Youngsters Had Hard Tussle

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31363, 8 May 1967, Page 4

Youngsters Had Hard Tussle

Bompa and Chapel Belle drew further attention to the worth of Pakistan II as a sire of swift two-year-olds when they battled out a hard, two-sided finish far ahead of the others in the Pacific Handicap at Trentham on Saturday.

Bompa won by a head, clinging tenaciously to the slightest of leads over the last 50 yards. The Tauherenikau-trained gelding completed an oncourse double worth £2l 15s, the first leg having been won by High Society. The High Society-Chapel Belle combination paid a concession double dividend of £5 15s.

ture of the race was Lordtuckey’s big run for second. He jumped the second flight very badly, and B. J. Clements seemed certain to go over the side, but with a show of skill, strength and balance the Awapuni horseman got back in the saddle in a few strides. Lordtuckey was at the tail of the field, and made a long stayer’s run for his second. He just caught Sir Blue, which had not been further back than third.

High Society, carying £2072 10s of a pool of £11,260, dashed away to a long lead before the Karon Hurdles was half over. His speed and neat, quick jumping carried him clear by 15 lengths from Sir Blue going to the half-mile, and nothing but a fall or a sensational collapse could have let any of the others in after that. High Society, a six-year-old by Red Mars, showed fair ability as a sprinter on winter tracks earlier in his career, and he certainly put a lot of dash into his gallop on Saturday. This was his second win in as many starts as a hurdler. An equally meritorious fea-

The strong pace exposed weaknesses in False Problem’s jumping. The favourite got a long way back early and did nothing to justify solid backing, finishing 10th. Bompa brought his record to two wins and a. fourth with his narow victory over Chapel Belle in the Pacific Handicap. They were contending for the lead outside the two furlongs, and it was clear after another furlong that none of the others would be concerned in the finish. Chapel Belle, a filly conceding a smart gelding lUb, did not falter in a sustained battle, but Bompa had a slight edge inside the last 100 yards. The Riccarton-trained Billy Joe, although a distant third, encouraged his connexions to wait for the Courtenay Handicap on the second day of the meeting, when he will be ridden by R. J. Skelton. Billy Joe outflnished Solarium, which had been in the leading line a good way.

Breasley Not Retiring (N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) , LONDON. A. Breasley, who broke a collar bone in a three-horse Sile-up at Ascot on Thursday, as no intention of retiring. Speaking from his home in Putney yesterday, Breasley said: “There is no truth in the rumour that I am retiring. In fact, I will probably ride the Derby winner this year. I am feeliqg much better and hope to resume riding in two or three weeks’ time.” Breasley is 53.