RACING Gay Tommy Does Good Mile Trial

Press, Volume C, Issue 29497, 26 April 1961, Page 5

RACING Gay Tommy Does Good Mile Trial

Gay Tommy ran the fastest mile of the training at Riccarton yesterday to strengthen his claims for favouritism for the President’s Handicap at the North Canterbury Racing Club’s meeting on Saturday. Thumper and Kelp also went well in a mile trial, Corduroy sprinted seven furlongs dashingly, and Stradbroke showed his speed in beating Blonde Sprite over six furlongs. Training on the course proper was done 20ft out from the rails under perfect conditions.

Surrend <W. Beck) was to have assisted Gay Tommy • Miss F. Kerr) for the last seven furlongs of his mile, but she could not match her stablemate for pace and finished several lengths behind.

Gay Tommy ran his mile in Imin 44 l-ssec, easing near the end after dashing over the first half in 50 4-ssec.

After two very good races for seconds in the Great Autumn and Sockburn Handicaps at Easter, Gay Tommy will have strong backing in the first leg of the double at Riccarton on Saturday. The stablemates Thumper <W. Donovan) and Kelp (B. Collins) were abreast finishing a mile in Imin 44 3-ssec, run evenly.

They are light-weights in the President’s Handicap on Saturday, and have no recent encouraging form on record.

William David (W. Donovan) outpaced Jimmy Hill (L. McGuire) and Pleasant Ways <N. Cowles) over a mile, and did well for a hack to run the distance in Imin 44 l-ssec. They started briskly and ran the first half mile in 50 4-ssec.

Pleasant Ways carried more weight than his companions and was the first to feel the strain in the straight. Jimmy Hill beat him easily for second, but he was in a gap behind William David. Either W. D. or R. J. Skelton will ride William David in the Okukji Hack Handicap on Saturday. W. D. Skelton will have the ride if Sailorman does not start.

Well Clear Coral Ring (A. H. Easti wood) ran away from Flagon j <W. Donovan) in their nine- ■ furlong trial, finishing with a I lead of eight lengths. The nine furlongs took Imin 59 2-ssec, the last mile Imin 45 1- the last half mile 52 4-ssec. Flagon might welcome any easing in the ground more than most of his rivals in the President’s Handicap at Riccartbn on Saturday. Tamarisk (P. Graham) took Imin 48sec for his mile and pulled up lame. Navarone finished his mile in Imin 46 4-ssec well clear of Pinnacle Stream (J. L. Coulter) and Golden Howe <P. Graham), which took two seconds longer. Navarone shaped like an early winner in running a ■good fourth in the Sockbum I Handicap at Easter. He is ’ one of the light-weights in ■ the President’s Handicap at , the North Canterbury meeting. Forsythe (N. Cowles) recorded 2min 1 3-ssec for nine furlongs and 52 3-ssec for the last half mile. He has pulled hard in his latest races. Elusive Pimpernel (P. H. Jones) recorded Imin 48 2- for a mile and 54 4-ssec for the last half. Corduroy Fit Corduroy *R. B. Taggart) easily outsped Abduction (A. H. Eastwood) in a smart sprint. Corduroy recorded Imin 29 3- for seven furlongs. He was joined inside the first furlong by Abduction, which found the 51 3-ssec for the last half mile too fast for him. Golden Aureole <T. Wilson) and Corowa (D. J. Thistoll) recorded Imin 31 4-ssec for seven furlongs and 52 3-ssec for the last half mile. Portent (A. J. Stokes) sprinted seven furlongs in Imin 31sec, and the last half mile in 52 2-ssec. She appeared to be going easily at the end. She is to be tried over a mile and a quarter at the North Canterbury meeting. Ruffle (A. H. Eastwood) led Sumptuous (K. Reggett) by three lengths after running six furlongs in Imin 15sec. Ruffle's run was particularly good for a hack. Stradbroke (K. Reggett) led Blonde Sprite (A. J. Stokes) by a length finishing six furlongs in Imin 14 3-ssec, the last half mile in 49 l-ssec. Stradbroke’s open-class form has not been good so far. but he may be one of the improvers in the Ronald Macdonald Handicap field on Saturday. Smart Spruit Glorious Twelfth IP. J. Kempton) and Prospero <N. Cowles) shaped well for nonwinners in recording Imin 16 4-ssec for six furlongs and 50 4-ssec for the last half mile. El Toro ft. H. Skelton) was to have accompanied them, but broke away and finished alone in Imin 19 4-ssec. He took 53 4-ssec for the last half mile. High Treasure <P. H. Jones) and Dimke’s Treasure <L- McGuire) ran half wmlle on terms in 80 4-ssec. . Balrannacb <N. Ccrwlog) and Timna <A. J. lltokMl also recorded 50 4 s<Baew~'-. Paua <M. WUdenm*) And Scarlet Pfcmernel CP. H

Jones) ran in from the half mile in 50 2-ssec.

Paua is top weight and likely favourite for the Oxford Hack Handicap at the North Canterbury meeting.

Last start she was a close second to Andalusia in the Warstep Stakes at Riccarton. Waverley <F. H. Skelton) led County Kildare (R. B. Taggart) by a length finishing half a mile in 50 4-ssee. Gambol IK. Reggett), with the better of the weights, led her stablemate On Time <N. Cowles) after running half a mile in 51 3-ssec. On the plough, which gave fast footing. Vestment Lady (P. K. Kempton) and Packwood (A. J. Stokes) showed keenness to record Imin 20 4-ssec for seven furlongs and 50 2-ssec for the last half mile.

Matauwhi (K. Reggett), which returns to sprinting on Saturday, dashed over six furlongs in Imin 15 l-ssec and reeled off the last four in 47 4-ssec. Hullabaloo <R. B. Taggart) led Happy Holiday by a length finishing six furlongs in Imin 17 2-ssec, the last half mile in 50sec.

Brydone (J. Leach) did well to run half a mile in 50 l-ssec, as he was being eased in the last few strides.