N.Z. Horse Is Hurdles Pick

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 6

N.Z. Horse Is Hurdles Pick

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MELBOURNE. Mission, a New Zealand-bred ftve-ycar-old which switched to jumping after an early promising career on the flat, is favourite to win the $12,000 Grand National Hurdles over three miles at Flemington today. Mission (Golden Abbey—Humour) won the South Australian Derby as a three-year-old, but failed to live up to his early promise and began hurdling this year. He has not won at his last five starts, but has improved with every race and heads prepost markets in spite of his top-weight of 10-4. Riskless, the second favourite, is well weighted with 9-4. and has won his last two races and is expected to be suited by the soft Flemington track.

Summer Flight, a six-year-old Summertime gelding, originally headed early national markets, but lost favour when he ran last to Riskless in the Moonce Valley Hurdle last week.

Starula, an Alcimedes four-year-old. is another New Zea-land-bred chance. He made little showing in his last two races over jumps but has good flat and hurdling form and appears well weighted with 9-9. Starula will be ridden by the former New Zealand jockey, P. Mohi.