St James, Spangles may clash

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 36

St James, Spangles may clash

By DAVID MCCARTHY St James, his high public profile challenged by the brilliance of Spangles in the Canterbury Belle Stakes on Saturday, looks set to clash with the filly in the CJC Classics Trial next week.

It is a move which trainer Peter Jones makes reluctantly, partly because the race is under handicap cqnditions and St James will be conceding plenty of weight to Spangles and others.

The clash could also be a less than ideal result for Grant Davison who has ridden both horses this spring. He indicated on Saturday that he would stay with the filly while Jones has made no plans at this stage for a replacement rider.

St James (Barry Felling) ran 800 m in 51.2 s on the course proper yester-

day in company with the Noble Bijou youngster, Man of Honour. Jones was relieved the colt pulled up well though he blew heavily afterwards. “He is going to need racing before the Guineas. That is why I can’t afford tq miss next week. Then we’ll go to Rangiora and probably the 1000 m openclass race (Printpac Handicap) on the first day of the Cup meeting as a final trial,” Jones said yesterday.

“Our main concern at this stage is the hard tracks. He was scratchy galloping last week and is jarring up on the hard going. It is not surprising with such a big gross colt which hits the ground quite hard but it is going to be a problem getting him ready if we don’t get any rain.”

Spangles did not gallop yesterday. She has come through her outstanding debut with some minor scars of combat from an incident after 200 m and the Kerr stable is considering running her at the trials on Sunday. Spangles suffered from bucked shins in the autumn but regular swimming has helped her conditioning this term. Like most horses though, more “spring” in the spring tracks would suit her.

Maestri will resume his New Zealand Cup preparation in the Cup Trial next week and he bowled a comfortable 600 m on the plough with Ready Flow in 39.2 s yesterday. The plough was the more popular work track and even without Spangles two Kerr stable maidens still produced the best sprints, Donnatela running

a solo 36.7 s and Delphinium Blue a solo 36.2 s each with Leanne Bent up.

The Murfitt team commanded interest and the veteran trainer announced that Peach Melba will be the stable runner in the Classique Cottages Breeders’ Stakes next Saturday with Eye Full running in the C2 Noble Bijbu Handicap, over 1600 m. Eye Full (Miles), ran an easy solo 800 m in 42s while Peach Melba (Johnson), and Big Chance (Miles), were more ambitious running 800 m in 52.3, finishing together. Other work included: — Course proper; markers wide out; firm. Ruff (Reid), solo 800 m in 50.8; Blue Chip (Johnson), and Hurunui (Moir), 1000 m in 1:06.9, last 600 m

38.4, on terms; Minty (Harris), solo 800 m in 51.6; Cranboume (Cameron), and James Garet (lightweight), 800 m, 52.5, together. Plough, good.

Ampac (Rickerby), solo 1200 m, last 600 m in 39.1;, New Wine (Jamieson), solo 800 m easily in 57 (42); Travanti (Turnbull), solo 600 m 37.15; Great Zeal (Rickerby), easy 600 m in 40.8; Sun Street (Johnson), and Flighty Light (Raewyn Grenfell), 600 m in 37.8 on terms; Harto (Jamieson), 600 m easily in 38.5; Show King colt (Cameron), shading Ring the Bell colt (Prendergast), 800 m in 52.4, 600 m in 36.8; Rare Chance (Oakeshott), and Dreamee Cloud (Falvey), 600 m together in 38.6; Armont (Falvey), solo 1200 m in 1:19.8, last 600 m in 38.8.