Sabell-Krazikid Succeed At Washdyke

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31108, 11 July 1966, Page 5

Sabell-Krazikid Succeed At Washdyke

Sabell and Krazikid, both of which have been entered for the Winter Cup and other major flat races at the Grand National meeting next month, combined successfully to win the T.A.B. double for Riccarton stables at Washdyke on Saturday.

Sabell was switched to middle-distance racing successfully in the H. H. Fraser Memorial. Krazikid beat the open sprinters with a brilliant front-running gallop in the Stewards’ Handicap.

Sabell and Krazidid helped to make the day memorable for the Riccarton horseman, E. G. Low. They were two of his three winning mounts the other was the Riccartonowned and trained Millie Small, which outran her two-year-old rivals in the Nursery Handicap—and brought his tally of winning rides at the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s two-day winter meeting to five.

Sabell, a small, but hardy four-year-old son of Sabaean and Two Bells, has been one of the most consistent performers in J. L. Barr’s stable. From 47 starts he has gained nine wins, eight seconds, three thirds, seven fourths and £3020 in stakes—a handy return for the 350 gns his Christchurch owner, Mr L. Franklin, paid for him as a yearling at Trentham. Although he had run fourth among the milers at Ashburton at his previous start Sabell was sot one of the strong fancies on Saturday. He was the 8/7 favourite of 15 and paid £l6 10s and £4 7s for a win-and-place. In the double he carried 4028} 10s tickets. The popular fancy was Even Chance with 18,649 tickets and the second choice was Morris Francis with 10,156 tickets. Began Well Sabell was one of the quickest away from the stalls in the H. H. Fraser Memorial but E. G. Low managed to ease him to a trailing position as the field left the straight. Half a mile out Sabell was a clear fourth, tracking Combination and Glenmorven, which led the chase after the tearaway Mosque.

Low sent Sabell after Mosque running to the last furlong. Sabell quickly put the pacemaker behind him and responded gamely to a hard ride to win by a length from Morris Francis.

Morris Francis came from the middle of the field in the last three furlongs for his placing. His was the effort of an early improver, but both winner and runner-up might have been fortunate that the luck of the running went right against Even Chance. When the rush for positions was over Even Chance was mid-field and on the inside. But as the race progressed he was gradually forced back to the rear and three furlongs and a half out he was last on the inner, just behind Calvados.

J. A. Messent managed to work Even Chance into the clear near the three furlongs. He then had to make a big run on the outer, but was still not further forward than midfield at the straight entrance. Although set a hopeless task he continued determinedly to take third. Even Chance was two lengths from Morris Francis and a length and a half in front of Calvados, another solid finisher once he cleared the ruck.

Dark Seaman improved a few places near the end for fifth. Combination and Glenmorven were next, in a small gap. Mosque faded to ninth, just behind Castle Gregory, Outran 12 Rivals Krazikid completed a double worth £lO7 5s 6d for £1 when he outran 12 rivals in the Stewards’ Handicap. He was the each-way favourite for a win-and-place, but only second fancy for the double in this, his first test in open-class in the colours of his Methven owner-breed-er, Mr S. D. Gordon. There were 1135 5s tickets —134 on-course—on the Sa-bell-Krazikid combination. Rae’s Hope was 4/3 in the betting but, surprisingly, offcourse substitute, and carried 1517 tickets. He was always among the tail-enders and

failed to raise the hopes of his backers at any stage. Krazikid was still eligible for hack races before Saturday. Although he had earned £l4lO in hack class only £7lO of that amount was winning stakes.

“The handicapper almost forced me to make the switch,” said Krazikid’s trainer, P. H. Jones. “For a horse which had won only three races I considered that the 9-9 he was given at Ashburton was too harsh. He was dropped lib for the hack sprint at Washdyke, but still had to concede 41b to Danny Kaye, which already had open-class rating.”

The winner’s share of the Stewards’ Handicap Stake on Saturday brought Krazikid’s stake earnings to £1690. His next race will be the Brabazon Handicap at the Christchurch Hunt meeting before the Winter Cup. E. G. Low will ride him in both races. Krazikid and Fairlane ran almost as one in front from the start in the Stewards’ Handicap. They were chased

to the straight by Donnaway, Etoile Este, Mister Bud and Kaiimera, which had rushed up quickly to a trailing position after being last away from the stalls.

Krazikid worked clear early in the run home, and although Fairlane made a renewed bid close to the end, E. G. Low did not have to ride the favourite with more than hands and heels to keep him ahead.

Krazikid beat Fairlane by a neck. Etoile Este was a length and a half back. She beat Gladaub, third equal on the home turn, by a length. It was a good day for Riccarton horses. As well as winning both legs of the main double and the second leg of the course double, Shoshone won the Strathallan Improvers’ Handicap, a mile event for apprentice riders, at long odds for her owner-trainer, C. C. Stokes. Research, a member of W. A. Welton’s team, emerged from the meeting with an unbeaten record when he beat the favourite Danny Kaye and 13 other hack sprinters in the Washdyke Handicap. Another feature of the day’s racing was the success of horses prepared by J. S. McKay at Wingatui. He saddled Linred to win the Triford Memorial Steeples—that gave the Red Marlin gelding an unbeaten record in the cross-country events at the meeting—Sir Athol to win the Kerrytown Hurdles and Skinfull to win the Otaio Maiden Stakes. Sir Athol carries the colours of Mr G. H. Soper but Skinfull and Linred are both raced by their trainer.

Skinfull and Millie Small, which is raced by her trainer, T. I. Smith, and his wife, completed the on-course double. The combination paid £5B 2s for £l.

The meeting was held in fine, cool weather and the track was dead. There was a fair attendance.

On-course betting for the two days was £46,997 compared with £46,202 10s last year.