RACING SKELTON WARNED AFTER CUP WIN

Press, Volume CI, Issue 30015, 27 December 1962, Page 4

RACING SKELTON WARNED AFTER CUP WIN

Small Sensation Over

Great Sensation

Cheekily ridden by R. J. Skelton, Great Sensation won his second Dunedin Cup at Wingatui yesterday. Great Sensation got there by only half a head from Astra, but he could have won with a stone in hand. To the astonishment of everyone on the course, Skelton was content to allow Great Sensation to coast to the post, though he had only indies to spare.

After the race the Wingatui jockey was questioned before the chairman of the judicial committee "on what appeared to be hs over-con-fidence in noit completely riding his mount out in the concluding stages.’’

Skelton was cautioned not to take any risks in future in such a dose finish.

Carrying £1634 of a pool of £3864. Great Sensation paid £1 19s for a win. This was probably bis last race before he goes to Trentham to attempt to win his third Wellington Cup next month. He is now a 10-year-old, but he looks and is racing as well as ever, and he will have confident South Isand backing in the Wellington Cup-

Great Sensation carried £9821, including £BO3B offcourse, on the double. The pool amounted to £22,237.

Double, another R. J. Skelton mount, easily won the Publicans’ Handicap, second leg of the TA.B. double. This time Skelton took no risks, riding the Washdyketrained Jekyll mare dear early in the run home and keeping her going.

Double earned this win after a rather unlucky fourth in the Members’ Handicap at the New Zealand Cup meeting.

Double is owned by Mr J. Y. Scales, Christdhurch. and is trained by W. P. Hogan. Holders of 10,606 5s tickets on the Great SensationDouble combination received £6 18s 6d for £l.

Bellarook was the first fancy wrth 16,671 tickets.

After rain on Christmas Day the track was slightly easy, but gave good footing.

The on-course totaitoator turnover was £48.829 compared with £48.471 IQs on Du iedin Cup day last year. But on-course betting foe the two-day meeting dropped by £2soo—from £91,090 to £88.590. Cup Running

After two furlongs in the Dunedin Cup, Astra led by two lengths from McGregor and Solus.

Skelton had taken Great Sensation alongside the rails to follow Solus on the inside alongside Quick Time

and just ahead of Windvale Lad.

The pace was fairly solid going through tfhe straight, but it slackened near the mile, where Astra's lead had been reduced to a length. McGregor was then two wide without a trailing run and was pulling too hard tor the peace of mind of his backers.

But Great Sensartton was still getting a dream run behind Solus on the inside.

Astra started the last five furlongs with two lengths on Solus, McGregor, and Candida. which were to line just ahead of Great Sensation, Quick Time, and Windvaie Lad.

Three furlongs out, Great Sensation was switched away from the rails to go past Solus and to get doser to Astra, which was stall making a strong gallop. The top-weight was only a length behind Astra on the home turn and it was dear that be had the race won there and then.

But with Skelton not prepared to allow Great Sensation to reach anything like full stretch, Astra was very much in the race until the last stride and went under by only half a head. Panther improved three positions from the half-mile tor third, three and a half lengths behind Astra He just caught the Riccarton veteran, Quick Time, which was a nose back fourth.

The tiring Solus was three lengths back fifth, and was followed in by Roseair, Windvale Lad, McGregor, Gracefield’s Pride, and Candida.

Unchallenged

Double led from well outside the furlong tor her win in the Publicans’ Handicap, second leg of the T.A.B. double.

She was about four places back for a start, but was taken forward to second behind Corvade ait the halfmile.

Neron was close behind, with Tampa, Bold Venture, and The Wanderer also close at hand. The favourite, Bellarook, was then becoming awkwardly placed on the inside near the tail-end bunch.

Double joined Oorvale in front before the home turn, and went dear soon after

straightening up. R. J. Skelton rode her out with hands and heels until he was sure there would be no challengers.

Tampa lost second to Hie test stride to the Riccartontrained Royal Leigh, which was near the tail of the field, but just ahead of Bellarook, at Hie half-mile.

Bellarook finished fast down Hie outside for a rather unlucky fourth.

The others were beaten off. Carvale led them in, two length* behind Bellarook.

Neron was a disappointing sixth ahead of Heart’s Pride. Bold Venture, Irrepressible, The Wanderer. Athenree One, and Andalusia.