ASHBURTON CHASE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30129, 13 May 1963, Page 4

ASHBURTON CHASE

Dark Jester Not Challenged The Dunedin-owned and trained Dark Jester easily won Canterbury’s first steeplechase of the year at Ashburton on Saturday. Mr J. S. McKay’s fiVe-year-old Timanova gelding led tor the last five furlongs in the Alford Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase, and won by eight lengths from the Riccarton jumper, Packwood. Dark Jester is a brother of Royal Jester, which took high ranking as a handicap stayer when he won the Williamstown Cup in Melbourne and was placed in Froth’s Auckland Cup. Dark Jester has done nothing of much account on the flat, but his pace between fences as well as his safe jumping had most of the others in trouble a good way out on Saturday. Dark Jester was bracketed with Renway and supporters of the bracket received £l5 15s for a win. Dark Jester was left with a long lead when The Ranger crashed at the fence near the half-mile.

He was obviously tired at the last fence, and jumped slowly, but he stayed well clear and won by eight lengths from Packwood.

Tarmine took third away from Mainroyal with a fast late ran from well back. Mainroyal, Sir Chat, Renway and Dotterel were the most prominent for a start. A round from home Sir Chat led from Sydtrev, Dotterel, Dark Jester, Renway and Mainroyal. The lead changed again in a fairly close running field in the next five furlongs. Dark Jester and Sydtrev were disputing the lead near the mile, and The Ranger reached the front at the six furlongs, though with little on Packwood or Dark Jester

Dark Jester passed The Ranger again going to the half-mile, where The Ranger fell on landing. Dotterel lost his rider when appearing to change ground to dodge the fallen horse. Dark Jester was left with a lead of eight lengths coming to the straight and won by that margin. Packwood beat Tarmine by another wide margin for second, but the Waimate horse finished solidly after tailing off early. The favourite, Van Da Hum. finished sixth. He made a bad jump early in the race, and A. Cowan did well to regain the saddle after being around the horse’s neck.