Skelton Booed After Win
The leading jockey, R. J. Skelton, was booed after riding one of his two winners at Trentham on Saturday.
There were boos and catcalls from a section of the small damp crowd when Skelton brought the champion three-year-old Star Belle back to the birdcage after winning the North Island Challenge Stakes.
It was the crowd’s form of censure for Skelton's handling of the filly when she was beaten by Beira in the Caltex Gold Cup at New Plymouth four days earlier. Star Belle had only four rivals in the Wellington club’s long-established weight-
forage race, and none had the class to offer more than token resistance. Skelton allowed Star Belle to settle in a small gap behind Gene and Jay Ay, and steered her through a wide gap just after straightening up to made a quick run to the lead.
Star Belle’s lovely action helped her to make light of the rain-affected track, and the last half-furlong was a romp for her. She had four lengths on Jay Ay, which beat'Gene by a length. This was Star Belle’s ninth win for the season. Her 10th should be in the New Zealand St. Leger on the second day of the meeting next Saturday.
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Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31317, 13 March 1967, Page 4
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206Skelton Booed After Win Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31317, 13 March 1967, Page 4
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