Riccarton challengers ready for visitors

Press, 12 October 1988, Page 45

Riccarton challengers ready for visitors

By DAVID MCCARTHY The host of challengers from the North Island already gathering at the visitors boxes at Riccarton, will find the hometown horses more than ready for battle at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday judging by an extensive work session on the plough yesterday.

A steady stream of smart performances against the clock indicates Riccarton-trained horses are winding up for the big spring carnival and several took the eye with their efforts.

Of interest apart from their times were the efforts of Samassan and last season’s Southland Guineas winner Reykjavik.

Samassan will be at the trials on Sunday and will then tilt at the Banks Peninsula Cup after which a decision will be made on a run in the Lion Brown New Zealand Cup. Samasaan did not miss a lot of work as a result of a minor operation recently and, as he has been in work since March, he could yet be seasoned

enough by trainer Garth Jackson’s judgment to run in the Riccarton feature. He stayed in touch with McArdle Bloodstock Breeders’ Stakes runner Joy tripper, tried in blinkers, over 800 m yesterday.

Reykjavik has been brought up patiently by Helen Preston and is also likely to be at the trials this week. He looked fit running 800 m yesterday. One of the best gallops of the season came late when Decree Nisi shaded the former northerner, Reigndale, in a slick 800 m. Reigndale, formerly with the O’Sullivans, is nominated for Saturday while Decree Nisi indicated early improvement on some sluggish spring performances to date.

Grant Davison, after much thought, has gone for Camallino Star as his Breeders’ Stakes ride and the mare worked well with Newginn yesterday. She will be near the top of the handicap in the Breeders’ but looks well primed for a repeat of last year’s success. Alynda, designated a cer-

tain starter, could ensure some weight relief for the Riccarton mare. Garth Ivil arrived with a team of seven horses yesterday morning and Murray Baker, Gus Clutterbuck and Bruce Marsh are among trainers with visiting teams expected during the week. All will likely remain in the district until after the Riccarton carnival. Noel Esles withdrew his team on Monday. Work on the plough which was in good order included: Straight Line (Malcolm), 600 m in 36.9; Spangles (Kerr), shading Tide Mark (Heaton), 600 m in 36.3 (last 200 m in 11.4); Kitt (Malcolm), 600 m in 37 (12.1); Camallino Star (Jackson), with Newginn (Jason Wilson), 800 m in 51.4 (11.5); Super Strike (Jamieson), with Canterbury Star (Stevenson), 1400 m in 1:38.8, last 600 m in 40 (12.3); Great Zeal (Brown), 800 m in 51.1, 600 m in 37.9 (11.8); Morning Wings (Rickerby), 600 m in 37.8 (11.6) Isle of Arran (Lee), with Star Day (Pelling), 1200 m in 1:21.5, 600 m in 38.4; Going (Stevenson), with Coconut Ice (Pelling), and The Red Queen (Pemberton), 1000 m in 1:05.1; 600 m in 37.4 (11.7) La Baraka (Kerr), 800 m in 48.8 (12.1); Essayour

(Malcolm), 800 m in 54.8, 600 m in 38.4 (12.4); Kaoru Brave (Caird), 600 m in 38.4 (11.4); Peach Melba (Miles), shading Eye Full (Davison), 1400 m in 1:37.6. 600 m in 38.7 (12.3) Advocate (Pelling), 600 m in 38; Samasaan (Oakeshott), and Joytripper (Jackson), 800 m in 52.7, 600 m in 38.8 (12.1); Koi Ragi, even 1200 m in 1:23.7; La Truce (Stevenson), 600 m in 41; Wessex (Davison), 600 m in 36.4 (11.3) Maestri (Jamieson), Lickofice (Rickerby), and Tolman (Brown), 1200 m in 1:18.5, 600 m in 37.8 (11.8). Maestri showing out: Fury (Lee), 800 m in 53.7, 600 m in 38.4; Swig (Falvey), and Baroness Beethoven (Dowling), 1200 m in 1:20.6, 600 m in 38.2 (11.5), Martinet (Davison), 600 m in 39.6 (12); Reykjavik (Davison), with Smart Dancer (Pemberton), 800 m in 51.7 (11.8); Shirley’s Pal (Stevenson), 1000 m in 1:05.5, 600 m in 37.6; Bolt Cutter (McCann), and Flighty Light (Grenfell), 1000 m in 1:06.8, 600 m in 38.4 (11.7); Regall Romp 800 m in 53.5, 600 m in 38.2 (11.2); Decree Nisi (Malcolm), showing out from Reigndale (Williams), 800 m in 51.9, 600 m in 36 (11), Navy Lark (Pitman), Serenity (Fallen), and Palmyrah Treat (Gerrard), 1000 m in 1:04; Wakeful Knight (Williams), always clear of Apello (Cook), 1200 m in 1:20.2; 600 m in 38.9 (11.9).