Judge Obadiah set for cup

Press, 31 August 1977, Page 39

Judge Obadiah set for cup

Special correspondent Invercargill The weight-for-age Canterbury Gold Cup at Riccarton in November is to he the main early summer mission for the classy Southland four-year-old, Judge Obadiah. The Whistling Willie gelding, one of the South

Island? top three-ysar-olds last season resumed on a successful note when he beat the Winter Cup winner. Dia-! mond Pal, in the Whitestone Handicap at Oamaru last iweek. His owner-trainers. Peter Smellie and Kelvin Thompson, feel he will be close to his best by Cup week at Riccarton and that the distance of the Canterbury' Gold Cup will suit him. Judge Obadiah is certain to be improved considerably by his Oamaru success, as I he is still a shade above him-| self in condition. He took high ranking among the South Island three-year-olds last season, when he ran third in the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas at Riccarton. GEAR STOLEN The recent Grand National carnival at Riccarton will be one that two of Southland's most promising apprentices, E. E. Winsloe and S. J. Dalton, will not have fond memories of. Both young riders had valuable riding gear stolen from the jockey’s room at the carnival. Winsloe was particularly ' unfortunate, having two I saddles stolen, as well as a I saddle-bag. , Dalton had a riding saddle | removed from the jockey’s [room. : The total replacement !value of the gear has been : conservatively estimated at I $650. Police have been advised of ithe missing equipment.