Arrowmir Does Brilliant Trial

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 903, 21 February 1930, Page 15

Arrowmir Does Brilliant Trial

PROSPECTS FOR CRAVEN RICCARTON’S FINAL GALLOPS The most outstanding effort among the sprinters at Riccarton this morning was a brilliant five furlong gallop by Arrowmir. The gelding ran that distance on the course proper in the exceedingly fast time of 1.1, figures that are seldom equalled and which are very close to race time, and the fact that he came home his last half-mile in 48 established ample proof that he is at the height of his form. The Middle Park Plate candidate, Aspiring, also went well, while others that gained additional admirers for Saturday's races were Amor, Red Heckle, Pride, Jaloux, Waterline, Don Jose and Dutch Money. Final gallops for Riccarton’s one-day meeting were most interesting. Conditions were excellent, notwithstanding that the weather was threatening, and some very smart trials were held. The course proper, with the trestles out the usual distance from the rails, was available, while the plough was also used.

Arrowmir’s brilliant five-furlong spin indicates that he possesses a strong chance in Saturday’s Craven Plate, an event he won under 7.0, beating that redoubtable sprinter Meadow Lark. He is in such good form at present that he must be a serious contender in his engagement at the week-end. Arowmir is a vastly improved horse since ho went into W. J. McCausland’s stable, and at 7.7 in the Craven Plate lie is afforded an excellent winning opportunity. Gay Crest was among the early workers and for his six furlongs he occupied 1.16 3-5. He was assisted by Arikiwai, and came home well, tho last half occupying 51. Winsome Hind again revealed what a speedy filly she is by striding over four furlongs in 49 3-5 without apparent effort. Wingatui form says a good

deal for her Lyttelton Plate prospects, and in the absence of Charmaine she is certain to make a bold showing. One of her rivals, Praise, was not galloped this morning. The Limond filly walked very scratchily in the middle when exercised on the lead, but she may warm up to her work on Saturday after her preliminary. If she does start she is likely to be a strong favourite, and in the weak field is given a chance to atone for her Wingatui failure. Don Joso galloped pleasingly over seven furlongs on the plough in 1.30 2-5. PIo picked up about five and a-half furlongs from home' by Pixio Gold, the pair finishing together over the closing stages. Don Jose was a close fourth at his last start, and he may be capable of a good showing in the Hornby Handicap. Dutch Money was not asked to make fast time while executing a six-furlong gallop on tho plough. She covered that distance, being under a strong pull throughout, in 1.17 3-5, but could easily have bettered those figures had she been required. She is in excellent shape for her engagement on Saturday, and promises to offer stout opposition to her Craven Plate rivals. Will Be Prominent West Coast form is not always a good guide for racing on metropolitan tracks, but if Courtlike, a recent win-* ner on the Coast, runs up to her track form she is going to make her presence felt in the Post Handicap on Saturday. This morning she went a smart seven furlongs with Greyfinch, taking 1.30 2-5 for the full distance, while the last half-mile was covered in 52see. Courtlike looks well, and track-watchers are looking forward to the filly making a good showing in her near engagement.

Marsham ran only moderately at Wingatui, but he galloped well this morning, over seven furlongs, in 1.30 3-5. He was assisted over the last six by Sunny Pal. and appeared to finish full of running. His Hornby Handicap chance looks bright.

In view of his good form at Dunedin, Waterlane is bound to have a big following in the Midsummer Handicap. He looks ail the better for his recent racing, and this morning moved very

freely over a mile, leading Full Feather at the end of that journey in 1.45 Honeycomb’s six furlongs on the plough occupied 1.19 1-5, and on the same track Rapier and Wrigley strode over seven furlongs in 1.32. Pride and Jeloux got to the end of six furlongs in 1.17 1-5, the latter being in front at the end. Jeloux is in good form at present, and with his 101 b maiden allowance is likely to make a bold bid for the Middle Park Plate. To date he has not won a race, but his form has been good. He was a close fourth to Honour in the New Zealand Derby, was second to Hunting Cry in the Great Northern Derby, and in the Wellington Stakes, won by Tenterden, was running over his rivals at the end, finishing right on the heels of the .placed horses.

Noteworthy sprinted four furlongs along the back in 50 2-5, and over five furlongs, from the nine to the half, Semper Paratus and Straightcourse finished together in 1.4 2-5. The Bailiff and Hounslow did seven furlongs on the plough in 1.33 1-5, and Meprisant led Gala Day at the end of a mile in 1.45 2-5.

Proud Knight took 1.4 2-5 for five furlongs, and Silver Coot, who has never looked better than at present, moved very freely over six furlongs in 1.17, the last five furlongs taking 1.3. The Paper Money gelding is to be ridden by A. Eastwood on Saturday.

Fair Exchange and Noteworthy, other members of G. J. Pine’s team, will be piloted by S. Bryce, who is now attached to Pine’s stable. Greenaway and Swiftray were not pushed to record 1.18 2-5 for six furlongs. They began slowly, but ran home the last half in 51sec. Leader and The Viscount worked on the plough, and for six furlongs recorded 1.20/ On the same track Amor led Toper© by a neck at the end of seven furlongs in 1.31 3-5. The Great Northern Derby win % r, Red Heckle, showed that he has npt forfeited any of his former speed by galloping in brilliant style over half a mile with Flair. They ran that distance in 49sec, some watches making their time a tick faster, and the gallop shows that both horses are in good form for Saturday. But if it was a good gallop on the part of Red Heckle it also was a notable effort by Flair, who, in the spring. Was regarded as having the makings of a brilliant sprinter. Flair is to contest tho Trial Stakes on Saturday, and is sure to have a good following. Big Weight To Carry Aspiring’s five furlongs in 1.2 2-5 was a smart performance as she finished up the last half-mil© in 50 1-5, but Arrowmir easily excelled that effort. Still, Aspiring was not nearly all out, and had not Lord Thomond bolted before tho gallop took place the filly may have gone faster. She is in the Middle Park Plate on Saturday, and if she can handle her 9.4 she will go near to winning. Miss Nightraid and Weather Raid ran five furlongs along the back in 1.3 3-5, and over two furlongs farther Te Awhina was not pressed to register 1.33. Ranelagh and Sea Raid took 1.3 for their five furlongs along the back—a promising effort. Netley galloped early, but she was not extended. She covered six furlongs on the plough with Starshooter in 1.19 2-5, while Quarterdeck and. Chiekwheat ran a mile on the plough in 1.45, and Hoylake took 1.18 for six furlongs on the' same track. Flexbird sprinted four furlongs in 52 2-ssec, and. Tariff covered three furlongs in 37sec. Haze beat Master Clarence over four furlongs in 51 3-ssec, and. for the same distance Gay Sonnet occupied similar time. Ravine, who arrived from the West Coast, was worked on the plough ll© dicl an easy six furlongs. Nightmarch and True Shaft sprinted four furlongs along the back in 49sec, which compared very favourably with tho efforts of other sprinters. Solgelo did six in 1.17 3-5, and Pahautanui occupied 51 3-ssec for her half-mile. Buoyant beat Safety over five furlongs in 1.3, and Turnover led Miss Bradbury at the end of a swiftly-run ha If-mile.

Bladon (W. Scobic) was schooled over the big hurdles, shaping better than at his previous attempt.