Small Course Double

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31726, 9 July 1968, Page 5

Small Course Double

Etassem and Cam prate, both winners the last time they raced on the coarse, combined successfully in the oncourse double at Oamaru yesterday. The combination paid >15.65 for >l. .. The concession double, Etaslem and Exciting Bell, was worth $11.35 for $l. Etassem carried top-weight of $-10 to a narrow victory, after a hard tussle with Sierra Gold in the Oamaru Hurdles. Comprato, which had gained a runaway win in the maiden class on the course last month, beat the hack sprinters hands down in the Awamoa Handicap E. O’Brien brought Etassem forward from a trailing position to join Gillie and Sierra Gold in front on the home turn in the Oamaru Hurdles. Etassem landed slightly behind Sierra Gold on the last flight but had too much pace on the flat for the favourite and won by a long neck. Sierra Gold was in no danger of losing second. He held that place by three lengths from the weakening Gillie. Red Stole fell at the fence near the five furlongs and brought Bellcara down. Comprato chased Kurwood to the straight in the Awamoa Hack Handicap, pegged back the pacemaker just inside the last furlong, and ran on strongly to win by two lengths and a half. Exciting Bell, fourth equal on the home turn, outfinished Kurwood for second by a length and a half. So false, third on the inner to the straight, was two lengths away fourth. He saved that place by half a length from the favourite. Cody, which was running on from mid-field. EASY WIN Miss Mannequin justified solid backing with an easy win in the Trial Stakes. Miss Mannequin and Tiber disputed the pace till the home turn. D. N. Hadfield kicked the favourite away to a clear lead before

the straight entrance and she kept beyond challenging distance to win by two lengths and a half.

The second fancy. Stormbell, improved from the third line to take up the chase with De General after the winner. at the furlong but could make little impression. In a battling finish for the minor places, Stormbell took second from De General by a head.

Although scratchings reduced the field to six starters, the E. H. Aubrey Memorial Steeplechase developed into an exciting contest with the honours going to Lonvato by half a length. Lonvato, which is trained by R. J. Cochrane for Messrs D. S. Harvey and R. S. Muir, of Gore, was a firm favourite after winning over the Oamaru country at his previous start. For the best part of the last mile and a half there was little more than inches between Lonvato and Near Go as they ran together in front end rose as one to each fence. It was the same as they landed over the last. Both were thoroughly spent, but Lonvato had just enough in reserve to hold off his rival.

Lambano. third in a gap of eight lengths on the home turn, heightened interest in the finish. His stamina carried him to within three parts of a length of Near Go at the finish. Startler, which was tailed off most of the way, beat Sunny Filou, whose jumping was patchy, but he was 25 lengths from Lambano. Our Cassock fell at the stand brush the second time round. POWERFUL FINISH Queen's Speech, an improver’s fifth at Washdyke last Saturday, confirmed the worth of that run with a stylish win for her Wingatui owner, Mr D. M. Hewitt, in the Farewell Hack Handicap. L. W. Hare brought Queen s Speech forward from mid-field

to reach a challenging position near the furlong and she buried the others for finishing speed. Queen’s Speech beat Llanston, another well off the pace on the home turn, by half a length. The favourite, Beau Leigh, which was always close to the pace and was a clear leader inside the furlong, was a weakening third. Bank Again, which disputed much of the pace with Nelhaven, battled into fourth ahead of Belcraze. The fading Nelhaven was next.