Top Grade Riccarton hopeful for Trentham

Press, 6 May 1978, Page 20

Top Grade Riccarton hopeful for Trentham

By

J. J. BOYLE

Grey Way and the two-year-old Brutus have been the only winners for Canterbury stables at Trentham this season. Top Grade might improve a low score for the province at the Wellington Racing Club’s headquarters if the; footing remains reasonably i good for the Miramar Handicap today. This Riccarton-trained Anstoi gelding is unbeaten in four starts for his Nelson owner, Mr Alex Newman

| He recorded his first three, wins on South Islandi courses, and the fourth at : Awapuni. Such a record assures him of favouritism in the Miramar Handicap, the last race on today’s Trentham programme, and one of the events to be televised live. Top Grade is prepared by i Kevin Miller, one of the more recent additions to the ranks of Riccarton trainers. Mr Newman’s promising young galloper is from the -ame family as Cadiz and Boundless, which had major

triumphs on Trentham after; being sold as yearlings to;: South Island owners and entering Riccarton stables; some 20 years ago. The Nelson-trained Sean’s!’ Gift was scratched yesterday! from the Wadestown Handi-; cap, second leg of today’s! T.A.B. double at Trentham.; But the South Island will | have a runner in one of the'; early races, the Avalon; Handicap, for two-year-olds. ; The Tuahiwi trainer, Ray Harris, who successfully!' campaigned the two-year-oldi, Brutus at Trentham in']

March, has Phillograph as ■ another first-season hopeful in the Avalon Handicap. Phillograph has winning ; form, and galloped well at ITrentham on Thursday. ! One of his interesting rivals will be Concert, a ! half-sister by Music Teacher Ito Silver Liner, one of the | sprinting stars of the 'present season. I Concert has shown early ; ability for her Woodville Strainer, Eric Ropiha, and is; I held in high regard by her; J owner-breeder, Mr Arthur: Fell.