Rockford again pleases in training

Press, 23 June 1978, Page 1 (Supplement)

Rockford again pleases in training

For the second time this week Rockford captured more attention as a possible winner for Ashburton by galloping strongly in training at Riccarton yesterday. He beat Dolmar by two lengths over 1400 m on a soft No. 1 grass yesterday, and returned Imin 35.45, the last 800 in 51.4.

Rockford missed a start when Oamaru was postponed for two days last week-end, but the first leg of the Ashburton T.A.B. double should still find him close to his best. A ground fog prevented

the timing of several of the early gallops yesterday. Showers during the training also made for changes in the footing and weighed against any .consistent pattern.

The two-year-old Vermont had the best of the footing when he sprinted 800 in 50 before the track cut out. Such an effort would have have been hard to match later.

Galloping later in the morning Salonika handled the conditions well to return imin 52.8 s for 1600 m and 54 for the last 800.

-Anthos had an edge over Full Stop fininishing their 800 min 54.85. Faite Vos Jeux led his stablemate, Bilingual, by two lengths after running 800 in 54.4. Faite Vos Jeux, a halfbrother to the smart Ade-laide-trained winner Young and Rich, appears to be on the threshold of a patch of winning form for the stable o< Ron McCann.

McCann’s hopes of capturing another win at Ashburton with Double Vision have been set hack. The winner of her last four races. Double

Vision is under treatment for infection in a hock. The Firs and Tatlyreaeh sprinted 800 m in 53.85. As the only winner in the field The Firs will be one of the stronger fancies in the Lyndhurst Handicap at Ashburton.

I. a Tigue, another Lyndhurst Handicap candidate, recorded 54.5 and Lead the Way finished his work by running in from the 800 in 53.

Lord Fable and Bellcaska ran their 800 m in 53.45. Thomas Mellay took 54.8.