Vitamise Wins In Sprint By Nose

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30107, 16 April 1963, Page 4

Vitamise Wins In Sprint By Nose

The generous width of the Riccarton straight looked none too wide yesterday when those who braved drizzle and rain saw Vitamise win the Great Easter Handicap in a spectacular finish.

Vitamise won by a nose from Warfare, and Yankinville was another nose back, third.

lit was one of the best finishes in the history of the race. A furlong out any one of a dozen runners could have won as they fanned out right across the track. Vitamise completed a rich course double with this win. He also won the Stewards’ Handicap for his South Canterbury owners, Mir and Mrs P. Hudson, ait the last New Zealand Cup meeting. He was prepared for each win at Riccarton by J. E Shaw, and was ridden in both races by N. Eastwood. Slow Start Vitamise had to give most of his rivals a start. He was one of the slow beginners and had only Royal Leigh behind him after two furlongs. But he improved quickly, going to the halfmile. then went through with his run brilliantly and gamely in the straight

He won "on the nod of the head” just when Warfare appeared likely to hold to the slenderest of leads.

Warfare challenged from a fairly handy position, but Yankinvilie came from far back and widest of all. and his big run seemed to reach its end a few strides short of the post. Vitamdse was the 6/5 favourite and paid £9 fc 6d and £3 0s 6d

Warfare, whose record this season has been very solid, was third choice, and Yankinvilie was the 7/7 favourite. Royal Estate was fourth in a gap of two lengths behind Yankinvilie. He was responsible for most of the pace, and shook off challenges from Flying Trix and others going to the furlong before surrendering his lead. That’s That was the best of the North Islanders in the field She was fifth a length

and a half back after being close to the lead from the start.

beaend was half a head back isixrth after being well in contention to the furtong. Captain Hunt, one of the long shots, was seventh, just beating Tilka. John Jameson was ninth, making some improvement through a tight bunch in the straight after being well back on the turn. John Jameson was a nose ahead of the favourite, Gold View, which never raised her backers’ hopes.