STRONG RICCARTON TEAM

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 125, 20 February 1941, Page 11

STRONG RICCARTON TEAM

Candidates At Dunedin

i FORMIDABLE GROUP IN I CUP RACE I Dominion Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH. February 19. Riccarton stables will be strongly reI presented on lhe first day's card of the I Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting tomorrow. Royal Chief. Trench Fight. Wardress, Winning Rival. Schoolgirl, The Wrecker, ami Iceland Spar constitute a formidable lot in the Cuti. and Doria and Pleading should be worthy contestants in the open sprint. Royal Chief will be having liis first race .since being taken over by his present trainer, Mrs. J. Campbell, who will also have lier own mare, Wardress, to saddle up. Royal Chief has done well since hisWellington tri|>. and showed all of his old form in lii.s two winding-up gallops with Wardress. He has a big weight, but when his class is considered as against th::l ot the opposition. he cannot lie ignored. He will have ground to suit him, amt Ims always raced well at Wingatui. Trench Fight is also at his best, and can be depended upon to make a bold showing, but the last furlong may find a weakness. Very few of his breed have mastered anything above middle distances, and as he is now a seven-year-old stallion, he may not be able to break the spell.

Wardress did not suffer any ill-effects from her hard racing at Trentham. She will have a strong horseman up, and the distance will not find her out. Winning Rival has been showing gradual improvement since she was placed at Trentham last month, and her success in the Midsummer Handicap suggested that another Iwo furlongs would not trouble her. i Schoolgirl was not herself at Trentham, and little notice can be taken of her iorm there. She is in at a handyweight and can be expected to shotv prominence for a good way, though a 12furlong journey may be beyond her. The _ Wrecker has been working encouragingly. and if he raced up to his track displays he would have a lightweight’s chance, but he has to be taken on trust with the colours up. Iceland Spar is a distinct possibility provided a strong apprentice can be secured for him. He has won all of his races at the business end, and there is every reason to expect him to see out a mile and a half under his feather impost. Happy Night appears as an acceptor but was not taken south. Indications point to the visiting brigade taking an important part in the decision of Hie Cup, am] Winning Rival, Wardress and Royal Chief may do best. Doria will have a difficult task in the Public-airs Handicap to concede 171 b. to Pleading, whose win in the Middle Park Plate under 10.0 was one of the outstanding performances of the year. Both should race well, in spite ot* being up against some smart sprinters in Hearth. Lord Nuffield, Rebel Mate and Spanish Lad.

Donadea is the only representative from Riccarton in the Warrington Hurdles. He was unlucky in his two previous races on the course at the summer meeting in December, but as he has not raced since he will be at. a disadvantage, specially on rhe first day. Lady Derby and Kurawhi are a useful pair in the Trial Handicap. The former ran second to Eranibie in the Trial Stakes at lhe midsummer meeting, and is undoubtedly smart. Knrawhi has run some fair races in recent months, and is sure to be improving with racing. In all probability Lady Derby will be first choice, but Knrawhi cannot be overlooked.

Lord Midas and Gold Nugget will do battle for Riccarton in the Berwick Handicap, and they will be bracketed. They were bracketed in the Post Handicap. seven furlongs, at. Riccarton, and the former had a comfortable win. Gold Nugget being unplaced. Lord Midas was ridden in that race by the stable apprentice, W. (.’addy, who will again have the mount, and will claim a 71b. allowance. He is certain to be in strong evidence throughout. The Chokebore stable has Bird of Prey and A\ illow Wood in the Champagne Stakes, but the latter did not make the trip. Bird of Prey won the Lyttelton Plate, five furlongs, but was all out to beat Dash o’ Dublin, who may do better over the extra furlong tomorrow. Palfrey and Espionage will represent 'l'. 11. Gillett’s stable, and the journey may be to the advantage of the former, ns he has usually done his best work over the final stages of his races. Gay Parade, Cymric and Knight Commander will contest the Stewards’ Handicap, and the two first-named can be expected to take part in the finish. Gay Parade narrowly missed winning the Midsummer Handicap, a mile and a quarter, from end to end, and that form must point to his prospects over a mile here