RACING Solus Has Narrow Win At Invercargill

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29984, 20 November 1962, Page 4

RACING Solus Has Narrow Win At Invercargill

"The Press" Special Service

INVERCARGIU* Nov. 19. •etas bnmght his winstag tally to 11 when he foneht ent a tight Bnteh Koteair to wta the gootelang KataUeap, main erent and 3nt leg of the TJLB. doable ea the second day of the Southland Racing Club’s spring meeting today. Carrying top-weight of 9-0, Solus beat oK the pacemaker Astra and then held off a strong challenge from Roseair by haU a head. Panther rounded off the double by beating the sprinters in the second leg. the Oreti Handicap. The pair paid £39 13s for £l.

The double pool totalled £36335, there being 222 5s ticket* on the winning pair. R. J. Skelton won both double legs with his brother-in-law, B. J. Anderton, in second place each time.

Solus justified his favouritism for the Southland Handicap but he had nothing to spare from Roseair, which finished brilliantly over the final furlong. but failed by half a head. Solus, which had trailed the pacemaker Astra most of the way, shaded him at the home turn but there was little between them into the straight. Solus showed some gameness in a punishing finish to secure a narrow decision.

Astra was in front from the outset, having a break of four lengths on Happy Birthday at the end of two furlongs, with Solus another four lengths back, three lengths dear of Roseair and Royal Crest

With six furlongs to run Astra still held his four length margin, but at the half-mile Solus was within half a length of him. with a length to Royal Crest, Roseair and Happy Birthday, racing in line two lengths clear of Becharre, with three lengths to Corrieonzo.

Solus shaded Astra at the three, but there was little between them into the straight, where Royal Crest ind Roeealr were a length back, two lengths dear of Hapmr Birthday, followed by Becharre. fought back the furlong but Solus took his measure only to be tackled by which failed by half a head to get up. Astra was a length away third with a neck to Royal Creet and a gap of 10 lengths to Happy Birthday and a nose to Becharre. Corrieonzo was 10 lengths back last. Panther was responsible for a top-class performance to win the Stewards’ Handicap, in which he drifted well out of his ground fa the eariy running, but unwound a brilliant Crotch Bid and Chattel were a little slow out and at the end of a furlong Panther had drifted to the tail of the field. Heart's Pride was soon to front and at the half was a length dear of Chattel and Sudd El Nil. with a length to Flaxman. Mangus, Magic Casement and Scotch Bid. Sudd El Nil had joined Heart's Pride to the lead into the straight with Scotch Bld. Flaxman, Melotons. Blue Haven and Panther improving on the outer. Flaxman had the measure of the leaders when he moved through on the inner at the furlong and he looked to be in for a comfortable win when Melotone and Panther dashed up on the outer. Panther got up to beat Melotone by a nose with Flaxman half a length back third and a similar margin to Chattel, which came home well for fourth. Blue Haven was a length and a quarter back with a neck to Heart’s Pride, two lengths to Mangus ahead of Sudd El Nil, which did not run on, Scotch Bid and Magic Casement last.

The totallsator on-course handled £27,977. There was no second day last year.