All-Riccarton Finish

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31163, 13 September 1966, Page 4

All-Riccarton Finish

Sir Limond, a fair third on the first day of the meeting, gave the Christchurch owner, Mr J. Y. Scales, a change of luck with a win in the Methven Improvers’ Handicap at Ashburton yesterday.

It was an all-Riccarton finish, with Gunga Din a solid challenger for second a neck from the winned, and Not Guilty a good third after appearing to be in trouble on the inside about half-way through the race. E. G. Low had Sir Limond close to the lead from the start. Dowmanca led him around the home turn, but not by much. Sir Limond was in front outside the furlong, and Gunga Din, which had been fourth on the home turn, failed to peg him back. The Wi ngatui - trained Spanish Fox did well to get' up for fourth a length behind Not Guilty after being one of the slowest away. NOT TESTED Polar brought off a double for the Ashburton spring .meeting when he won with ease in the County Highweight. A rise of 71b for his firstday win did not make heavy demands on Mr H. G. McLeod’s Wingatui-trained chestnut. He caught the pacemaking gallantly near the furlong, and won with a lot in hand by a length and a half from Blind Date, a stronglyi fancied newcomer at the . meeting. Last Dip, another making her first start at the meeting, but the third favourite, was a creditable third. She did not make her task any easier by attempting to duck in when N. Cowles was trying to ride her right out in the straight. For all that she missed second by only a neck. Gallantly tired to fourth in a gap. AT GOOD ODDS Autobank delayed the start of the Wakanui Maiden Stakes when he broke away riderless from the starting gate, and cantered around to the home straight. Taken back, he quickly ttook a good position in a big field and won

easily by two lengths at odds of nearly 20 to one. Autobank, a solid Dogger Bank raced by the estate of Mr J. Casey, was having his first start of his four-year-old career. He was just forward of a close-running pack in the middle of the field at the half mile and kept up a solid run in the middle of the track to achieve victory. At the end he was out by two lengths from El Tegrave, which made a likely Challenge going to the furlong. Pretentious, the each-way favourite, came through the race with most of the honours in finishing third. He was one of the slowest away, and took small gaps on the inside in a big run through the pack. Miloutin weakened to fourth after disputing the lead. GOOD COMPANY The Riccarton trainer, D. J. Thistoll, saddled two runners for the Mount Somers Hack Handicap and they were clearly the best two in the race. Cosmetic, which was relegated to fourth after coming out on top in the Eiffelton Hack Handicap on the first day of the meeeting, finished brilliantly from a close rails position and beat Pango by a length, but honours of the race were fairly even. Pango was one of the slowest away and was taken forward at a great rate to lead after a furlong and a half. She led to the last furlong, but could not find anything extra for Cosmetic’s bold challenge. El Beka, which led momentarily early and kept handy ' afterward, was a fair third and unchallenged for that position. OVERDUE WIN Town Talk, which found success elusive throughout his six-year-old racing last season, produced easily the best run of the Penscroft

Handicap and it gave him victory by three lengths over Kai Bank, which beat Lucky Crown by half a length. Town Talk was having his second start for the season for Mr I. J. Campbell. A gelding by Kurdistan from the good winner, Eriskay, Town Talk was ridden well back in the field for a start, but came at a great rate to win going away by three lengths from Kai Bank, which had his chance. Lucky Crown was unchallenged for third, a length in front of the each-way favourite, We'll Find Out, which appeared to have her chance.