SPORTING Sidelights on Racing at Riccarton

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 July 1946, Page 5

SPORTING Sidelights on Racing at Riccarton

Leigh Bartow's Prospects Programme for Arabian Night [SPECIAL TO STAB.] CHRISTCHURCH, July 29. Leigh Barion walked in lame after the'Brabazon Handicap, _ but was alright again on returning to his stable, and was on the tracks again to-day. As he had had a comparatively easy time before Saturday s race, he will benefit from the gallop, and with a winding-up sprint on Thursday, he should be able to master the extra furlong in the Winter Cup. Acting on veterinary advice, the owner of Arabian Night decided yesterday not to race his horse in the Grand National Steeplechase, and a decision regarding the Grand National Hurdle Race will be delayed until next week-end.

Jacksonville turned a complete somersault when he fell early in the hack steeplechase, and has been a very sick horse since. It is doubtful if he will race at the Grand National meeting. Mysterious Melody was expected to be one of the leaders in the Camla Hack Handicap, but got into troubleover the early stages, and is at present under treatment for a gashed and enlarged Leg. Bonny Flight.

Bonny Flight’s unfortunate experience in the first furlong of the Brabazon Handicap deprived her of the opportunity of giving a line on her prospects in the Winter Cup. She appeared to be lightened up a lot when trotting on the tracks to-day, and evidently the race left some effects. Al Sirat reappeared at Riccarton to-day for the first time since he was gelded. He appears to have quietened down a good deal, but whether the operation has had the _ desired effect will not be known until he has returned to hard feed and serious work. Red Glare, in charge of H. Griffith, was amongst those given easy exercise to-day. He is certainly not a very robust-looking gelding, and hardly measures up to the usual National topweight. He is to be ridden next Saturday by the versatile Auckland horseman, J. Williamson. _ It was expected that the outside of the course proper and the main steeplechase course would have been open to-morrow, but because of the cutting up the track had on Satui day and the necessity to have it rolled to-day and to-morrow, it will not be available until Thursday, when a good, deal of jumping will no doubt be seen. In the meantime schooling will be confined to the inside steeplechase fences.

Severe Task.

The show pony jumper The Pie, standing 15 hands, was set a very severe task in the Hunt Cup Steeplechase on Saturday. His weight of 11 stone was severe enough for one of his size to tackle the big fences, but to increase this to 12.2 by overweight was beyond the limit. He carried it round safely, in fact he did not touch a fence, but at the same time, the burden was very unreasonable. Bank Raid carried 13:Jlb overweight, but not for long, as he ran off at the first fence. Some delay occurred in weighing out Bank Raid, as his amateur rider was unable to secure ft pftir of riding boots big enough to fit him, and he. was eventually allowed to go out in his ordinary walking shoes, and big ones al that', and his legs between the tops of his socks and his tight-fitting lifting pants were bare. Although a o ’cidd jumper Bonk Raid hod rup oil several times in his schooling tasks, and made up his mind on. Saturday long before ho got io the first fence. His rider then had an unenviable ride for about a mile before lie was able to pull him up. Roman Ned was going very well when he lost his rider two fences from home in the hack steeplechase. Indian Dawn was in keen demand for her division of the Halcion. Stakes, but was not prominent until the closing stages, when she finished on into a close fourth placing. She will do better in the Cashmere Plate.

West Coast Youngster.

Queen’s General made an encoui - aging showing in pressing Special Flight at the finish of their -race on Saturday, and more will be heard of this rising three-year-old son of Solicitor-General and the West Coas. mare Queen Linda. Spring Water, third to Hart Royal and Robingay on Saturday, is a rising three-year-old gelding by Robin Goodfellow from Fusion, by Lord, Quex from Station, by Elevation, and was purchased by his present owner, Mr. A. M. Satterthwaite, of Chris cchiu’ch, for 205 guineas. This his third race only. Spare Part attracted notice by his good race on Saturday. He was one of the last away in the second diyision of the Hcildon Stakes, and finisned a close fourth. He is a rising ; three-year-old by Salmagundi from, Meitui, a former smart Otago • sprinter by Tractor from Marianne, | by Kenilworth from Ruenaiis: Daughter. - Roman Son gave a very dis- j appointing display in the Homeby; Steeplechase, and on that form can ( be ruled out of the Grand National Steeplechase. It has to be recorded, however, that on the first day ol the Dunedin winter meeting, he ran a similar race, and then, on the heavier ground on the second day, he won like a good horse. Unlucky Runner. Peter Theio appealed as one of the best young hacks at Riccarton on, Saturday. His trainer was inclined to miss the Camla Hack Handicap; with him and to reserve himi for the Brabazon Handicap, but W. Bioughton considered he would have a comfortable task in the hack event, and his advice was followed. There was no doubt Peter Theio was unlucky not to win the race, as he had to coyer extra ground to get a run on the outside of Knight Crusader and Notary, whom he would have headed in another stride. Broughton was no doubt anxious to secure this win to give him any chance of challenging N. Holland for the jockey premiership, but it would not have been of any avail, as Holland had three wins at, Ellerslie, making his total 57.

Broughton secured a win on Soneri in the Brabazon Handicap, and his total was raised to 52.

L. J. Ellis completed a most successful season on Saturday both as a trainer and rider, by a win with Detain, whom he has trained since first commissioned. His total in the winning trainers’ list is 13, and he has ridden 26 winners. In addition, one of his team, Golden Souvenir, heads the list of winning horses with £10,545, and another, Bruce, is in fifth place with £4245, the latter figuring as the leading three-year-old winner.

Attractive Filly.

After the concluding race was run on Saturday, Golden Souvenir and Bruce were given a gallop with the colours up. They were cantered round to the half-mile post, and were joined at the top of the straight by their stable-mate, the rising three-year-old untried filly by Coronach from imported Kudos. The three raced together to the post, with the filly having a slight advantage as they crossed the line. She gave an attractive display, and is a remarkably free mover. She was bought privately from her breeder earlier in the season by Mr. H. R. Brien, of Wellington, for 3000 guineas, and was placed in Ellis’s hands. Because of splint trouble, it has not been possible to do much with her until the ■ last few weeks, and she will not be asked to race for a while yet.