St James taken out of training

Press, 9 October 1987, Page 37

St James taken out of training

By

DAVID McCARTHY

St James’s chances of annnexing another Two Thousand Guineas for Rlccarton stables — dimmed by his reaction to unseasonably hard tracks in recent days — crumbled yesterday morning when the strapping colt limped off the course proper favouring his near fore leg. The Sound Reason three-year-old had mystified track watchers a few moments previous by being soundly beaten over 800 m in 50.6 s by the untried maiden, Man of Honour. For trainer Peter Jones it only confirmed his worst fears and he announced later the colt had been thrown out of training for an indefinite period.

"We will have him Xrayed to see whether he has suffered an actual injury because he has been favouring the leg a bit for a few days. But whatever happens he will be going out I spoke to Mr Richards (St James’s owner) yesterday and he understandably wants no risks taken with him. If it is only the tracks which

are the problem I hope to get him back for a race like the Dunedin Guineas,” Jones said. St James, winner of four of his five starts, has quite a heavy action, and spring and autumn tracks may have, in any case, suited him best “We were looking at the AJC Derby with him and perhaps Melbourne next spring but we will have to wait and see now,” said Jones of the colt which had attracted some large offers earlier in the year. His Injury takes some of the edge off the CJC Classics Trial next Saturday when Spangles is expected to resume. The chestnut filly was not given a searching assignment yesterday running 600 m on the plough in 40.15. The plough was the more popular venue again as the course proper training surface, being outside the irrigated section of the track, was reported as very hard by a number of riders. The local Melbourne Cup entry, Samasaan, worked a solid 1200 m with Black Arrow while

Luke and News and Views (with Bijou Lady) shared time honours in sprinting assignments. Plough: Good. Another Look (Moir) 1200 m, last 600 m 395; Tai Yang and Calm Sue 600 m, together, 375: Donnatela (Bent) 600 m, solo, 36.35: News and Views (Woledge) and Bijou Lady (Dowling) 600 m, together, 35.85: Samassan (Gardiner) and Black Arrow (Walters) 1200 m in 1:22, last 600 m, together, 38.55: Hurunui (Falvey) and Bamfyide (Woledge) 1200 m in 1:22.3 last 600 m, on terms, 39.95: Beks (Williams) solo 1400 m in 1:33.7, last 600 m, 395: Grandee (Bent) 600 m, solo, 38s: Dash *o Dublin (Moir) and Sun Street (Johnson) 800 m, together, 53.35: Reproach 600 m, solo, 39.15: Luke (Williams) dashing clear of Ngapui Tai (Pitman) early, 600 m, 35.75: Hypatia (Gardiner), giving Knightly Image three lengths at the 600 m, finishing alongside in 37.55. Traffic Dancer and Pieces of Silver 600 m, together, 38s. Course projjer, wide out; Firm. Ruff (Reid) 800 m, solo.

51.8 s (395): Shine and Chine (Moir) 800 m, solo, 54.3 s (39.35): Man of Honour (Reid) . shading St James (Felling) 800 m, 50.65.