Southland Junipers School Well

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32017, 18 June 1969, Page 4

Southland Junipers School Well

“The Press" Special Service HASTINGS. The South Island Jumpers, Mosque, Koral and Ettrick, schooled well at Hastings yesterday. They all appear to be in firstclass order for their engagements at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, which will begin on Saturday. Running Bear, Main Defence, Dark Song and Tosh also schooled well.

On the course proper, where the steeplechase fences were up, Ettrick (W. Hillis) soon drew clear of Golden Rebel (Bevins) and El Duende (Smith) and remained well out in front during a school over nine fences. JEttrick is top-weight in the Kennels Steeples on Saturday and should, be hard to beat. The others jumped slowly and were well beaten.

Main Defence (Lawson) started at the live brush near the three furlongs, jumped the fence at the top of the straight and then the double. He fenced very 'smoothly, has Improved with recent racing, and is a light-weight chance in the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase. Dark Song (Miritana) jumped high at the early hurdles but settled down to give a good dis-1 play. He may run in the Hawkes Bay Hurdles on the second day. Running Bear (Thompson) gave a uniformly good display of clean fencing in a school over 11 of tjie course proper fences, jumping the double twice. He will race on the second day.

Koral (Lawson) and Mosque (W. Hillis) went out together and started at the top of the straight. Koral was inclined to hang at some of the early fences but soon settled to his work and began to jump very fluently. But at the live brush at the three furlongs he bumped LawSori out of the saddle. Hillis.

on Mosque, moved alongside Koral and caught him. Lawson remounted and they jumped the live brush again and then went on to complete 11 fences in dashing style. Hillis would not «ay which horses of the team he would be riding. But one thing is certain, the three Riverton jumpers are in good fettle. During a lull in the schooling, Grey Lance <L. Carston) and Jest In Time IPanapa) ran five furlongs in 1:5 2-5. the last three in 41 2-5. This was good work and Jest in Time impressed.