Rakaia Now Favourite

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31020, 28 March 1966, Page 6

Rakaia Now Favourite

(N.Z. Press Association) SYDNEY. The six-year-old New Zea-land-bred gelding Rakaia and his stablemate Scottish Soldier were made equal favourites for the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick on April 9, after they had finished first and second in the seven-fur-long Railway Quality Handicap at Rosehill on Saturday. They moved up to the first mark with Even Better, which finished tenth behind them on Saturday. Rakaia (5/1) won by a length and a half from Scottish Soldier (25/1), with the

40/1 shot Royal Rene a length away third. The race was regarded as a dress rehearsal for the Doncaster as the field included the other big race entrants Peace Council, Calmness, Fair Summer, Strauss, Carnival and Castanea.

The New Zealand stayers Apa and Red Crest did not impress when they had their first Australian starts on Saturday, but both have retained their positions in the cup market and should be improved by their runs. Apa captured little interest on the course, drifting from 12/1 to start at 33/1 in the H. E. Tancred Cup over a mile and a half, and though he was with the leaders early he

dropped back to finish tenth, about eight lengths behind the winner.

The race was won by Striking Force (7/2 by a length and a half from Hyde (3/1) with the New Zealander, Tasman Lad (9/4 favourite) a neck away third.

Red Crest hardened from an opening quote of 25/1 to start at 15/1 in the nine-fur-long Welter Handicap, but the Wellington Cup winner finished last of the 12-horse field.

Another New Zealand-bred horse, Earl Sasanof (12/1) won the race by a short halfhead from Young Darcy (6/1) with the New Zealander Saltan (11/8 on favourite) one length and a half away third.