Tai Michelle in dashing run at Riccarton

Press, 7 November 1978, Page 23

Tai Michelle in dashing run at Riccarton

Tai Michelle, beaten favourite in the Welcome Stakes on Saturday, has found enough improvement with that race to make amends in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Picmeer Handican tomorrow. She was impressive when running 600 m in 36.6 on the trial grass yesterday. She was clearly able to improve on that time, but had no competition from Passed Out, which dropped away into a gap Of three lengths when they were getting into stride. Tai Michelle is a stablemate of the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas winner, Teddy Doon, one of a strong band of three-year-olds in the weight-for-age Canterbury Gold Cup tomorrow.

Teddy Doon did striding, work on the plough yesterday. “He has eaten up and done well since the guineas,” said Newton Slade, stable foreman for Teddy Doon’s trainer, Graeme Rogerson. Golden Key, the Two Thousand Guineas fourth, yesterday sprinted 800 m in (48. Th„ Guineas was only I his second race since early i in September, and he might be another youthful improver in the Canterbury Gold Cup. Holy Toledo, which finished at a great rate in the ! Guineas, did pace work on the plough. He is a relaxed type, and there is stable confidence in his ability to master 2000 m. “He had all the luck against him on Saturday,”

his part owner, Mrs Mau«; reen Madsen, said yesterday. “He must have run his last 600 m in phenomenal time to get up for third.” The southerner, Deep Mystery, sprinted 800 m on the trial grass yesterday in 48. He missed a start cm the first day of the meeting because he had gone off his feed, but it is hoped to run him in the Fendalton Handicap tomorrow. San Ardo, the Fendalton Handicap top-weight, showed his usual keeness when worked on the plough. To finish his second round he was allowed to brush over 1600 in 38.

Rustique raised hopes for a home-course victory in the Ashley Handicap when he ran l’6oom at a great rate yesterday. He recorded Imin 39.4 s for the distance after

cutting out the opening 800 in 49.6. Other gallops:— TRIAL GRASS 800 m— Salvaro, 5 lengths Sparrowhawk, 49.4; Ronallin and Bronwyn 48.4; Mr Dee Jay and Brodie 51; Moon Orbit 49.4. 600 m. —-Firpo 37.4. PLOUGH 1400.— Denali 1.29.6, last 600 39. J 1200 m.— Highborn and Arrjon Imin 18.8 s, last 600, 40; Redene and Eklah two, (lengths Orgella, Imin 19s, (last 600 38.6. : 800 m.— Jack Dugan and I Belsen's Bank. 52.8, last 600, 136.6. j 600 m.— Rosie’s Boy and [Wat Next 39; Top Grade. 2 lengths Lady Aristoi, 38; [Gay Heiress 37.6; Enchanted IMelody and Blue Sage 36.4; (Fun Flutter and Abigail 38; : Indigod. 3 lengths Comtnunion. 36.