RACING HACK SPRINT TODAY AT AMBERLEY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29506, 6 May 1961, Page 4

RACING HACK SPRINT TODAY AT AMBERLEY

Payout Should Test Safe Harbour

Payout and Safe Harbour, two Riccarton-trained sprinters with very sound form credentials, might battle out the finish of the Seadown Hade Handicap at the Amberley Racing Club’s annual meeting today. Safe Harbour, which is trained for Miss J. A. and Mr G. Ferguson by A. S. Ellis, is running out her hack nominations. She gained open company status by winning the Inglewood Hack Handicap at Riccarton last Saturday. But her debut in the higher grade will be delay ed at least a little longer. She was scratched from the Amberley Cup dn Thursday.

Payout, which is one of two runners from G. H. Murfltt jnr.'s stable in the held, has two recent wins and a succession of minor placings on his record. The worst he has been in his last nine races was fourth in the Inglewood Hack Handicap last Saturday. The turning course at Amberley makes special demands on horses and often form at other meetings on roomier tracks proves of little value. But both Payout and Safe Harbour are capable of accelerating quickly and should hold contending positions from the start. Payout’s stablemate. Pitch, and Donna Maria will probably have the strongest backing of other Riccarton runners. South Canterbury stables will be strongly represented by Ignite, Archway and Kent. There will also be solid backing from Marlborough for Silver Wood, from Blenheim, and the Picton-trained Silenus. The Amberley Cup, the principal event and first leg of the double, has been reduced to eight runners. Beside Safe Harbour, the South Canterbury representatives, Royal Order and Le Cheval, have dropped out of the field. But P. H. C. Stock, who trains Royal Order, still has a strong form runner in Persuasive to represent his Orari stable. Her strongest rivals will probably be the Riccarton sprinters, Roman Maid and Gabelle.

A favoured trio among the staying hacks in the second leg of the double, the G. B. Starky Memorial Handicap, are Golden Howe, Slatey and GamboL The only scratching in this race is Royal Regent. She has also dropped out of the Seadown Hack Handicap in which Mary Tee, Rising Storm and Pictavia Girl will also be missing. King Lear and Days Bay have re-entered the field for the Glasnevin Handicap, a 10-furlong race for maiden gallopers. The scratchings in this field are Sea Lord, Also, Abduction, Kerami,

Zetland Leigh, Hullabaloo and Legal Credit Happy Holiday is the only defection from the Novice Stakes. The scratching of Winkles in the Brackenfield Hack Hurdles has reduced the field to seven runners. This will be the only twodividend race on the programme. The Brackenfield Hurdles will be something of a novelty at Amberley. The last time a hurdle race was run on the course was in 1935. The track is carrying a heavy sole of grass and is expected to provide good footing.