Busy track session at Riccarton

Press, 17 July 1987, Page 22

Busy track session at Riccarton

david McCarthy Famillion underlined his prospects for Washdyke and Black Arrow hinted at better things to come during a busy track session on a soggy No. 7 grass at Riccarton yesterday. Famillion (Diane Pitman) finished clear of Torchstar (Fallon) and Dester (Williams) and his 600 m time of 39.8 s was the best of the session. Michael Pitman is especially pleased with the way Famillion has thrived during his present campaign and is expecting a bold bid from the Blue Vermillion gelding tomorrow. Black Arrow worked earlier with Signum. The fit-looking Licorice Stick horse was ridden by Jane Gardiner and had the edge over Signum (Jamieson) at the end of 600 m in 40.25. Black Arrow has little recent form but has usually blossomed over the Riccarton winter carnival

and looks on target again. Tsi Yang (Davison) was too slick for Palstep (Prendergast) and Cranboume (Cameron) in 41.3 s early on in the session while Applicate (Rickerby) went to his work with a will running 1200 m, the last 600 m in 41.35. He is very well. Toy Dagger (Williams) was too fast for Lady Rio (Pitman) in 40.3 s while Vitzburgh (Kenyon) rounded off a 1000 m gallop with the 600 m in 42.45. Kanella (Cameron) and Kingslee Lady (Prendergast) came home in 42s followed by Adios King (Jamieson) with a solo 41.25. Great Zeal (Rickerby) again worked well on his own running 1200 m in 1:23.8 home in 41s. Biko (Williams) and Precision Bid (Reid) were on terms after 1200 m in 1:21.4s the last 600 m of 40.8 s which was useful work. Their stablemates St James (Davison) and Col-

raggi (Reid), a Sound Reason youngster, later worked comfortably over 600 m in 41.35. Jamie Garet (Matthews), which makes his debut on Saturday, came in nicely from the 600 m with Brit (Cameron), doing slightly the better at 40.45. Corrie Doone (Davison)

and Torchstar (Jan Kerr) were not chased hard to run 40.5 s but did their work well. On Appeal (Pitman) ran a solo 600 m in 41s while Critique (lightweight) and Mitzi Gay (Matthews) sprinted in attractive style to finish together in 39.95. La Tough (Bailey) ran a solid solo 600 m in 40.5.