Favourite Loses By Head

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31032, 12 April 1966, Page 4

Favourite Loses By Head

Kalimera, the lesser fancied of two runners from G. S. Barr’s Riccarton stable, managed a big surprise in beating Bellition narrowly and the others easily in the Warstep Stakes at Riccarton yesterday.

Bellition. an odds-on favourite, went under by a head to Kalimera, which carried 221 b less and was coolly and compentetly ridden by the apprenice, B. Edens. It was Kalimera's second

win in three starts this season. Between the wins she had been second to Time and Tide at Rangiora. She paid £27 8s to win.

She is owned by Messrs J. F. and W. Thwaites, of Hororata, and is a half-sister to St. Malo, a Dunedin Guineas winner in the Thwaites colours.

Kalimera led for the last six furlongs, and Edens showed the coolness of a veteran when Bellition was brought forward to challenge.

A furlong and a half out Bellition looked as if she would win with ease, kflt Kalimera found a bit extra and

battled off the favourite’s challenge. Bellition could have lost the race in the first half-mile. She pulled hard when tracking Sailor’s Flight on the inside and E. J. Didham had to switch her away from the rails going to the half-mile. Sailor’s Flight was another unable to find racing room on the inside. When brought wider she finished well for third, two lengths behind Bellition and a length and a half in front of Happy Day. Last Dip was fifth, close behind Happy Day. Then there was a length and a half to Port Bank.