Strydom Wins Steeples Easily

Press, Volume C, Issue 29567, 17 July 1961, Page 4

Strydom Wins Steeples Easily

Strydom led for the last mile and a half to win the Eric Riddiford Steeplechase at Trentham on Saturday. This, the major success of his career, came after some solid performances, Including a win at Marton and seconds to Dunray at the two-day Hawke's Bay winter meeting. Luck deserted him in the Matai Steeplechase on the second day of the meeting. His rider, Sheild, broke a stirrup leather a round from home and was bumped off at the stand double. About half a mile from home it looked as if it would be a continuation of the Hastings story. Dunray was then three or four lengths behind Strydom and going strongly. But Strydom was left with a tidy lead when Dunrav put in a short one at the board fence and landed so badly that J. R. Potter was shot over his neck. Strydom had the stamina to stay beyond challenging distance of the others. He won by two lengths in a solid if not spectacular race trial for the Grand National. Valuation was runner-up, outstaying the second favourite Triple Score, which was next best to Dunray in the Wellington Steeplechase. Strydom is a seven-year-old gelding by Tauloch, which was the champion three-year-old of his year and is now at stud in Queensland. Dunray was each-way favourite and there would have been much enthusiasm if he had won what was almost certainly his final race at Trentham. He was led in some time later, showing a good-sized bump below his chest Many people waited for his arrival back at the birdcage and gave him a cheer. * Valuation and Fence ran

together in the lead for a start. Then Fend ran clear going through the straight for the first time. LOST INTEREST Fend jumped the first of the double clumsily, and lost interest in the race momentarily going to one of the exits from the training track near the mile. Valuation regained the lead soon afterwards but was displaced by Strydom when they reached the straight next time round. Strydom led over the double by three lengths from Fend. The others were closing up, Valuation being joined then by Dunray, which loped along a fair way behind for the first mile. Dunray was a clear third at the nine furlonga, and moved to second behind Strydom soon afterwards. Fend was third in a gap of five lengths, but was only just shading Valuation and Triple Score. The others were feeling the strain. Strydom was left well clear when Dunray went out at the penultimate fence. Valuation made a plucky effort to catch him but was sa *£ly , he y by two lengths. Triple Score, whose jumping was never very good, was three lengths back third. Yardgar, which tailed the field for • lair way, was a Plodder’s fourth 10 lengths be+dnd, just beating Fend. Orelino was a poor sixth Clear of Arctic Sun and Gum.