INQUIRY HELD

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31210, 7 November 1966, Page 4

INQUIRY HELD

Favourite’s Lapse Inquiries were held into the disappointing performances of the three-year-olds. Mr Mink and Star Belle, In the Stewards' Handicap, the second leg of ths double at Riccarton on Satur day. Mr Mink began well and showed his customary speed to be in the lead until the junction to the course proper, where he started to hang out badly. His rider, N. D. Riordan, said he had difficulty in keeping Mr Mink straight. When he did settle him he asked him for an effort but there seemed to be nothing left and Mr Mink drifted back through the field to finish last, his first defeat in eight starts The club's veterinary sur geon examined Mr Mink and found that the horse was not distressed but that his he_Tt recovery rate was abnormal

Mr Mink was the favourite and off-course substitute. Star Belle the second favourite, also ran poorly to finish tenth.

Her rider. R. J. Skelton, told the stipendiary stewards that she missed the jump and had to be hard ridden to obtain a posi. tlon behind the leaders at the junction. He then took Star Belle wider to make a run but after trying her with the whip he could not get her to ini prove.

The horse's trainer, I. J Tucker, said that although Star Belle had been racing over longer distances than six fur longs she was perfectly fit and ready to run a good race. She was not in season and he could offer no explanation for her performance.

J. T. Anderson, the rider of Lucky Rebel, which finished last in the New Zealand Cup, was questioned about the running of the horse. He said Lucky Rebel had got his tongue over the bit through the running and that he thought this had contributed to the horse's bad run.

C. J. Cameron, the horses trJiner, said Lucky Rebel would be tried with a tongue strap and if It proved satisfactory would race with one next week J. R. Dowling, the rider of Blind Date in the Wafmalrl High-weight, was charged with causing interference to Darn burgh, ridden by N. T. Cowles After hearing evidence and viewing a film of the race the judicial committee found th.t Dowling s mount moved to the rails, taking Darnburgh s ground, but the latter was fall ing back at the time, and be cause of that a conviction was not justified

W. J. Hillis, the rider of Turtle in the same race, allowed his mount to drift early until he w„« in a group near the rear at the half-mile. Turtle began to Improve tn the straight but when attempting io move through a line of five run nets near the two furlongs he was blocked for room and had to be checked.

A film of the Incident showed that at that point the inside runners moved out and Chero kee Brave, Improving on the outside, moved In slightly. No rider was to blame. Britannicus, R. j, Skeltons mount in the Welcome Stakes, ran very greenly across the junction and on to the course proper. He ran very wide and forced Quiet, ridden by W. D Skelton, out with him It was found that Quiet's chance of finishing closer than fourth was not jeopardised.

Near the five furlongs In the New Zealand Derby Foxvale, ridden by R. J. Skelton. lost ground rapidly. Skelton said that at the time his mount was •ravelling particularly well When he tried to Improve h» did not have sufficient room and had to check it. No other rider or hors* caused the incident.