RICCARTON TRAINING

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 261, 2 August 1939, Page 15

RICCARTON TRAINING

Little Serious Galloping STEEPLECHASERS SCHOOL Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, August 1. Overhead conditions were . favourable for training operations at Riccarton today. It was expected that the course proper would have been open for galloping and schooling, but overnight rain left the surface in a soft condition, and it was decided not to open it till tomorrow. It will then be available for the remainder of the week. The inside of the trial grass was used for galloping and there was one schooling task over the inside steeplechase fences. Though a large contingent of horses made use of the grass track, there was very little serious galloping, which was mostly confined to half-mile sprints either along the back stretch or the home. Included in those thus worked were Royal Chief and Moorsotis. who ran three furlongs in 39, and Defaulter, who, with Night Dress, covered six furlongs in 1.20. Royal Chief, Moorsotis, Defaulter and Mungatoon will 'be shipped north tomorrow to connect with the Wanganella leaving Wellington for Sydney on Thursday. The fastest half-mile sprint was credited to Winning Rival, who recorded 50 1-5 along the back, and St._Cloud and Fascinator followed in 50 3-5. Others were: Good Passage and Great Swoop, 51 3-5; Counterblast, 52; In the Dark, 52 4-5; Tiut-o-Tap, 52 2-5; Jumeaux Ravine, 54; Blue Coat, 53; Settlement and Prudent Prince, 53. Trench Fight strode over a mile in 1.45, the first half in 50, and Nightealm went over the same ground in 1.45 1-5, the first half in 52. Slayer, Manawatu and Mount Vai occupied 1.51. Catalogue and Astaire ran six furlongs under restraint in 1.23, and Roy Bun finished in front of Padishah at the end of seven furlongs in 1.35 1-5. Grey Night was doing well alongside Master Hotspur after covering six furlongs in 1.20 1-5. . Survey (A. E. Ellis) and Ennation (R. Savage) added interest to the proceedings by jumping a round of the inside steeplechase course, five fences, in all. Survey was careful over the first two. but improved as the task progressed and finished up with a pleasing eflort over the stand double. Erination gave a good display except that he did not appear very comfortable over the double. This pair will be schooled over the big country later in the week and much. interest will be evinced in their showing. Disturbed (J. Toki), Sjlk Sox (J. McLaughlin) and Colonel French (T. Boyle) were companions over four, hurdles. The first-named rushed away with a 'big lead, but was steadied after hitting the third fence and was tiring at the end. He was pulled off after the fourth fence, and the other pair continued for another circuit, both giving clean displays. Disturbed specially appealed for his smart jumping, which always had him ahead of his stablemate.