Brilliant Finish

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31655, 16 April 1968, Page 4

Brilliant Finish

Pasa Doble brilliantly won the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Great Easter Handicap yesterday at Riccarton, the scene of his first two victories for the partnership of Mr H. E. Hodgkinson and the Woodville trainer, E. Ropiha. Pasa Doble came from fourth to last on the home turn and his storming run down the middle of the track transformed the whole character of the race just when it seemed likely that the favourite, James Arthur, would win in the hands of W. D. Skelton. Pasa Doble won running away by a length to complete a double worth $19.60. Pasa Doble was the only North Island sprinter in the field. There were 10,321 tickets held on the DalvuiPasa Doble combination. Dalvui had dominated betting on

the first leg, carrying $41,508.50 of the double pool of $122,305. Pasa Doble made a winning debut for the Ropiha stable in the Christchurch Hunt Club’s Haldon Stakes last July, then won the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Cashmere Plate a week later. He won the Wanganui Guineas in September, and his win yesterday was his first since then. The North Island jockey, L. K. Tinsley, rode Pasa Doble well back in the field for the first half mile. They were never the tail-enders on the home turn where James Arthur led from Debbie Marie, Middy, Captain’s Cornmand, Red Chips, and Krazikid. James Arthur started the last furlong with a clear lead, but he could not pull out anything extra to cope with the brilliant late challenge of Pasa Doble. The Greatest, a long-shot light-weight, was a solid finisher from the middle of the field for third, a length

back after striking trouble early. Manana took many of the honours of the race by coming from last for fourth two and a half lengths back. He outfinished Glamis Lad, which was half a length back.