RICCARTON NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 25882, 28 August 1946, Page 3

RICCARTON NOTES

WINTRY CONDITIONS AT TRACK (Special.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 27.. Because of wintry 1 conditions, matters were very quiet at Riccarton this morning, the bulk of the horses being exercised ou the roads. There were indications in recent weeks of an early spring, but the change to-day suggested that winter is still with us. The five-year-old untried gelding, Sea Dog, owned by Mr J. H. Grigg and trained by R. Wilson, was schooled over four hurdles in company with Montello d’Oro and shaped exceptionally well. He is .probably the biggest gelding in work at headquarters, and is by Lord Quex tfrom (Rulate, the dam of Peter Theio, by Cape Horn from Conflict, by Nassau. He was purchased by Mr Grigg as a yearling at Trentham for loOgs, solely with the idea of keeping him as a jumper, and, although hacked about at .Longbeach for some time past, lie was not put into work until a few weeks back.

Montello d’Oro again showed promise by a clean display, and looks likely- to do better as a juniper than on the flat. He is a four-year-old gelding by Solicitor General from Hasta, by Rapier. - A trip to the Wanganui meeting next month is contemplated by S. Barr with his useful pair of hacks, Sedgemere and Mysterious Melodv, both owned by Mi W. Howson, of Nelson. Accommodation has already been booked at Awapuni by G. Ridgway, who plans to take Lord Elgin, Finalist, and Peculate to the Wellington Racing Club’s meeting there in October. Peculate, by Defaulter, raced fairly consistently last season. with one win and-eight second’tracings, and has come in from a spell in ail improved condition. Vafort is in steady work again under J. Wadley, and so far has stood up to all that has been asked of him. Provided he will survive the necessary preparation. thi3 big son of Broiefort will win some important handicaps this term. , Leigh Barton, when walking round the tracks to-day,: gave the impression that he had not had a race at all in recent weeks, as he looked robust and did not show the least sign of any ailment or trouble. He lias been nominated for the principal event at Ashburton, and, all going well, he will be on the scene , IJis stable mate, Palm Bearer, is also to be sent to that meeting to take her place in the John Grigg Stakes, but is not likely to be forward enough to do herself justice because of her restricted preparation. A five-vear-old mare, Gay -Toy. by Cambria Park, owned by Mr W. Hosking, of Waiukn. has joined C. H. Fair.man’s team at Riccarton. Her dam, Llandovery, by Mountain Knight front Lncien, is a sister to Llnndnff. n good winner in the Auckland district, of a few years back. Gay Joy won one race last, season in 11 starts.

The amount in taxation paid by the Canterbury Jockey Club over its Grar.d National Meeting was £44.331, including totalisator tax of £23.331 and dividend tax of £20.413. Kirkella. a four 7 year-old brother to Lord Advocate in H. Nurse’s stable, was. not able to race at the Grand National Meeting because of an injury suffered last month. He was kept in work with a view to racing at Ashburton, but: has had, to .be.,put aside following'kicked in a shoulder during :training operations.. Kirkella is a long-striding galloper, and a high opinion is lipid of.him.