RACING LINCOLN STEEPLES WON BY CAPET

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28661, 11 August 1958, Page 4

RACING LINCOLN STEEPLES WON BY CAPET

Juventas, Pink Rose Take Double Capet recorded a well-earned first win over country at Riccarton in the Lincoln Steeplechase on the final day of the Grand National meeting on Saturday. Mr W. E. Hazlett’s seven-year-old Sir Simper gelding was a short-priced favourite, a position he earned by beating all but Spring Fair in the Grand National Steeples a week earlier. This was Capet’s second attempt win the Lincoln. Two years ago he was runner-up to his fellow Southlander, Cogitation. Honours in the main races were well spread. Juventas, from Wanganui, won the Islington Handicap, narrowly beating the Awapuni-trained Gold Merit. Revolver improved the splendid Riccarton record of horses from Mr I. Robinson’s Matangi stable by winning the Sydenham Hurdles; and the Washdyke-trained Pink Rose' won the August Handicap in style.

There was some booing after the Islington Handicap, in which Juventas, the seventh favourite of 20 got up to beat the favourite, Gold Merit, narrowly. Juventas was the unplaced favourite in the Heathcote Handicap on the second day of the meeting, but that performance followed a very -sound winter campaign in. the North Island. In six starts before she came to Riccarton she was three times successful and three times placed. Juventas is a five-year-old mare by Dogger Bank from Palm Bearer, owned by Mr J. G. Alexander and trained by J. C. Bagby. The Islington Handicap was the first leg of the double, Juventas carrying 9659 A 10s tickets in a pool of £89,787 10s.

Pink Rose led from well outside the furlong in the second leg, the August Handicap, and won unchallenged by two lengths and a half from Copenhagen, which shaded Bagman, McCool, and Tamarisk in a tight finish for the minor places. Holders of 3661 5s tickets on the Juventas—Pink Rose combination received £Bl Is 6d for £l. Pink Rose. a five-year-old daughter of Peak Halyard and Density, is owned by Mr and Mrs E. J. Richards and trained by E. J. Ellis. She gave last season's champion jockey. W. D. Skelton, his only winning ride at the meeting North Island Nine of the 10 starters in the Sydenham Hurdles were North Island horses, and the Invercar-gill-trained Good Abbot was unable to offer effective opposition. Revdlver, the beaten favourite in the Grand National ixurdles when the track was soft, had conditions more to his liking. His jumping was not free of blemish, but he outran the others on a summer-like track and won by a length from the Hawera-trained Arawana, which was third in the Grand National Hurdles. This win gave Revolver a double for the meeting. He won the Jumpers’ Flat a week earlier. He also won two races at the Grand National meeting last year. The programme was run in warm, sunny weather before a good crowd. The on-course totalisator turnover was £131,603. including £13.593 10s on the double, compared with £115.494 10s for the third day- last year. On-course investments for the meeting totalled £403.735 10s, an increase of £19,337 10s on last year. Lincoln Steeples Capet galloped easily close behind the leaders for a good way in the Lincoln Steeplechase, ran past French Echo and Western Desert into the lead when they reached the straight and won by two lengths from the light-weight Consign. French Echo was two more lengths back third and five lengths ahead of Western Desert. Fench Echo and Capet led ovei the first fence, Cutts’s, but Keahmar pulled past them before they reached the second. Keahmar widened his lead with a fast leap at the post and rails, but misjudged the first of the kennels double, and bumped R. A. Jenkins from the saddle. « French Echo was then left in front and Border Reiver joined him at the end of a mile. Eight lengths covered the field at the stand double a round from home, with Border Reiver and French Echo jumping evenly in front. Revolution followed them to Cutts’s where the pace was quickening, and the others closed up going to the post and rails. French Echo was clear on landing over the second of the kennels double, where Ozone lost ground. Capel was still trailing on the inner with Revolution alongside. Consign and Western Desert were drawing up. Western Desert was ridden up to join French Echo going to the big brush at the top of the straight but he was outjumped. French Echo did not hold his lead for much longer. Capet, taking the short route, reached the lead before they came to the last fence, and was not put to the 13st in the! run-in. Consign outstayed French j Echo for second. Western Desert j was five lengths back fourth. A. D. Whiteman ceasing to ride him out when his chance of paying a dividend had gone. Revolution was four lengths back fifth. Maioro Bay was a distant sixth, and Border Reiver and Ozone straggled in behind him. Brilliant Finish Juventas finished brilliantly from well back in the field for a narrow win over Gold Merit in the Islington Handicap, the first leg of the double. She mounted a strong run on the outride tn the straight and mastered Gold Merit and Avenge, which had been pacemaker, when the oost was near. Avenge was one of the best beginners. and Motueka. Cruising, and Aporeciate were the slowest. Avenge led past the mile from Smart. Believe Me. Stylish Officer. Gold Merit, King of Jnv. Brookfields I.ad. Nasib. Motueka. Mighty Dollar. Prince Filou, Purser, and Ark Royal. was then fifth to last. Officer was a clear second at the seven furlongs and a length and a half behind Avenge.

Avenge widened his lead to three lengtns going io the half-mile. Stylish Officer was a clear second on tne home turn, and Brookfields Lad, Golo Merit, Believe Me, Smart, Prince Fiiou, King of Joy, and Motueka were fairly close at hand. Avenge was still clear at the furlong, and Stylish Officer was wearying of the chase after him. Prince Filou had also reached the end of his run, but Motueka, Gold Merit, and Juventas were running on. Juventas had the strongest finish, and she just shaded Gold Merit. Avenge was half a length back third. Then there was a length to Motueka, and two lengths to Purser. Ark Royal, which did not get a good run outside the furlong, was sixth, and next were Prince Filou. Stylish Officer, King of Joy, Mananui, Cruising. Shoal, Smart, Brookfields Lad, Flair, Believe Me. Nasib, Meteorologist, and Appreciate. Not Tested Pink Rose followed Her Ex into the straight in the August Handicap, ran clear soon after, and won unchallenged by two lengths and a half from Copenhagen, which shaded Bagman, McCool, and Tamarisk in a tight finish Her Ex ran past Tamarisk into the lead inside the first two furlongs, and Bagman and Pink Rose moved into trailing positions. Pink Rose was taken forward to be at Her Ex’s girth going to the halfmile. Bagman was then trailing on the inner alongside Copenhagen, and Dart Away. Ben Ledi, McCool, and Pack Drill were close behind. Her Ex reached the end of her run when they got to the straight, and Pink Rose spurted clear. Copenhagen and Bagman followed her into the last furlong, but it was a vain chase. Copenhagen beat Bagman by a head tor second Then there was a neck to McCool and another to Tamarisk, a solid finisher. Coq d’Or was sixth in a gap with Money-Go-Round, and Ben Ledi not far behind. Next, practically in line, were Stawell, Pack Drill. Her Ex. Petty Officer, and Skyrider; then Dart Away and King Robin. Skyrider was the slowest beginner.