Grant Leaves Plodders Behind

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30171, 1 July 1963, Page 4

Grant Leaves Plodders Behind

Grant left a plodding band of rivals scattered far behind him in the C. L. O r b e 11 Memorial Steeplechase on the first day of the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s winter meeting on Saturday.

The Southland-owned and trained Super gelding has been one of the steeplechasing finds of the year in the South Island; he is now unbeaten in three starts over country, and it is hard to see how his record will peter out yet. He was top weight with 10-8, but his superiority on the day was immeasurable and he won by 75 yards from the honest old Riccarton battler, Packwood, which was five lengths better than Dotterel.

A. Cowan allowed Grant to stride clear past King's Lace early in the race. The favourite started on the last mile with a lead of 10 lengths on King’s Lace and Mainroyal, the closest of the others being 10 more lengths back.

Grant clouted the boards going along the back straight, but was never out of stride and shot away to a lead of 25 lengths going to the half mile.

It was only a matter of what he would win by when he jumped the last two fences neatly. King's Lace hit hard at the second last fence when running second and he was passed by Packwood, Dotterel, and Tidal Rip. Tidal Rip finished the race

not save the day for the bracket.

Cascalho finished sixth and dear of the 2/3 favourite, Sea Buoy. Morelia, a half-sister to Solar Mist, one of New Zealand’s best hurdlers a few years ago, has not taken top ranking in the same game. But there was a glimpse of class in her performance to run second in the Tekapo Hurdles. She swung sideways on the outside of the field at the start and lost at least 10 lengths, but she was beaten by only half a neck. Her conqueror was the Gore-trained Bronze Duke, one of the strongest fancies after some solid form for Mr L. B. McKenzie.

under difficulties, and was led back very lame in front. The strongly-fancied Dark Jester was in the race for only about a mile. He bumped his rider to the ground and his stablemate Cascalho could

Morelia, top weight with 10-6, was taken forward quickly to join the tail of the field early in the race. She passed four of the others before they started on the last round, made a sharp run to join Bronze Duke and Race Card near the half mile, then battled it out gamely to the end. If that strenuous run has not left its mark Morelia should win soon for Mr J. H. Cooper. This was Bronze Duke’s second win in 13 starts this season. The other one was at Waimate where he outstayed Ravelston. None of the others was concerned in the struggle for first in the Tekapo Hurdles. Slatey, the 9/10 favourite, outfinished Race Card for third, the latter just saving fourth place from Mangus. The biggest disappointment of the race was Knight. He was the win favourite, but dropped out of contention

after jumping unevenly, and finished eighth. Waaco, a winner at Oamaru, and the fourth favourite, was a weak finisher after trailing and was ninth at the end.

Summer Air Fails

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright)

SYDNEY, June 30. The New Zealand galloper, Summer Air, shocked punters at Warwick Farm yesterday with a dismal showing In the First High-weight Handicap. Summer Air. starting favourite at 2 to 1, slightly missed the start, then failed to muster speed and did no get Into the picture at any stage. He finished ninth, about 10 lengths from the leaders. Heavily backed Top Brass (4 to 1) sprinted brilliantly to beat Dusky Land (3 to 1) by a length and a quarter, with Gold Fidelity (20 to 1) three-quarters of a length away third.