Stylish exhibition from Red Chiffon at Washdyke

Press, 8 December 1987, Page 45

Stylish exhibition from Red Chiffon at Washdyke

By

DAVID McCARTHY

Red Chiffon effectively withdrew herself from the Wrightson “Southern Filly of the Year” series. She now leads on points after a stylish exhibition in the Show Gate Ladies* Mile at Washdyke, yesterday. Die filly will now return to the Foxton base of the Busuttin stable to be prepared for the New Zealand Oaks on January 30 with lead-up events likely to include the CRS

Wellington Stakes the same month. “She had to win today to justify taking on the big races up north and she should measure up to them. She is improving all the time and will like racing over more ground,” said Jim Melton, the director of the Riccarton branch of the Busuttin stable. Red Chiffon is from the first crop of Sovereign Red and had to be good to

win yesterday. She was left somewhat "flat footed” when Dancer’s Rythym sprinted to the leaders at the home turn and at that stage was still several lengths in arrears of the pacemakers- _ . u Red Chiffon unwound in the style of a promising middle-distance horse to win in the end by half a length from Dancer’s Rythym, which was always handy, and Ultra

Sound. The latter was well enough placed on the rails early, but was up at a vital stage in the straight. She was running on solidly enough at the finish post Red Chiffon now has eight points in the series she cannot win, one more than the early leader, Spangles, which again raced well below her ability yesterday.

Spangles led the chase after tearaway pacemaker, Royal Friend, but was battling to stay with the leaders before the turn. She beat only two home. The performance is likely to throw any Immediate racing plans into doubt

Red Chiffon recorded an excellent 1:36 for the 1600 m and will be a distinct loss to the Canterbury racing scene.