SOUND WIN BY MILES GENTRY

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31307, 1 March 1967, Page 5

SOUND WIN BY MILES GENTRY

Miles Gentry gave his rivals a start and a sound beating in the Air Force Handicap, for which he was the 2-1 favourite, at Hutt Park last evening.

In ths early stages of the race, the colt was far off the pace but a big run carried him up to Stanley Miller behind Regal Hal, the pacemaker, near the half mile.

Miles Gentry was reserved by his driver, F. Smith, until the straight entrance and he quickly sprinted clear when called on for an effort.

Miles Gentry won by three lengths from Regal Hal, which had tried to lead for the last mile. Stanley Miller battled on for third, two lengths and a half back, half a length ahead

of Dark Sun, which improved a little in the run home.

Coastaway, a 23 to 1 shot, led for the last mile in the Petone Handicap and coped with a strong challenge from the favourite, Morris, to win by a neck.

Morris had trailed the winner for most of the race but could find nothing extra in the last furlong. Victoria, another always in touch with the pace, battled into fourth. Steine, which also had every chance, was a fair fourth, ahead of Glenvale and Trafalgar.

Townley Not Approached

D. J. Townley who, according -to a Sydney report, le to drive Rocky Starr at Harald Park on Friday night, laid yesterday he had not been approached to drive the horse.

Townley, who drove Waitaki Hanover in the Inter-Dominion Championships at Perth, was to have driven that horse in Friday’s ’’Miradle Mile," but Waitaki Hanover has broken down. Rocky Starr, which also raced in the Inter-Dominion Championships, takes Waitaki Hanover’s place in the field.