Triumph For The North Island

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31134, 10 August 1966, Page 5

Triumph For The North Island

North Island horses all but dominated the finish of the Heathcote Handicap, the second leg of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s T.A.B. double at Riccarton yesterday.

The Masterton-trained Lei mastered the top-weight of 8-8 with a sound win over Careen and the Wanganui-trained Le Plus. Garnishee, a stablemate of the Winter Cup winner,

Mukupai, was fourth and Bold Invader, another Masterton runner was fifth. Lei won the Winter Cup for Mr I. A. R. Macrae three years ago. In her bid for a second Winter Cup victory she was in trouble when Wester fell, and lost some skin. She has been a versatile performer this year. She won a sprint race at Tauherenikau at Easter and a middle distance race at Wanganui in June. The seven-year-old Summertime mare is trained by, A. Jenkins, whose son, R. A. Jenkins, was the successful jockey. Lei was ridden just forward of the middle of the big field, and was brought through with a steady run to lead into the last furlong.

Careen came from behind Lei in the running, and closed gamely on the winner in the last furlong, but went under by three-quarters of a length. Le Plus, another unlucky runner in the Winter Cup, had a trouble-free run this time. He challenged from a trailing position to lead on the home turn, but Lei mastered him near the furlong. Garnishee, which had been responsible for all the pacemaking, was a length back fourth and a length and a half in front of Bold Invader. Even Chance, Calvados and Glenmorven were the next best. Summer Flight and Manana appeared to be well tangled in the going and finished well behind the middle of the field.