Place Backers Lost Money

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31596, 6 February 1968, Page 4

Place Backers Lost Money

Shipmaster’s place backers lost 10 cents in the dollar when the big Messmate gelding won the Lyttelton Handicap on the first day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s summer meeting yesterday. Shipmaster completed an on-course double worth $5.90 with the Hornby Highweight winner. Sir Limond. Sir Limond’s win in the Hornby High-weight came three years after he won his

first race on the same course for his Christchurch owner, Mr J. Y. Scales. The Middle Park Plate at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s summer meeting in 1965 was the only race won by Sir Limond in his first season, but he has been useful in the meantime. The Orari jockey, G. T. Hobbs, had Sir Limond in the middle of the field at the five furlongs, but close to the pace-making Agrippa, Coral Prince, and Chatsgay after straightening up. Agrippa held his lead into the final furlong, but Sir Limond pegged him back close

to home and beat him by three-quarters of a length.

Agrippa was in no danger of losing second, but it was close for third with Coral Prince, Sirtax, and Solicitor in the struggle for that position and being placed in that order. Solicitor lost a chance to pay a dividend by pulling hard three wide for the first halfmile. The Medico was an expensive and a disappointing favourite. He was taken along on the outside for a run early in the. run home, but his response was weak. He was a beaten, horse at the furlong, finishing ninth. Chatsgay came back lame after finishing sixth. Shipmaster won the Lyttelton Handicap by four lengths from Beau Leigh, which completed a concession double worth 346.35. This was a race in which size counted for something.

Shipmaster and Beau Leigh were easily the biggest horses in the field.

Shipmaster’s rider, A. J. Stokes, had a battle early attempting to find a trailing position for Mr A. N. Smith’s rangy bay. He compromised by settling Shipmaster at the girth of the pace-maker, Haast. This forced Gee Tee three wide and Beau Leigh four wide from the half-mile to the home turn.

Haast did not put up much resistance when Shipmaster challenged, and Beau Leigh could not find enough finishing speed to extend the Riccarton three-year-old. Beau Leigh saved second from the faster-finishing Walaroo, and there was another length to Crown Agent. Glendaloch, the second favourite, was a weak finisher, and was eighth. HONOURS TO OTAGO Jivaros and My Greatest, Otago’s only two runners, dominated the finish of the Trial Stakes at Riccarton yesterday.

Jivaros, a luke-warm favourite, lasted for a neck victory after having made all the pace. Owned by Messrs J. P. V. Herlihy and J. P. Mulholland, both of Central Otago, Jivaros Is trained at Wingatui by H A. Anderton and was ridden by the trainer’s son, Brian.

My Greatest moved quickly into a trailing position behind Jivaros early in the race, and went through with her run gamely, but Jivaros had Just enough left to win.

Prince Magundi passed several rivals in the straight for a creditable third clear of La Comtesse, which was never far off the pace.

Khyber was fifth, being unable to quicken after reaching a challenging position going to the furlong.

Displease also came to the end of a likely looking run near the furlong, and only battled into sixth position.