Spritely Miss all the way

Press, 6 October 1980, Page 23

Spritely Miss all the way

Special correspondent Dunedin

Spritely Miss, an all-the-way winner of the Miss World Handicap at the Otago Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday, now has the New Zealand Cup in her sights. "That win would qualify her for the cup. We will have to have a go at something as she is only leased until February,” said Ned Thistoll, Who with his son, Lloyd, trains her at Riccarton.

The prepare the five-year-old daughter of Balios and Shy Sprite for bob and Jim Hambley and their wives from the West Coast.

They have her on lease from Jack Minehan, of Weedons.

Spritely Miss was well rated in front by Ron McCann, who sprinted her clear of the others at the 500 m. She held her advantage to win by five lengths. Candyboy, which had raced three back on the inner led a vain chase from the top of the stretch. Firpo ran on a shade for third in a gap of four lengths.

“She has not done that much racing. She split a pedal bone which kept her out for a while,” said Thistoll.

Spritely Miss looked strong on Saturday and the manner that she ran out 2200 m, suggests she could be a lightweight prospect in a major handicap. Hi Roona, another West

Coast-owned galloper, ran out a decisive winner of the Bob Shepherd Memorial Handicap, second leg of the T.A.B. double. Hi Roona was ridden by Karen Thornley, who replaced her husband, Maurice, trainer of the eight-year-old. Maurice was unable to make the weight of 55kg. Karen was able to claim I.skg. Hi Roona, and a stablemate, Sugar Time, will now be campaigned on the Southland circuit by Maurice, starting with the Winton meeting on Saturday. Pan Flight lived up to her reputation with a convincing win in the McLean Stakes.

Pan Flight jumped to the front from No. 9 at the barrier and won by a length and a half from Katiki Bay, which was in second place throughout.

“I like her a little bit more, she has such a nice nature, but both are brilliant”, said the rider, Kevin Morton, when asked to compare Pan Flight with her sister Tai Flight, which won the Champagne Stakes at Wingatui last season. Pan Flight, which is raced by Bob and Mary Wallace, and trained at Wyndham by Gerald Robertson, has been entered for a two-year-old race at the Southland meeting later this month. The Wallaces have a half brother by Showoff to Tai Flight and Pan Flight entered for the National Yearling sale at Trentham in January. Their dam. Tranquil Flight, which also left Kapai and In Full Flight, recently foaled a colt by Ruling. She is at Morrinsville to be mated with Zephyr Bay.