Blonde Sprite Goes Well In 5f. Trial

Press, Volume C, Issue 29511, 12 May 1961, Page 4

Blonde Sprite Goes Well In 5f. Trial

Blonde Sprite showed high speed in a fivefurlong trial on the No. 1 grass at Riecarton yesterday.

It was her windi Ashburton club’s Colds' left no room for doubt

Ridden by her race rider, A. J. Stokes, Blonde Sprite dashed home from the five furlongs in Imin 1 2-ssec. She accelerated quickly after the first furlong, and ran the last half-mile brilliantly in 47 2-ssec.

Trialists had first-class

ing-up gallop for the tream Handicap, and it t about her fitness.

footing on the No. 1 grass, which was open for the first time foj- several weeks.

There was some confusion early in the training when there was too little room for horses galloping in company, but trestles were shifted to rectify the trouble. A fast mile by Kastanea marked the training over more ground. Kastanea, ridden by T. Wilson, led Kelp (B. Collins) by a length ending a mile. Gay Tommy (W. Beck) was half a length back third and threequarters of a length clear of Thumper (W. Donovan'.

Kastanea and Gay Tommy started behind the others, but Kastanea came to the front with a solid run about half way down the straight. He ran his mile in Imin 42 2-5 sec and the last half in 50sec. Herbs (O. Anning) and Whiohau <M. Skelton) kept up strong gallops under light weights to run their mile in Imin 44 2-ssec, and the last half in 50 4-ssec.

Herbs was more impressive in this trial than he was on Tuesday.

Day’s Bay (N. Cowles) took Imin 48 l-ssec for his mile and 51 2-ssec for -the last half. He is engaged in the steeplechase at Ashburton, where the country should not trouble him.

Fast Mile

Corowa (N. Eastwood) ran away from Paua (D. N. Hadfield) in a fast mile gallop. Corowa finished his mile in Imin 41 3-ssec. with On Time (N. Cowles) going with him for the last half. Paua took Imin 44sec for her mile, but she was not bustled in the straight. Pyrites (P. J. Kempton) ran his mile in Imin 45 l-ssec Televista (O. Anning) joined in for the last half-mile, run in 51 2-ssec.

Navarone (D. N. Hadfield) led his stablemate Offend (P. Graham) by two lengths aftet running seven furlongs, the last half-mile strongly in 49 4-ssec.

Golden Aureole (T. Wilson) was shading Kakanui (G. R. Baldwin) and was well clear of By Arrangement (G. W. Mein) finishing six furlongs in Imin 18 2-ssec, the last tour in 49 4-s®ec.

96-Hour Trip

By Arrangement’s sluggish run was understandable. This Ellerslie-trained Gabador gelding came from Auckland to Lyttelton in a cargo ship, and the trip took 96 hours.

He has no form of any worth to back his chances in the Trial Stakes at Ashburton The two-year-olds Waverley (N. Eastwood) and Polly Alonzo (A. H. Eastwood) were paired in a fast halfmile sprint. The unraced Waverley won the gallop by a neck and recorded 48sec. He may make an impression in the Lauriston Handicap at Ashburton.

Great Glee <D. N. Hadfield) sprinted half a mile in 48 2-5 sec.

Picket (P. Graham) appeared to be shading Jamie (R. McDonald) nearing the end of half a mile, run in 49sec.

Picket, like Waverley, has not had racing experience, but could go well in the Lauriston Handicap.

Star Maiden (K Reggett) ran away from Garcia (O Anning) over half a mile and recorded 49 3-ssec. Other work over short sprint distances:— Six Furlongs.—Forsythe (M Wildermoth), Imin 21sec. Five Furlongs.—Toa (G. W Mein) and Riboflavin. Imin 3' l-ssec; Harewood (A. J Stokes), and Rondar <O. Annine). Imin 3sec.

Half-mile.—Royal Return (G. R. Baldwin) shading Golden Retriever (W. Donovan), 51 2-ssec: Balrannach <M. J. Wildermoth), 51sec: Prospero (A. H. Eastwood), 51 3-ssec; Tui Hill >R. B. Taggart), 51 l-ssec; Talkative (P. Graham), 50 l-ssec; Siatey (A. J. Stokes). 50 4-ssec: Shoal (C. McDonald). 53sec. The stablemates Hullabaloo (G. W. Mein) and Ruffle (K. Reggett) sprinted three furlongs on terms in 36 l-ssec. Hunted (R. B. Taggart) recorded 53 l-ssec tor half a mile. ,■»<