No-one in dark about Midknight

Press, 20 July 1979, Page 16

No-one in dark about Midknight

” By

J. J. BOYLE

Midknight was very much on view at Riccarton yesterday. His trainer and part ow ner. Bevan Laming, paid for the use of the outside of the course proper for the Lord Sasanol gelding and Leopard, rather than gallop them on the small, turning No. 6 grass. Midknight could not have been mure impressive in his final gal .'op before the South Canterbury Hunt Club's meeting tomorrow. He beat Leopard by throe lengths from the 1200 m, ran that distance in linin 19.2 sec, and the last 600 m in 41 see. Cracker Day did Ills winding up gallop for the Claremont Handicap on (he No. 6 grass, lie was paired with Young Kelly, but ran clear in the straight a<'l won the 1200 m snrint by thu e lengths in linin 2l.6see. Cracker Day was easing near the end, taking 41.4 sec for the last 600 m, but he would have come up with faster time if Young Kelly could have stayed close. Hi Roona. another Claremont Handicap form runner, was restricted to 41 sec for 600 m. On Tap. a stablcmate of Cracker D- v. returned linin 25 sec for 1900 m Ernest reeo» : ded Imhi 25.Gx' *, and Denosera. a form runner in the hurdles at Washdyke, fol }low«‘d In linin 26.25ec. i Little Brown Jug went „ho it his work with plenty of vim while running 1000 m in linin 10.8

■ sec, the last 600 m in 42.45ec. j Buzz Bee and Dunbeg hurried in from the 600 m in 39.25ec, and idid their work attractively. I Trial Run and Rapid Flight worked easily from the 160Qm and quickened for the last 600 m ■in 42.25ec. I Rockford went about his work keenly while running 600 m in 40.4 sec. ! Firpo completed 1200 m in imia 21.4 sec. the last 600 m in 41.4 sec. Ho, like Rockford, has a strong 1 winter record at Riccarton and should be a force in middle distance races at the Grand Na tional meeting.

The Canterbury and Westland Ou ncrs & Trainers Assn (Inc.)