Win After Short Retirement

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31413, 5 July 1967, Page 5

Win After Short Retirement

“The Press" Special Service

WANGANUI.

The 11-year-old Erewhon, which was “retired” last September, made a notable comeback to racing by winning the EgmontWanganui Hunt Club Steeplechase at Wanganui yesterday.

The Beaufort Steeples winner at Riccarton last winter, Erewhon injured a leg in a fall at Marton last spring and his retirement was announced soon after. The veteran was soon thriving, and his owner, Mrs D. Symes, and a brother-in-law, Mr G. Lennox, decided to try Erewhon as a racing proposition again. In his second outing since resuming in yesterday’s event, Erewhon entered the

picture in the last lap. With a half-mile to run be was moving boldly in fourth place and was in line with Chesterman, Owai’s Billy Boy, and Reasure on the turn.

Finishing strongly, he drew clear with a smart leap at the last and beat Chesterman by seven lengths, with three lengths to Owai’s Billy Boy. The Woodville horseman, M. J. Dombroski, who was successful on the Waverley gelding, will retire at the end of this season. He walks at 10-8 and finds “wasting” too exhausting. A farrier, he will now devote his full time to the trade. Erewhon’s success was well received by Wanganui patrons for he was bracketed with Ray light, who was the second favourite.

Raylight, after leading early, dropped right away in the final mile and was the last to complete the course.