April 1977, Page 12

Half-sisters might keep Great Easter in family

By

J. J. Boyle

The half-sisters. Top Secret and 1 rade Secret, are in form to make the Great Easter Handicap at Riccarton today a triumph for their Southland breeders, Mr and Mrs J. S. Mclntosh, and for the Wingatui stable of Cliff Reese-Jones.

A victory for either of them would forge a family link in the records of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s long-established race, first run 85 years ago. Entrancing, the grand-dam of Top Secret and Trade Secret. was a surprise Great Easter Handicap winner 26 years ago for the Riccarton stable of the late Bert Gillett. The records of the Great Easter are studded with some famous names. Grey Way won as a four-year-old two years ago. Show Gate triumphed as a three-year-

f old in 1973 and Susan Janei J(1971) was another success-1 ’ jful second-season performer. ] e ! If there is another Greyi s iWay or a Show Gate ini t'today’s Great Easter Handi- • cap field its talents has not] I yet found full flowering. ; !- FORM APLENTY t' But the field of tidy size! 6. certainly has a good quota i n|of form horses and five will: -[go into the race as last-start, winners. t Great Blaze has won at; h his last two starts, and the I y; Riccarton-owned, Ashburtondetrained gelding will be a ej worthy top-weight under I -; any conditions.

ii Great Blaze is of the ver-1 jsatile tribe of Mellay and’l [was showing winning form;; ion winter tracks before he i 1 emerged as one of Canter- 1 ; bury’s notable sprinting sue- i [cesses of the present season, i ; Other runners for the de-lj ; ceased champion Mellay in 11 I the Great Easter will be Topi Secret and The Swagger. [< i Sir James, a brother of r the Riverton Cup winner, |( Waronui. will attempt to im-lj \ prove the good holiday;! 'record for his family in it I today’s George Adams r Handicap, and Anita Kayjr will be a second representa-ic |tive for Mellay in the first 11 leg of today’s T.A.B. double. If

Sir James has thrived on his summer and autumn programme, which has produced six wins and three seconds, from 10 starts, and there was none keener than the Washdyke chestnut when he galloped on the plough at Riccarton on Saturday. The American-owned, Seven Forty Seven, top-1 weight with 60.5 in the! George Adams Handicap,! also galloped pleasingly at' Riccarton on Saturday. He is) a master of weight and hisl record is studded with some] notable feats on easy tracks,! one being victory by seven lengths in the Taranaki Cup last season.