Popular Double On-Course

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31329, 28 March 1967, Page 4

Popular Double On-Course

The Greatest and Starless rounded off a popular double for course patrons only at Riccarton yesterday. This, the favourite combination, returned the holders of 1723 5s tickets a dividend of £9 8s for £l. The holders of 1023 5s tickets on the concession double—The Greatest and Rival—received £6 15s 6d for £l. The Greatest improved a very good record on the course this year for her Clinton owner-trainer, Mr H. G. C. McLachlan. Her Opawa Handicp victory was her third from three starts in highweights. She won a double at the summer meeting last month. Starless capped off a long string of minor places with

a much-deserved win in the Courtenay Handicap for her Riccarton owner-trainer, Miss J. Edgar-Jones. The Greatest improved quickly from mid-field to take up the chase after Hushaway outside the furlong in the Opawa High-weight and she ran on best to win by two and a half lengths. Hushaway, which shared the third line till the home turn and sprinted clear just outside the furlong, held second by a length from Sandbank. Sandbank, one of the tailenders six furlongs out, made a big run around the outside to reach a challenging position early in the run home. He battled on gamely, two lengths ahead of Dry Time, another well off the pace until the home turn. Glocca Morra, the second favourite, led in the others. She shared the fourth line to the straight but could not quicken in the run from the furlong. -Starless disputed the pace with Royal Villain to the straight in the Courtenay Handicap took a short lead outside the furlong and kept going strongly to win by two lengths. In a tight finish for second Rival beat Pretentious by a ■ nose. These two, with PretentiI ous on the inside, led the chase : after the leaders around to the straight. Royal Villain weakened to fourth but still battled on well. He was three parts of a length I from Pretentious and beat Jesj ter Maid by more than two I lengths. New Mint kept a winning rei cord intact when he won the Halswell Handicap at good odds | for his Halswell owner, Mr A. IT. Wooihouse. i New Mint, the seventh favI ourite of 15, gave the hack sprinters a good start from the ’half-mile and a sound beating. He could not match the others Tor early pace and was tailed off in a gap when they started l on the run around the home 'turn. But D. R. Tucker brought ’ him forward on a big run as , they came to the straight and he was tracking Sun Bank, I which at that stage was making ground from midfield. New Mint took up the chase after Red Chips and Pickawyn outside the furlong and ran on strongly to win by two and a half lengths.

Sun Bank was second, two lengths ahead of his stablemate, Scorn, which outfinished Cosmetic by half a head for third.