Speed Merchants Go Fast at Riccarton

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 541, 19 December 1928, Page 14

Speed Merchants Go Fast at Riccarton

FIRST SIGHT’S PACE HORSES FOR ELLERSLIE (Special to THE SUE) CHRISTCHURCH. Tuesday. The Manawatu Cup candidate. First Sight, was the star galloper at Riccai - ton this morning, and his mile on No. 7 grass track in the fast time of 1-43 2-3 was a first-class effort. When first brought on to the track he showed distinct signs of lameness, but he soon warmed up to his work and during the first part of his gallop displayed rare brilliance. Chilasplay again was the best short distance performer, and her 1.5 1-5 for five furlongs was very satisfactory. Caterpillar also galloped with great dash during her five-furlong sprint with Uproar, and her time for that journey compared very favourably with Childsplay's. Trainers had the use of both plough and Xo. 7 grass track, and several interesting gallops were regisi tered. Manawatu Cup Winner? Beginning with a brilliance that does not often mark his efforts with the i colours up. First Sight ran his first two furlongs in 25 2-5, half mile in 50, five furlongs in 1.3, the last seven furlongs in 1.30 2-5, and the full journey in 1.43 2-5. It was a surprisingly good gallop, and the manner in which the Gay Lad gelding finished up his task leaves little doubt about his condition. He certainly has lightened up a little since he last sported silk, but if he starts fit and well in the Manawatu Cup he will give the northern race a big shake. He has attained his best ; standard on the race track since he • began racing, and this season he fias won from six furlongs to a mile and | a quarter, and the way in which he j finishes on in his races shows that he .is ! a real sticker. He is the best of Gay ' Lad’s stock who have raced to date. Agrion was one of the early workers, but he was restricted to easy -work on I the plough. The Limond horse looks in j the best of health after his compulsory i spell, and has thickened out a good deal since his three-year-old days. Mount for Emerson Dutch Money was given an easv task. {The Paper Money filly, who will be ridden in her Dunedin engagements by C. Emerson, is an improved juvenile, and she should more than pay her way on her Southern trip.

Childsplav was again in the limelight by running home from the fivefurlong post in 1.2 1-5. She began with great brilliance, and after running the first furlong in 12, maintained a solid pace throughout. Childsplay is in splendid fettle at present, and it is quite on the cards that she will excel at the New Year, provided that the hard tracks do not find a weak spot. Prickles again showed this morning that she is in good fettle by running home from the six-furlong post with Full Feather in 1.16 3-5. There was not much to choose between them, but Prickles appeared to be going better than her stable mate. Prickles undoubtedly was very unlucky at her two last starts, but it is quite on the cards that she will pick up a middle distance handicap at an early date. Limerick and Belcaire registered 51 3-5 for their half-mile sprint, but they were not nearly extended. Derby Candidate Red Heckle, looking very well, was let off with an easy task on the plough. Since he was last seen in action the Great Northern Derby candidate has trained on to the satisfaction of his connections, and is in excellent order for his important engagements at Ellerslie. He was allowed to drop out of his Railway Handicap engagement, being preferred for the Christmas Handicap, run over a mile on the same day, in which he will be piloted by the Christchurch light-weight horseman, A. Eastwood. In the Great Xorthern Derby R. McTavish will have the mount on Red Heckle, and if the three-year-old races prominently in his earlier outings at Auckland he is bound to have many followers in the blue riband event. McTavish won last year’s Great Xorthern Derby on Martarma, and in a weak field Red Heckle may put up a good race in this year’s mile and a-half classic. Amor and Wharncliffe were hard held during their six furlong spin, which they did in 1.24. The former is in good fettle for his Auckland engagements, but Wharncliffe, who is to race in hurdle events at Ellerslie, may be in want of racing. Tommy Dodd, Aspiring and Silver Paper finished abreast at the end of half a mile run in 50, but Silver Paper was under a strong pull and could have done much better. Front Rank and Pahautanui hopped off at the six-furlong post, and for the last five of that journey occupied 1.3 4-5. Front Rank drew' out from her stable companion over the last 100 yards* and was three lengths clear at the end. Track watchers consider that she has seldom been better than r at present. The Count in Form Much interest was centred on the Auckland Cup candidate, Count Cavour, when he ..rotted on to the fcrack, and after his mile gallop this morning there is every reason to believe that he will again make a bold bid for victory in Ellerslie’s big twomile race. Hopping off at the mile post, it took him 28 to get to the six furlongs, where he was joined by Toa - wai. The speed was then increased, and for the first five furlongs The Count took 1.8. Count Cavour always held the upper hand over the last bit, and he was two lengths and a-half clear of Toawai when the post was

reached, the time for the full journey being 1.44 4-5. The time was certainly not fast, but it was the way in which the Solferino gelding did his work that impressed. He went very smoothly throughout, and was not in the least distressed at the end.

Caterpillar has disappointed so far, but, judging by her recent track efforts, she may not be long in winning a race. To-day she easily beat Uproar by two lengths over five furlongs in 1.2 2-5. which was onlv a fifth of a second slower than Childsplay’s time.. Caterpillar will be racing on the West Coast over the holidays, and it will indeed be surprising if she fails to do well on that circuit.

The following horses left by this evening’s ferry steamer for Ellerslie: Count Cavour. Red Heckle. Moorgas, Zeuxis, Court Jester. Crown Area Wharncliffe, Amor. Philippic and Honour.