SPORTING Strong' Riccarton Team For Trentham Meeting

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 October 1947, Page 5

SPORTING Strong' Riccarton Team For Trentham Meeting

[SPECIAL TO STAR] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Riccarton stables will have a strong team to represent them ’at Trentham on Saturday, and with reasonable fortune, a fair portion of the stake .money should come smith. The team comprises Wilne; Ballochbuie, Banshee, Citril, Invest, Indian Dawn, Revolte, Malm, Maka, Royal Tan, Magical, Musselman, Peridot, Robin Redbreast, Trident, Blue Trout, Palm’Bearer, Deep Harmony, Beechwood, Magnaform and Coral Arc.

Wane is the sole representative in the Glen Hurdles. He failed in soft going at Washdyke against comparatively weak opposition, and as similar conditions are likely to be ex-> perienced on. Saturday, his prospects do not appear very bright. Balloelibuie, Banshee, Citril and Invest will form a useful quartette in the Desert Gold Stakes. Ballochbuie finished exceptionally well in her six furlong engagement at Washdyke last week, and, this effort suggested that she would have beaten Citril with a little further to go, Citril appeared to be tiring near the end of the race, and allowing for an equal improvement in the two fillies, Ballochbuie promises to master the extra two furlongs better than her rival. Banshee has done everything right in her preparation, and although drawn wide out is entitled to respect. She has, however, yet to be put to the test in going such as is likely at Trentham. An Improver Invest ran her best race to date at Washdyke on Saturday, and was only beaten into third place in a blanket finish at the end of a mile and 35 yards. She is big-framed filly, and although she acted well in the soft ground last week, she may be troubled by the deeper footing at Trentham. Ballochbuie may be the best of the visitors. Indian Dawn and Revolte are the only Riccarton horses in the Wainui Handicap. Indian Dawn has had only one race this term, but her form last season was very creditable, her six wins including five in succession, two of these being the Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham, and the Midsummer Handicap at Riccarton. All of her wins were on firm ground, so her prospects this week are difficult to. assess. Revolte has had two races this season without gaining a place, and will have to improve a lot on his Washdyke showing to earn any money on the trip. Maka Maka, a stable mate of Bruce and Invest, will be the sole representative of Riccarton in the Rimutaka Hack Handicap. She won her last race last season as a two-year-old, and had her second outing this term at Washdyke, where she ran a creditable second to Citril, and finished half a length in front of Ballochbuie. Maka Maka has drawn close in at the barrier, and with her trainer, L. J. Ellis in the saddle, at a few pounds overweight, she has to be seriously considered. Royal Tan carrying 8.4 won so convincingly over a mile and three furlongs at Washdyke that he makes strong appeal in the mile , and a half

Wellington Handicap, in which he has 7.13 and will again have the services of L. J. Ellis. Rbyal Tan won last year’s New Zealand Derby in his first outing of the season, this being his only success for the, year in a light programme, but judging by the manner in which he outclassed his opponents last week, he is on the way to being a big winner this term) Juvenile Classic e Magical, Musselman, Peridot, Robin Redbreast, and Trident will de battle for Riccarton in the Wellesley Stakes. Magical has gone on the right way since he easily' won the McLean Stakes at Wingatui last month, and is entitled to be one of the favourites. His strongest opponent from the south will be Trident, runner-up to Magical, and also to Shadamai ,on the second day. The clashing of North and South Island two-year-old form so early in the season hasalways provided widespread interest, and the North has won the classic in (he past four years, but all going well with Magical, he should break the sequence on this occasion, while Trident will again make a bold‘showing. The best of Blue Trout, who is engaged in the Shorts Handicap, was not seen at Washdyke because of the unaccustomed going, and she may be similarly troubled on Saturday. On the other hand should she strike reasonably firm going on the trip, Trentham-racegoers will have reason to appreciate her marked speed. Palm Bearer will not be seen to advantage over six furlongs, but is likely to do better later at the meeting. improved Deep Harmony won an open six furlong event at Wingatui last month, and has not raced since. He is a much improved horse this season, and although he may not be up to the class he is now tackling, he can be expected to make a creditable showing. Beechwood had two second placings in his two starts at the Grand National meeting . after being purchased during the meeting for 1200 guineas. He has been, set a big task with 9.3 in the October Hack Handi-. cap and may be in want of the race as he is one of the gross class. Magnaform won the Cashmere Plate last August and has had only one race since. Coral Arc won well over seven furlongs at Wingatui last month, and in his next start ran third in the Dunedin Guineas. He is a solidly built three-year-old by Coronach and has been placed in his . five starts this season.