Racing and trotting Half-brothers might star in Riccarton feature races

Press, 29 July 1978, Page 20

Racing and trotting Half-brothers might star in Riccarton feature races

By

J. J. BOYLE

The half-brothers, First Wood and Big Skipper, will engage lively attention in feature races at the Christchurch Hunt Meeting at Riccarton today.

If he has made average improvement with his two recent races on the wintei circuit First Wood should throw down a formidable challenge to the best of the others in the Homeby j Steeplechase. Biig Skipper goes into the I Brabazon Handicap without the benefit of recent racing. I but he might show enough I at 1400 m to bring him in | for attention on a count-; down for the Winter Cup ( next week and, possibly, ( important spring engage- 1 ments in Australia. First Wood and Big Skipper are close relations of l.och Linnhe. winner of two; Great Northerns, a New Zealand Grand National and an I Australian Grand National for the late Mr W. E. Hazlett. First Wood was fourth in I last vear's Australian Grand National when trained by; Jack Winder, of Cambridge.

This year he is back in the hands of Bill Hillis, who developed the Lomond gelding’s jumping skills likely to be employed to good effect today. First Wood is three years younger and will carry 5.5 kg I less than Thun, the winner of the Homeby- ! Grand National double for I Eric Temperton’s stable two i years ago. North Island backing might make Thun favourite today, but the top-weight could I come under heavy pressure > from First Wood at the! I weights. Southland stables will also: be represented by the veteran I Cheeky Fella, the youthful ’ I Magic Gold, and First Wood’s I stahlemate, Taramea Bay. : Cheeky Fella is within a: :few days of his thirteenth! official birthday, and Magic, Gold is eight years his junior. I But they share the ability to!

jump fast, and are seasoned by recent racing on the South (Canterbury circuit. Terex missed a race on his home course at Washdykt last week because of some filling in a leg. But his buildup for this carnical has been adequate, and his victory by 15 lengths over the stablemates, Taramea Bay and First Wood, in the Timaru Steeples on July 1 will bring him in for plenty of attention today Able Note and Duty Point both from North Island stables, should both throw down formidable challenges to the best of the others in today’s Brabazon Handicap The North Island has not put so many likely runners into a Brabazon Handicap for many years and this development should give the race greater stature as a guide to next week’s $15,000 Winter Cup.