Strong challengers from Canterbury

Press, 2 June 1982, Page 31

Strong challengers from Canterbury

By

J. J. BOYLE

Canterbury trainers should put strong challengers into the fields for feature flat races at the Otago Racing Club's winter meeting next week-end. Canterbury-trained hopefuls for the Moyles Handicap on Saturday included the syndicated Decor Doll, a winner over the same distance (1600 m for the Harris stable at Oamaru. Last year John Parsons won the’ Moyles Handicap with Highborn and the Birthday Handicap with Good Way. Good Way will try for.his second Birthday Handicap victory next Monday, and Amatrica and Jane Again will run for the Parsons stable in the Moyles Handicap. first leg of the T.A.B. double on Saturday. Good Way showed he had trained on well since his good race against the metric milers at the Hororata meeting when he beat Te Poriro comfortably in a 1400 m trial on the plough at Riccarton yesterday. Trialists had excellent footing, and Good Way hur-

ried over the 1400 m in 1:30.2. to finish two lengths clear of Te Poriro. Good Way ran his last 600 in 38.8. In a solo test at the same distance Amatrice recorded 1:32.6, easing after cutting out the opening 600 in 38.2. Amatrice, a winner on both firm and heavy tracks about midway through the season, will be ridden by the stable lightweight. Bruce Smith, on Saturday. Octane and Arafura Sea, two of five runners for Michael Pitman’s stable at Wingatui, took advantage of excellent footing on the plough to return 1:28.9 for 1400, the last 600 in 38. Indigod and Silver Bayou stayed on terms to the end of 800’ in 49.4. the last 600 in 36. Indigod will run against the sprinters on the second day of the Otago meeting. Brandy and Duvall returned 51. and 38 for the final 600. Tom Lalor's pair. Le Valet and Kelly Robe, scorched over 600 in 36.8. Magellan followed with 49.2 for 800, and 36 for the final 600. As usual he went

about his work with great gusto. In his final sprint after a spell Ay Em returned 38.8 for 600. Dolmar sprinted 1200 on the No. 7 grass in 1:20 to keep him at close to racing pitch for his campaign over the Grand Nationals carnival in Melbourne. He will be flown from Wellington to Melbourne on June 10. Firpo, which will make his hurdling debut at Wingatui on Saturday, was paired with Wreys Ridge for a run over eight flights. Once they levelled up in the early stages they jumped competently at speed. Wreys Ridge will be one of Firpo's rivals in the Dunedin Hurdles on Saturday. He was a useful third in the corresponding race at the Hororata meeting. Spit 'N Polish and Singing Star also did a round of the schooling hurdles, and- Grey Appro got around the trial chasing course without error. Grey Appro was on trial for the Tahuna Steeples on Saturday, and yesterday's effort probably earned a start for him.