RACING AND TROTTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 July 1942, Page 7

RACING AND TROTTING

MEETINGS TO COME.

July 4.—Wellington. July 11.—Wellington. July 25.—5. Canterbury Hunt. August I.—Christchurch Hunt. RICCARTON NOTES [SPECIAL TO “STAR.”] CHRISTCHURCH, July 6. Matters at Riccarton continue to be fairly quiet especially for those trainers who will not have horses racing until the South Canterbury Hunt fixture this month. There has certainly not been much encouragement for South Island owners or trainers during the past two months and horses racing at Trentham must be at a disadvantage as compared with the North Islanders, who have had opportunities of racing into and keeping form in contrast to the long interval between meetings in the South Island.

There is a marked scarcity of steeplechase horses at Riccarton this season, and it is doubtful if the centre will have a likely representative in the Grand National Steeplechase. The only candidate in sight is Recollection, but he has hardly done enough to justify tackling such a hard race. It is many years since Riccarton was so short of jumpers, and those trainers with them are finding it very difficult to secure boys to ride in schooling tasks, and more so to get riders on race days. The majority of the jumping riders have entered camp, and although some have had special leave to attend race meetings and ride, they are usually at a disadvantage owing to. being out of practice or carrying surplus weight. The Bulandshar youngster in F. D. Jones’s stable has had some sprinting, and there is no doubt about his easy and effortless action. Unfortunately he has shown signs of lameness, and the seat of the trouble cannot be found. He is almost an outsize in juveniles, and difficulty may be experienced in keeping him sound. There is a chance that Sally Lunn may not return south after racing at Trentham, as her owner lives in Wellington, and would like to have her closer at hand. His other horse Gladynev was removed from Riccarton to the north a few months ago. Treasurer, winner of last year’s Winter Cup, is expected to make a bold bid for his second success in the race next month. He is in remarkably good order at this stage of his pre’■paratipn, and with races at the South Canterbury and Christchurch Hunt meetings, he should be again at his best for Cup day. Treasurer has been ridden in his recent work by L. J. Ellis, and that rider may carry on with him with the colours up.

Night Hawk is now in S. Barr’s stable at Riccarton. He was sent out for a school over country this week, but gave a mediocre display 5 and ran off at one brush. A lot of time and patience will have to be displayed to make a success of this smart but unreliable gelding. Waka has been sent home, and is not likely to race again owing to unsoundness. His place in A.' S. Ellis’s stable has been filled by Merry March, who is being tried out as a hurdler.