Semi-final Gallops at Riccarton

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 July 1946, Page 5

Semi-final Gallops at Riccarton

[SPECIAL TO STAR.] CHRISTCHURCH, July 30. Mainly because many of the horses to race at Riccarton next Saturday were given a race at the Christchurch Hunt fixture, fast work this morning was restricted. The trial grass was open, and following overnight rain, the going was soft, and cut up badly during the morning. Half-mile sprints appeared to -be mostly in favour. Rahine, engaged in the Cashmere Plate, reeled oil half a mile in 52 2-5, and Avonbridge recorded similar time. Others included-: Tiger Tan 52 3-5, Wane 53 3-5, Platform and Air Ace 53, Sumra 53, Findon 53 4-5, Leigh Barton 54 4-5, Golden Souvenir and Bruce 54 4-5, High Ideal and Persuade 53 3-5. Honest Sal and Belle Leonne ran six furlongs in 1.22 2-5, the last four in 52, the former finishing slightly in front. Denim was going better than Majestic Fox at the end of five furlongs in 1.7, the last four in 54. The latter is booked to be shipped to his Melbourne owners after the Grand National meeting. Good Friend, Lady Chips and Spare Part were companions over five furlongs in 1.7, the last four in 52 2-5.

Sedgemere in Form. Sedgemere was always in front of Eudora over six furlongs in 1.22, the last four in 54, The former can be expected to race prominently during the meeting. Gallimaufry and Koronah ran home three furlongs in 39. .-The latter is the Coronach-Kudos filly in L. J. Ellis’s stable, and she is to make her first appearance in the Cashmere Plate. , Tutere, Hunting Mac and Quadrille were to have executed a working gallop over seven furlongs together, but Tutere broke clear of Hunting Mac and beat him home by several lengths,” with Quadrille, who failed to leave on terms, a long way back. Tutere’s time was 1.32 4-5, the last four in 54 1-5. Brantome, carrying a big weight, covered seven furlongs in 1.35 3-5, the last four in 53 1-5.

Smart Jumper. Dumbo jumped four hurdles smartly. He is trained by the season’s leading trainer, G. Cobb, at Matamata, and at his last start won the Hunt Cup Steeplechase at New Plymouth on July 6. He is to be schooled over the main steeplechase fences on Thursday.

The only other jumper out was Bank Raid, who jumped the first three fences of the inside steeplechase course very well, but ran off at the fourth. He carried on and cleared the next in his stride. Taken back to the fourth fence, he again endeavoured to evade it, but was

kept on and jumped it cleanly. Bank Raid is a proficient fencer, and it is unfortunate that he has developed a bad habit. Golden Glow won the Hunt Cup Steeplechase at the Christchurch Hunt fixture in 1940 when trained by R. W. A. Lewis, and it was a good performance on his part to win the race again six years later. He will be 14 years of age this week, so is probably the oldest horse racing at present. As he is a safe fencer he should ■ again be prominent in his engagement next Saturday. Slayer is on the.eve of this thirteenth year, and will be having his fourth race in the Grand- National Steeplechase if paraded next Saturday. -The ordeal would appear to be beyond him at this stage. Balloted Out. Four horses were balloted out of the Winter Cup. Two, Lord Darnley and Sir Tague, were the first to. go because of being eligible for hack company, and there was then a ballot to take out two from those on the minimum, Lexia and Peter Theio drawing the unlucky marbles. It seems unfortunate that horses were balloted out while there were five still in the field with engagements in the Paparua Handicap. Under the system used by the Wellington Club, horses with two engagements are only allowed to start in one, and they automatically go out of the race subjected to a ballot. No doubt, some of the five may be started in the Paparua Handicap, leaving blanks in the Winter Cup which could have been filled by horses not given another opportunity to race on the day. One of the five is Dash o’ Dink, who was accepted for in both on account of a difficulty in securing a ridei' in either race. His owner has since been able to secure the services of C. Stokes in the Paparua Handicap, and the horse is to start in that race. . Peter Theio went out of hack company after the nominations closed and is eligible to run out his hack engagements at the meeting. He ran well enough in the hack event last Saturday to suggest possibilities for him in the Cup with his light impost. He will now have to wait until the 'second day to have another race. Horses will be bracketed as follows on Saturday: Enfield Steeplechase: Page’s Raid and Noble Robert; Cashmere Plate: Responsive and Victory Bells; Jumpers’ Flat: Betlerman and Bettermusk; Papanui Handicap: Cramond Bay and Good Friend, Sedgemere and Sumra; Winter Cup: Lady Chips and Salary; Ganges and Foxchase; Lowry Bay and Honest Sal; Whitley and Piccolo; Leigh Barton and Western Front; Boolamskee and Kiloney; Burberry and Belle Leonne; Foxella and Dash o’ Dink; Avonhead Handicap: Bittersweet and Kirkella; Leighnote and Soft Light.