Second Cast By Short Neck

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31584, 23 January 1968, Page 4

Second Cast By Short Neck

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. Hostage was relegated to fifth after running a close second to the good filly, Second Cast, in the Kaitoke Handicap at Trentham yesterday.

Hostage’s backers lost an on-course concession double ’ worth $l2 with Far Cry, but I their bad luck meant good 1 luck for supporters of the I long shot Te Awhitu, which i finished third and was promoted one place. s The Far Cry-Te Awhitu eon- , cession double was worth i $95.35. , The Far Cry-Second Cast ] combination paid $20.95. Second cast had beaten i Hostage by a short neck and ’ Te Awhitu, Gay Ambrose and J Sasinaz were close behind in tight formation right behind 1 them. ‘

In the last few strides of the race Sasinaz’s rider, W. D. Skelton, was standing up in the irons running the bit through the mare’s mouth to ease her out of a tight spot. Sasinaz, the place favourite, appeared to be in difficulties when In the trailing position half-way through the race, because of her tendency to pull hard. AU the honours of the race were with the winner. A winning performance under 9.1 by a three-year-old Ally was one of obvious merit. After a furlong, Second Cast had about eight of her rivals ahead of her but she made steady improvement coming to the straight and did not falter in her run after Hostage, which had led into the last furlong. Hostage appeared to drift out closer to home and this caused traffic problems. Gay Ambrose was promoted from fourth to third and Sasinaz was promoted to fourth. NOTABLR DOUBLE The Hawera jockey. L. J. Gestro, completed a notable double for the meeting when he rode Far Cry to a narrow but clever win in the Mungaroa High-weight Handicap. This gave Gestro a 100 per cent record in high-weights at the meeting. He won the corresponding race on Montinl on Saturday. Gestro showed patience on the South Island-bred Massowa gelding, waiting for. a rails run in the straight. There was plenty of racing room when Far Cry started his run, and he caught Scorn, another South Island-bred horse In the last few strides for a half-head victory. Scorn looked very likely when he passed Aldorado to take a short lead near the furlong. He did not weaken but found Far Cry slightly too strong in the finish. Golden Bay outstayed Aldorado for third. Blind Date, the South Island’* only runner, ran a weak race. He 'was last in the 15-horse field