LITTLE FAST WORK

Southland Times, Issue 23346, 2 November 1937, Page 10

LITTLE FAST WORK

RICCARTON TRACKS PERFECT CONDITIONS (Special to The Times) CHRISTCHURCH, November 1. The morning was perfect at Riccarton for working horses, warm and calm. The outside of the trial grass was open for fast work, but only one horse was on it before breakfast. The two-year-old Rakahanga cantered round to the straight then rattled home. He is a nice mover. The plough, heavily watered over-1 night, was in great order. As usual, A. Cutts was first out with his team. Wild Chase, after cantering a circuit on the plough, went a second at over half pace. He was very keen and he pulled up well. Paper Slipper cantered round to the straight then rattled home. He is coming right fast. Nightdress and Lazybones went once round at a canter then ran another at a solid half pace that increased to almost racing pace over the last two furlongs. They will strip well on Saturday. ' Haughty Winner and Mulatto cantered once round. They are not pleasing their trainer. Ben Braggie, a keen worker, was given easy pacing on the sand. His stablemate, Black Thread, went once round the plough at from half pace to a strong three-quarter. Queen of Song went out to do pace work over two circuits and finished up by bolting a third. She did not hurt herself. Grey Honour was sweating very freely after galloping seven furlongs in 1.33, a time the gross fellow could have reduced if he had been asked to do so. Cardsharper, after cantering once round, went a second circuit at a stronger pace with a final burst over the last three furlongs in 0.38 3-5. His wind appears to be going wrong. Parquet (from Auckland) went a first round at a steady pace and a second at almost three-quarter. She looks well. Argentic, after cantering once round with a small boy up, did a second at a solid three-quarter with his trainer up. He ran the last three in 0.39 4-5. He has been getting down on his'near hind fetlock which is slightly enlarged in consequence. Enge was sent twice round at a solid pace. He is a plain horse, but he is looking well. Cerne Abbas was also sent twice round at a solid pace. She looks none the worse for her race on Saturday. She and Enge are to gallop together tomorrow.

Royal Chief was given half pace work and so was Protector. The last named was wearing a shin and ankle boot on his near hind leg, having hit himself when sprinting with Royal Chief on Saturday. He did not cough on the track this morning, but F. D. Jones states that he does in Iris box. Rebel Lad was sent twice round at a good half pace with a dash down the straight the last time. His stablemate Kinnoull was trotted several times round the sand. Cottingham and Rousseau separately did similar work. Each cantered once round then increased the pace for the second with a run home over the last three furlongs. Rousseau’s time for the sprint was 0.39 and Cottingham’s 0.39 1-5. The only work of interest after breakfast was some jumping. Solwit and Fiord raced over the pony hurdles twice. Both jumped fast and well. Later on Redolent and Royal Grafton did similar work. Redolent jumped well, but Royal Grafton lost his rider the first time and baulked the second. THREE MELBOURNE CUP SCRATCHINGS (Received November 1, 7.55 p.m.) MELBOURNE, November 1. Scratchings from the Melbourne Cup are Flood Tide (at 12.37 p.m.), Royal Messenger (at 1.20 p.m.) and Nightguard (at 3.35.p.m.). The weather forecast is fine and pleasant. The scratching of Flood Tide followed veterinary advice that a big risk was attached to starting. Every effort will be made to have the horse fit to run in the Williamstown Cup on Saturday week.