RACING

Evening Star, Issue 26102, 16 May 1947, Page 3

RACING

SOUTH CANTERBURY MISS MEDLEY IN FAVOUR WHITLEY A SPRIKT PROSPECT (Special.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 16. The South Canterbury Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting, will be opened at Washdyke to-morrow. The fields are all well filled and contain horses from all parts of the South Island, including a fairly strong'contingent from Southland and Otago. The steeplechase event will be for •hacks only, aud as at Ashburton the field will be disappointing in numbers, but with Irish Wit and French Knight on hand from Southland an interesting contest can be expected. Class .will be well represented in the Elloughton Handicap, the principal flat event. There should be a close dispute for favouritism. Recent form in Canterbury will be complicated by the inclusion of such good performers as Foxchase, Eriskay, Grill, and Detain, and indications point to the visitors taking prominent parts in the finish. The best of the Canterbury team will probably be Miss Medley, who will have a yielding track to suit- her, while Graeme should also show further improvement. • Wantwood will, no doubt, be again in strong demand in the Seadown Handicap, but his task will be made difficult by the many proved sprinters in the field, including Whitley, Flying Orders, Sanskrit, Legal Rose, Patmos, and Young Bob. The Levels Hurdles should also be an interesting contest by reason of the inclusion of southern horses in Prize Ring, Benbecula, Kassai, Robert, Court Dress, and Lisheen, aud as Riccarton will be represented by two novice hurdlers only, the visitors should 'have the issue to themselves. Prize Ring will be an interesting candidate ip view of his forthcoming trip to Ellerslie. The track promises to provide easy, but not heavy going. SOFT TRACK,

Track, work at Riccarton yesterday affected by steady rain and a soft track and the times were slow and did not carry much value from a comparative point of view. All the gallops were confined to the trial grass. Sanskrit sprinted half a mile up the back in 51, and this was the best time for the distance. Kirkella was not ridden out to beat Lord Advocate by two lengths after covering seven furlongs in 1.33, the last four in 54 1-5. Kirkella handled the going well and is likely to be favourite for his Washdyke engagement. Lord Advocate showed his usual ability for six furlongs, but was stopping at the end. Graeme ran seven furlongs in 1.34 I- the last four in 52 2-5. He will do better from now onwards with the easier tracks he will encounter. The Crofter and Penetrate strode over seven furlongs in 1.34 3-5, the last four in 53 3-5. Belle Leonne and Nightchild covered five furlongs in 1.5 3-5, the last four in 51 2-5. Miss Medley hit out freely on the yielding ground and led Faleonbridge most of the way in a mile gallop in 1.48 3-5, the first half in 54 1-5, but the latter drew up on terms at the post. Miss Medley, however, could have drawn away if required; - Lalla (Meer ran the first half of her mile task in 50 3-5 and took 1.47 for the full journey. Flying Orders, ridden by his trainer, R. Johnston, covered five furlongs in 1.8 1-5, the last four in 54. Prana sprinted half a mile in 54, and Ruling Moment took similar time. The latter was schooled yesterday over three brush fences and 1 cleared them well. He showed brilliance over hurdles last winter and appears to have the same ability over the bigger obstacles. Riding Engagements. C. McDonald: Pandemonium, Whitley. C. Wilson: Hansel, Sanskrit. D. Thistoll: Miss Medley, Mestiza, Early Night. R. W. Shaw: Prana, Penetrate, John Gay, Faleonbridge. G. Hampton: Hunting Refrain, Mysterious Melody. A. M. Ellis: Nightchild. K. Hickey: Kirkella, Lord Advocate. E. Hibberd: Brigg Fair. 0. Ferrall: The Crofter. K. Thomson: Commemorate. P. Jones: Belle Leonne, Hot Foot, Denary. A. Stove: Appeasement. A. Stokes: Graeme. Lalla Meer. C. Stokes: Flying Orders. M. Jones: Olga’s Choice. A. McKerrow. Night Prince. lILEVELS HURDLES, £2OO. ljm. 2000-Prize 0000-Court

Kassat. Robert. The Crofter. 11.40CLABEMONT HANDICAP, £2OO. 6f.

Lorna Leigh. Connaught. Prana. 12.25 OPIHI TROT, £230. Class 3.37. Ijra. 4000-Arawa Lad scr 000-P!ausible ... scr 0000-Blue Metal scr 00-Romany 0000-Crimson Lass ... scr .Trail ... scr 0030-SandyDrive scr 2340-Frank’s 0000-Scottish Pride ... ecr Girl ... ... scr 0000-Gafllant 000-Sporty Boy scr Thorpe ... scr 3000-Theima 0000-Ikaroa ... scr Grattan scr 0003-Kenyon ... scr 20-Wayfarer scr -Kildare ... scr -Cultivator scr -Lady 0001-Betty Beverley scr Ducrcw 24 0-Lady 0022-Worthy Dick 36 Inchcape scr . 3000-Palava ... 48 0003-our Babe scr Betty Duerow. Wayfarer. Our Babe.

Ring ... . 11 8 . Dress ... 9 10 OOOO-Benbecula 10 4 0100-Night 333.VKassai 10 1 Prince 9 3 40CM-Robert 9 12 0004-The . 0004-Hunting Crofter 9 0 ' Charm 9 12 0-Cloister 9 0 0-Lisheen 9 10

0421-Brigg 0024-Pacific Fair ... 9 9. Star 7 7 0100-Mestiza .8 6 0003-Paper 3031-Connaught 8 6 Baid ... 7 7 3100-Lorna 00-Bright vLeigh 8 3 News ... 7 7 3010-Prana ... 7 8 0040-Hot Foot 7 7 0140-Copper 0000-Cobbler’s Com ... 7 7 Song ... 7 7 0031-Valmeer 7 7 Bonne 0100-Sword Nuit ... 7 7 Dancer ' 7 7 0000-Haunting 2330-Perillus Ttefrain 7 7 Belle ... 7 7