racing Hi There And Teak To Clash Again Today

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31730, 13 July 1968, Page 6

racing Hi There And Teak To Clash Again Today

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. Hi There and Teak, the principals in an exciting last-furlong struggle in the Wellington Steeplechase last Saturday, will meet again in the $6OOO Eric Riddiford Steeplechase on the finaldayof the Wellington winter meeting today.

Hi There beat Teak by half a length last week when carrying 9-12, and meeting Teak on 51b better terms than in the Riddiford. Trentham will probably be at its heaviest after rain yesterday, and top-weight of 10-8 wiU set Hi There a formidable test over three miles. Teak, a nine-year-old by Conclusion, the sire of some capable mudlarks, has 9-7. Between him and the topweight are Just Sam, a newcomer at the meeting, but a last-start winner over two miles and three-quarters at Hastings, and Running Bear, which was just headed off by Kurrajong in the Matai Steeplechase on Wednesday. Kurrajong is also in the Riddiford Steeples field to make this race stronger in form than any other jumping event held so far at the meeting. Short Odds The race is unlikely to have a pronounced favourite, but the situation should be different in the Winter Hurdles. Here Grey Count will be at cramped odds after brilliant wins at his last two starts, which included the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. Grey Count is a spectacular jumper, and like most of the Count Rendered stock he is adept in the heaviest ground. The front running, High Society could give Grey Count plenty to do in the final halfmile if he goes as generously as he did when he won on Wednesday For the first time at the meeting, jumping races will make up both legs of the oncourse concession double. By most methods of reckoning, last Count could almost be regarded as a “leg in.” This seven-year-old, another of the stock of Count Rendered, has won his last three races, one of them on the first day of the meeting. With a week to freshen, he should have a marked advantage over the likes of Blue defaulter, which had a strenuous race again in taxing conditions on Wednesday. The Haywards Steeplechase is the second leg of the oncourse double, the first leg being the Talavera Hack Hurdles, in which Kelloman and Strome should be two of the stronger chances. T.A.B. Double Red Crest and Jay Ribbon are two of the top fancies for the Winter Oats Handicap, the first leg of the T.A.B. double.

Red Crest's run for a close second in the Parliamentary Handicap was expected to improve him. Jay Ribbon has thrived since his Whyte Handicap win, and there is justifiable confidence in the prospects of the Wingatui three-

year-old coming through the meeting unbeaten. Cambridge Fair, a stablemate of Red Crest, and the Washdyke-trained Glamis Lad are expected to dominate the finish of the second leg, the Onslow Handicap.

Dark Song after an impressive third at Trentham last Wednesday, will be well supported to win the Winter Oats, first leg of the T.A.B. doube at Trentham today.