RACING RICCARTON DOUBLE TO WINGATUI

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29739, 5 February 1962, Page 4

RACING RICCARTON DOUBLE TO WINGATUI

Desert Chief By Nose From Picright

Wingatui-trained gallopers beat their more numerous Canterbury rivals for the major prizes at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s summer meeting at Riccarton on Saturday. Mr G. J. Barton’s five-year-old, Desert Chief, beat Picright narrowly and the others easily in the Midsummer Handicap, the first leg of the double.

Feleka, another five-year-old from Wingatui, just survived a brilliant late challenge from Vitamise for a win in the second leg, the Craven Plate.

Holders of 1385 5s tickets on the successful combination received £B7 7s for £l.

Desert Chief was third favourite, but at good odds in the Midsummer Handicap He paid £8 5s for a win and carried £-115 ss, only one third of the amount carried by Studio, in a doubles pool of £36.603.

Desert Chief pulled too hard to last out two miles and a mile and a half in the Wellington Cup and the Racing Club Handicap at Trentbam. but on Saturday D N Hadfield was able to bury him in the field, which made him run along kindly.

Desert Chief came to the front with a sharp run Close to home he shortened stride, but the light-weight, Picright. could not quite reach him. The official margin was a nose, and it was a small nose

There was some excitement amongst the moderate crowd when the judge, Mr H. V Spicer, declared for Picright in his call for the horses to weish in.

There was some little delay while the photo-finish print was closely examined before Desert Chiefs number went into the winner’s frame Feleka confirmed some solid form in the south with his win in the Craven Plate, for which he was third favourite

Mr E. J. Smart's Timanova gelding has now won twice as a sprinter this season, and in his latest start before Saturday he dead-heated for first with Night Sock at the Vincent meeting Irrepressible. also from Wingatui, was unchallenged for third. She is a stablemate of Llarwnai, which was fourth and had bis chance in the Midsummer Handicap. Apart from one shower, which sent the people scurrying from the lawns for shelter. the weather was fine and warm, and the horses had fast footing. Investments on the meeting totalled £107.383. compared with £105.933 15s. Oncourse investments amounted to £48.119, a decrease of £3241 on last year.

First Leg

Picrirtit dwelt slightly at the start of the Midsummer Handicap and had only Coral Ring behind him after half a furlong.

Candida ran to a slight lead early and after a furlong or so Studio passed Personify and Desert Chief to be a clear second.

Passing the seven furlongs Personify. Matauwhi and Llanmai made a line of three behind S’udio just ahead of Quick Time (rails) and Desert Chief. Candida started on the last half-mile leading Studio by three parts of a length, but there was no'hin>g between them on the home turn Matauwhi and Llanmai were closest to the leaders, and Desert Chief was leaving the ruck at a great rate Desert Chief passed Studio and led into the last furlong But he had barely reached the front when Pieright came at him on his right, just ahead of Kastanea Picright mastered Desert Chief a stride too late; the Wingatui horse lasted for a no e e victory.

Kastanea was two lengths back third, but he had made his run from near the tail of the field

Llanmai was a length back fourth after having every chance, and then there was ha’f a length to Studio. Personify was sixth in a gap of two and a half lengths Matauwhi was seventh a length and a half clear of Quick Time. Then there was half a length to Valeris, which was followed in by Hand Over, Candida. Drake’s Treasure and Coral Ring.

Bold Challenge Feleka clung to a slight lead in the face of a bold late challenge from Vitamise for his win in the Craven Plate, second leg of the double. Feleka was in the front bunch from the start. Vitamise, on the other hand, was

one of the slowest from the stalls, and it was late before he reached a challenging position. Gabelle and Astra contended for the lead with Feleka for a start. Gabelle and Feleka then went ahead, and Astra was esed to trail alongside Omaha, ahead of Safe Harbour, Irrepressible, Royal Leigh, Payout and Gold View Astra lost his position quickly in the next furlong, and Omaha could not make any headway in her chase after Gabelle and Feleka.

Irrepressible and Gold View were closest to the leaders when they straightened up. and Royal Leigh was making ground on the inside. Gabelle was beaten going to the furlong. Feleka was clear there, and that advantage won the race for him.

Vitamise looked out of the race even going to the furlong, but ran the last bit brilliantly and would have mastered the Otago sprinter in two more strides. Irrepressible was two lengths back third and two and a half lengtlis clear of Royal Leigh.

Then there was half a length to Safe Harbour, two lengths to Gold View, a nose to Gabelle, a length to Payout, two lengths to Persuasive, a head to Omaha, a length to Astra, a head to Andalusia, half a length to Fair King and a head to Newmarket.

Jockey Kicked By Horse

William Beck, aged 21 a jockey, of 80 Middlepark road. Upper Riccarton, suffered a gashed leg when he was kicked by Brydone in the birdcage before the start of the Trial Stakes at Riccarton on Saturday. The injury prevented him from riding at the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting. He wns treated at Christchurch Hospital.