TIRED BY JOURNEY

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30681, 22 February 1965, Page 5

TIRED BY JOURNEY

Inquiries At Westport (N.Z. Press Association) WESTPORT. Approval (F. H. Skelton) raced badly in the Morley Memorial Handicap at Westport on Saturday and finally finished a distant last. He appeared to be very stiff in his galloping action and did not appear to be hitting out freely at any stage of the race. It appeared that Approval, which had travelled from Christchurch only that morning, was feeling the effects of the long journey. The veterinary surgeon examined the horse but could find nothing seriously wrong with him. About an hour before the Dalray Hack Handicap was run it was noticed that Carnbeg and Valbaean were not shown in the race card as a bracket. The T.A.B. and on-course patrons were then notified that these horses would be bracketed and tickets would, from then on. be sold only on No. 3. It was also decided that should any tickets have been exchanged on Valbaean, No. 13, that the double dividend would be paid on this number as if it were No. 3. Llanstar, which was very well supported in the Dalray Hack Handicap, finished near the rear. Her rider, A. H. Eastwood, stated that at no stage did she appear to be able to handle the going. Her trainer, R. B. Taggart, produced evidence in support of Llanstar being expected to race well. Apart from his jockey’s explanation he was unable to offer any further evidence as Ito why she had raced badly.