Istan Light Favoured For Otago Hunt Cup

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31153, 1 September 1966, Page 4

Istan Light Favoured For Otago Hunt Cup

“The Press” Special Service DUNEDIN. Istan Light, a member of the powerful Hazlett-owned and Hil-lis-trained team of jumpers, is the early favourite for the Otago Hunt Cup, the feature cross-country event and the second leg of the Otago Hunt Club's on-course double at Wingatui on Saturday. The Kurdistan gelding gave a brilliant display of jumping and drew away over the final stages to win untested from the Wingatui candidate, Red Harken, and the top-weight, Grant. The fences at Gore are much lighter than at Winga-

tui, but Istan Light, which will again have the expert services of W. J. Hillis should have no trouble in mastering the Wingatui country. Red Harken, a member of J. S. McKay’s team, has been making steady progress as a jumper this winter and more than paid his way on a trip to Riccarton. He is expected to make another sound showing. a likely improver on his run for third place last week is Grant, which was making his first appearance for the season. The Super gelding would have been closer at the finish had he been more patiently ridden. His run from last to first, to give him the lead a mile from home, left him wanting when the pressure was on over the final stages of the race. Grant was a winner four starts back and he could be the one to extend Istan Light. The best of the others may be First Watch, a decisive winner of the Dunedin Steeplechase in June, and Lovely Clover,

which was runner-up to Melotone at Waimate. The first leg of the on-course double is the Seaview Hack Steeplechase in which Peter and Turtle are likely to dispute favouritism Peter made a good impression at Gore last week when he outstayed the favourite, Turtle, when having his first test as a jumper. Turtle Is a member of Hillis’s team and he may turn the tables on the Winsloe-trained Peter on Saturday. The Hazlett-Hillis combination will have a royal chance of winning the third jumping race with Naratam in the B. S. Irwin Steeplechase for amateur riders. Naratam, a failure on the flat, looks like making a name for himself as a jumper. The Rawalpindi II gelding beat Royal Burgh narrowly but well in the corresponding race at Gore. His rise in the weights of 61b to 11-7 should not prejudice his prospects. Royal Burgh, Jolly Fox and Faraj make most appeal of the rest.