Riccarton Jumper Wins Interesting Steeples
The Christchurch owner, Mr J. D. Gregan. purchased Indian Chief from Mr J. A. Fowler, of Blenheim, after the King’s Command gelding won an interesting Haast Steeplechase at Riccarton yesterday.
Earlier Mr Gregan had raced Indian Chief on lease with the right of purchase, and the Haast Steeplechase was the first race won by the eight-year-old in the Gregan colours. Indian Chief landed over’ the last fence alongside Lonvato and wore the Southland jumper down in a battling finish to win by three-quar-ters of a length. Mr Gregan, who has had recent successes with the Nelson Cup and Amberley Cup winner, Every Post, had not had a previous winning
experience with a steeple-[ chaser, and he had been trying for almost 20 years. Mr Gregan yesterday paid a tribute to the skill of both the trainer, G. D. Lee, and the rider, A. Cowan. Indian Chief was not one of the more seasoned runners in the field, but the work Lee had put him through combined with Cowan’s skill during the race had made the victory possible, Mr Gregan said. Good Effort Lonvato did well to run out two and a half miles as well; as he did under top weight after vieing for the lead for a long way. 1 The favourite, Etassem, showed much gameness to battle into third place half a length behind Lonvato. He was bleeding freely from a stifle cut after the race. “He hardly jumped one
fence properly,” said his rider, E. E. O’Brien, after the race. “He slipped into at least three fences, but I was still hopeful of winning until he made a mess of the last fence.” 1 Silver Kingdom, the winner of this race last year, was very much in the race again yesterday until he ducked off on the inside of the second last fence. He was travelling well at the time. White Rajah, which was well off the pace for a good way, was fourth in a gap of seven lengths and 75 yards
i clear of Bandarshar, which dropped right away after disputing the lead for a good way.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19690521.2.43
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31993, 21 May 1969, Page 5
Word Count
357Riccarton Jumper Wins Interesting Steeples Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31993, 21 May 1969, Page 5
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.
Log in