Another Race To Sandbank

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31657, 18 April 1968, Page 4

Another Race To Sandbank

Sandbank completed a double at the meeting for his Mid-Can-terbury owner, Mr R. G. Gerard, when he carried top-weight of 10-2 to victory in the Kildare Handicap. B. T. Jones took Sandbank forward from the third line to join Cosmetic and Sandy in front at the furlong and under a hands and heels ride he won by three-quarters of a length. In a tight finish for the minor places Sandy was second by a head from Pee Wee and Running Scared was a similar distance back fourth. Sandy came from mid-field to reach a challenging position early in the run home but Pee Wee was in touch with the pace all the way. Running Scared came home well from the ruck for his placing. Cosmetic, which led in the others, had tried to lead for the last six furlongs. The Kildare Handicap was the first leg of the on-course concession double. The second leg, the Christchurch Handicap, went to the consistent Belcraze which won, going away, by a length and a half from Cattegat

$13.65 DOUBLE The Sandbank - Belcraze combination paid $13.65 for $l. The supporters of Sandbank and Cattegat received $17.15 for $l. Belcraze was not in the first 12 when the rush for positions was over but he appeared on the scene wide and about eighth as they started the run home. His run carried him up to third, behind Running Waters and Cattegat, at the furlong and he kept going strongly to beat Cattegat easily. Conciliation, which was well back early but handy on the home turn, battled gamely under a hard ride to beat Running Waters for third by a head but he was three-quarters of a length from Cattegat. Master Leigh ran on well for a close fifth and Anvil led in the Others. The favourite, Flower Girl, never raised the hopes of her backers. She drifted quickly on the inside early, ran up to the middle of the field but could not improve further. She was 14th to finish. TWO VICTORIES Pretentious gave D. J. Thistoll his second training success for the day and the Christchurch owner, Mr D. F. Dailey, his second win—Displease had carried the same colours to victory earlier—-

when he lasted to beat the hack milers narrowly in the Wigram Handicap. Pretentious, an odds-on favourite, led for the last two

THK WILLINGTON RACING CLU» INCORPORATED. MAY MEETING. MAY. 8 AND 11, 1968. nominations for all events at the above Meeting close at 4 o'clock p m. on THURSDAY. APRIL tS. 1968. at the office of the Club, 103. The Terrace. Wellington. H. W. MEYER. Secretary. P.O. BOX 446, WELLINGTON. C.l. Telegrams: Racing Club, Wellington. Telephone; 41-882. April 3 and 10, 1968. ’ 8389

furlongs in the hands of the stable apprentice, R. J. McCann, to win by half a head from Golden Promise, which came from the rear to nose Michael Brien out of third.