Mighty Dollar, Royal Zorra Work With Zest

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28261, 26 April 1957, Page 4

Mighty Dollar, Royal Zorra Work With Zest

Royal Zorra and Mighty Dollar golloped with race-winning dash on the outside of the course proper at Riccarton yesterday, their trials heightening interest in their meeting in the Challenge Stakes on the third day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting. Royal Zorra (C. McDonald) and Consistent (C. Saxon) started at the five furlongs, but Royal Zorra quickly sped clear, and drew right away in the straight to finish eight lengths clear. Royal Zorra dashed over the last half mile in 51 3-ssec—the best of the morning for the distance. Mighty Dollar (J. Didham) was equally impressive in running half a mile alone in 51 4-ssec. He was keen to increase his speed ending a very good gallop. The brilliant Wingatui galloper is right at his best and his fast-finishing fifth in the Great Easter Handicap pointed to an early win. Cheyenne (W. Hanlin) completed his work by sprinting half a mile in 55sec. The North Island sprinter. Wee Durham (T. Wilson) led Adversary (E. G. Low) by two lengths, with Assembly (C. B. Harris) three-quar-ters of a length back, after sprinting five furlongs, the last four in 53 1Adversary will be making a fresh start in the Waltham Handicap, the second leg of the double at Riccarton, and will have track conditions to his liking. Grand Bank (R. W. Gould) and Desert Cloud (E. G. Low) were companions over a mile run in Imin 52 2- Their pace slackened in the straight, where the ground was softer, after they had run the first half mile in 54 4-ssec. Shoal (A. J. Stokes), a fit mare for the Sockburn Handicap, sprinted from the half mile in 54 3-ssec. Sarcelle (W. Hanlin) and Vivien Leigh (R. J. Blair) were on terms a length ahead of Olympic Flame (W. Beck) finishing half a mile in 53 4-ssec. Rio Maree (P. Wilde) followed in 52 2-ssec, a smart sprint for a hack. The stable-mates, Neptune’s Pride (E. G. Low) and Lucky Time (T. Lyons), ran from the half mile on terms in 55 2-ssec. Goldwyn (B. Dodds) and Teko (R. J. Blair) were abreast finishing seven furlongs in Imin 39sec. Goldwyn may be one of the best lightweights in the Sockburn Handicap; his close fifth in the Great Autumn was encouraging. Dhofar in Front Dhofar (N. Hoy) led Hot Drop (D. J. Thistoll) by a length and a half ending half a mile in 52 2-ssec. Hot Drop carried more weight than the Oman filly. Masai (C. T. Wilson) completed his work by running half a mile in 54 4-ssec. Rise and Shine (C. T. Wilson) sprinted her half mile in 54 2-ssec, and did her work well. She was scratched for the Great Easter Handicap because of the soft track. Any improvement in the going will brighten her chance in the Waltham Handicap. Fidelis (J. Didham) and Sharp (E. G. Low) led Royal Avon (A. H. Eastwood) by a length and a half ending half a mile in 53 4-ssec. Fidelis’s second on the second day of the meeting was an improver’s performance. Nasib (A. H. Eastwood) led the two-year-old William Paul (W. D. Skelton) by a neck finishing half a mile in 52 3-ssec. Nasib will be a light-weight improver in the Waltham Handicap, the second leg of the double at Riccarton. William Paul has been running out his races strongly, and seven furlongs should not be beyond him in the Challenge Stakes. Every Nigbt (T. J. Smith) sprinted seven furlongs in Imin 39 3-ssec, the first three in 43 2-ssec. The Wingatui-trained Nightly gelding has shown his best form on firm tracks, and will appreciate any improvement in the going.

Fleur (A. J. Stokes) led her stablemate, Steadfast (W. Hanlin), by three lengths ending their trial. They sprinted their last half mile in 54 2-ssec. Fleur, Steadfast, and Masai form a strong bracket for the Merivale Handicap. Duel (C. McDonald) sprinted from the half mile in 56 2-ssec, and Sweet Christine (A. J. Stokes) followed in 53 2-ssec. Solstice (R. Hobson) recorded Imin 38 4-ssec for seven furlongs, the first three strongly in 42sec. Leprechaun (W. D. Skelton) and Private Angelo (G. W. Mein) sprinted from the half mile in 54sec. Sir Edwin (W. D. Skelton) and Rome (J. W. McDonald) were paired over six furlongs. They recorded Imin 24 l-ssec and 55 for the last half mile. Jungle (G. W. Mein) and Maracaibo (C. McDonald) ran a mile on terms in Imin 50sec, increasing speed slightly to record 54 2-ssec for the last half. The North Island horses appeared to do their work well. Brave Warrior (J. R. Currie) and Border Reiver (G. W. Mein) were companions in a run over four hurdles. Both jumped cleanly and kept up a good pace. They were followed by March Air (J. L. Coulter), which struck the first flight, but went better later.

CANON AND VOCALIZE

Acceptances Too Late (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, April 25. A delay in delivering a telegram at Christchurch has prevented two prominent Wingatui-trained horses from racing at Riccarton on Saturday. The horses are Canon, a form entry for the Sockburn Handicap, and Vocalize, top-weight In the Peerswick Hurdles. The trainer of the horses, W. E. Hancock, lodged a telegram at Wingatui post office just before 10.30 a.m. yesterday accepting for both horses. The telegram was received at Dunedin at 10.31 a.m., and dispatched to Christchurch at 10.52 a.m. The telegram was nor delivered to the Canterbury Jockey Club office until 12.15 p.m., 15 minutes after acceptances closed. The secretary of the club, Mr F. T. H. Bell, lodged a "shock” telegram for Hancock at 12.25 p.m., informing him that acceptances had closed before the Wingatui message was received. This telegram has left the owners of the horses, Mr R. M. Walker, of Mosgiel (Canon) and Mr J. P. O’Brien, of Dunedin (Vocalize), both upset and mystified. They considered their horses to be form candidates for the meeting. Both horses were to have left for Riccarton today. When the Dunedin report was referred to a senior official of the Post and Telegraph Department in Wellington last night, he said that because of the Anzac Day holiday it was not possible to make complete inquiries about the reported delay. However, the matter would be investigated fully today. SCRATCHINGS The following scratchings have been issued for meetings tomorrow: Avondale Foley Memorial Handicap: Jack’s Count. Mount Roskill Handicap: Dalrob. Riccarton Merivale Handicap: Yue Chee. Forbury Park Domain Handicap: Disraeli, Chupra. USE OF HOODS AND BLINKERS (N.Z. Press Association Copyright) SYDNEY, April 25. The Australian Racing Conference, meeting in Sydney, has decided to amend the rule which prevents the use of blinkers and hoods in races. Their use will be permitted from the beginning of the next racing season on August 1. The conference comprises representatives of all the principal racing clubs in Australia. The A.J.C. Secretary, Mr W. N. Parry-Okeden, said after the meeting that the A.J.C. would allow the use of hoods or blinkers “with certain reservations.” The committee of the A.J.C. will discuss the amendment and a local rule will be drawn up. The bodies controlling racing in the other States will do the same. Trainers in all States have been seeking the right to use hoods or blinkers in races. Hoods or blinkers are considered to be particularly helpful \with a horse which tries to savage other horses in a race, o’r is unruly at the barrier.