ACTIVITIES AT RICCARTON

Southland Times, Issue 24167, 2 July 1940, Page 9

ACTIVITIES AT RICCARTON

Two-Year-Olds Attract Attention

A. E. ELLIS MAY RIDE PADISHAH (Special to The Times) CHRISTCHURCH, July 1. Spring-like weather has prevailed during the past week or so, the only indication of this being the middle o. the winter season being some hard frosts, which have invariably been followed by mild days. It is some yeais since practically no rain has been recorded for the month of June, which can usually be depended upon being a wet month, but except for a few light drizzles, the rainfall for the month has been almost negligible and the lowest on record, writes our Chnstchuich correspondent. In consequence trainers at Riccarton have had an uninteirupted month as far as training work was concerned, and the tracks were never in better order than at present. Following the Ashburton meeting, there was a fairly quiet week, but with the Oamaru winter fixture this week, and the Wellington gathering next week, several interested trainers have kept their teams in solid work. The Wellington meeting has attracted a strong contingent from Riccarton, this including the Southland horses at present being trained there. This latter lot include Ballybrit and Turaki, who are both in the Wellington Steeplechase, Surcoat, in the hack steeplechase, while Turaki is also in the Hack hurdle race, and if his stable mate Ballybrit is on hand to fulfil his Wellington Steeplechase engagement, Turaki will contest the hurdle event, and both horses will have the services of the promising young rider, P. Boyle.

Flashlight’s Prospects Both Cottingham and Flashlight are likely to contest the big steeplechase, the latter for certain. He gave two excellent displays over the schooling fences last week, and is a distinct possibility for the cross-country races on the trip. He unfortunately did not get the benefit of the race at Ashburton because of being brought down early, but is well seasoned, and with his trainer, G. Ridgway in the saddle, he should be an interesting competitor at the meetings during the next couple of months. His stable mate Streamline has been kept going with strong work, but has nevertheless put on condition He was not nominated for Trentham because of his inability to handle soft going, which is usually encountered at Trentham in July, and his next appearance will be in the Longbeach Hurdles at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s annual steeplechase meeting early in August. Padishah’s Rider

Although no definite engagement has been made, it is practically certain that A. E. Ellis will ride Padishah in the Wellington Steeplechase if that horse accepts, and will ride him in all of his engagements, which will, no doubt, be confined to steeplechasing this year. Ellis was engaged to go to Melbourne to ride Padishah, and had made all the necessary arrangements for the trip when he was advised that the proposed visit had been abandoned. It can be taken for granted that Padishah will be the only horse Ellis will ride, over jumps. Oamaru On Saturday

The Oamaru Jockey Club’s winter programme will attract a fair team from Riccarton, and horses likely to race prominently include Culverden in the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase, Rebellion and Flame Queen in the WinterHandicap, Hie Vulture and Improvident in the Burnside Hack Handicap, Trench Fight in the Grange Handicap, and Counterlunch in the Farewell Hack Handicap. Included in the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase is the Southlandtrained, but Christchurch owned, Garonne, who has been at Riccarton since the Dunedin meeting. He has yet to be jumped over country, but has been schooled over brush hurdles, and the fences at Oamaru are not any more difficult than these. Garonne should, therefore, have no trouble in mastering the obstacles, and with his pace, he should make a bold showing. Two-Ycar-Olds

Training operations at Riccarton are now being given increased interest by the appearance of several of the coming two-year-olds, which have been pottering about for some weeks past, and have lately been given some short sprinting tasks. The Chokebore stable as usual has the largest number, five, in hand. These comprise Willow Wood, by Cricket Bat from Winsome Hind, half-sister to Wild Chase; Full Pitch, by Cricket Bat from Sailor’s Love, sister to Waterline and Fast Passage, and half-sister to Waterline; Eastern Hind, by Jericho from Wild Hind; Straight Left, by Winning Hit from Competition, a half-sister by Polazel to Rival Hit and Winning Rival; Bird of Prey, by Solicitor-General from Capercailzie, dam of Shikari. The four first mentioned belong to the Clifford Estate, and Bird of Prey is the property of Mr G. R. Macdonald, who has Scold, Shikari and Pleading in work in the same stable.

Other Youngsters The list of other youngsters in work is as follows:—Verlagia, trained by J. W. Pankhurst, by Vermeer from Chief Ruler mare Pelagia, who cost 170 guineas as a yearling at Trentham. She is very forward, and should be seen out in the early classics. Chestnut gelding by Myosotis from Minehead, by Lord Warden from imported Pitbrow Lass, owned and trained by F. D. Jones who also has a Fox-bridge-Drama filly, purchased by MiJ. R. McKenzie for 400 guineas. Black filly by Foxbridge from Aureola, by Hunting Song, trained by J. C. Tomkinson for Mrs G. L. Rutherford. Grey filly,. Salutation, by Theio from Queen’s Salute, by Chief Ruler, purchased by Mr H. Greenwood for 230 guineas, and trained by F. Roberts, who also has the half-sister by Iliad to ' Nightbeam in work. Bay colt by Man's Pal from Vennachar, dam of Scratchmere Scar, purchased by Mr E. Hay for 230 guineas, and trained by T. H. Gillett. This colt was secured by Mr Hay primarily as a companion for his colt by Solicitor General from Princess Doreen, but the latter unfortunately met with a fatal accident. Chestnut gelding by Tiderace from Kotou, purchased by Mr M. J Meehan of Timaru for 190 guineas; chestnut filly by Myosotis from Royal Baby, bred and owned by Dr M. G. Louisson and Arabian Night by Lord Quex from Arab Song by Hunting Song, bought by Mr A. N. Smith, of Dunedin, for 100 guineas. These three are in C. Emerson’s stable.

By Salmagundi A chestnut gelding by Salmagundi from Stability, dam of Stabilize, to race in the same interests, and trained by C. Dawson. Chestnut colt by Hunting Song from

Charmaline, by Hunting Song, purchased by Mr D. Grant for 200 guineas; brown colt by Pink Coat from White Doe; chestnut filly by Pink Coat from lan’s March and bay colt, Little Secret, by Man’s Pal from Mother Hubbard, all trained by D. Cotton. As is usually the case, the Riccarton juveniles are well forward, and the recent spell of fine weather has given them an advantage over those trained in other South Island centres. Most of those mentioned have been entered for the early classic events, and their progress from now onwards will arouse interest among track-watchers.