OHAPI STAKES

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30558, 29 September 1964, Page 4

OHAPI STAKES

Placings Upset Messrs Magson brothers, the owners of Welburn, which finished fourth in the Ohapi Stakes No. 2 at Orari yesterday lodged a protest against third placing being awarded to Langsdale on the grounds of interference at the home turn. After hearing evidence from the stipendiary steward and assistant stipendiary steward, Mr L N. McGuire (Welburn). A. J. Tweedie (Langsdale) and J. Didham, the trainer of Langsdale, the protest was allowed. Welburn was promoted to third and Langsdale relegated to fourth. The evidence disclosed that Langsdale (which was shin sore and feeling the hard ground) ran in and checked Welburn, causing him to lose three lengths. It was considered that Tweedie did everything possible to straighten his mount. F. H. Skelton, the rider of the winner, Royal Bid, was charged with causing interference to Avast and The Toff near the half-mile in the Geraldine Cup. After hearing evidence from the stipendiary steward, Skelton, M. J. Wildermoth (Avast), B. J. Anderton (The Toff) and A. J. Stokes (Silver Kingdom), the judicial committee decided that any interference had no bearing on the result. There was a conflict of evidence as to how the check to Avast, if any, occurred, and the evidence was not sufficiently clear to warrant Skelton’s conviction.