Anvil Back In Form

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32099, 22 September 1969, Page 4

Anvil Back In Form

Anvil’s win in the White Stone Handicap ; at Oamaru on Saturday . could not have been a . better birthday present for his Wingatui trainer, ;A. E. Didham, who is .supervising the training of a large team from his ; bed in the Dunedin Hospital , where he is ' recovering from a fractured leg he suffered some weeks ago when kicked by a young horse. Anvil is raced by his Heriot breeder, Mr N. M. Aitchison, and he was ridden by the trainer’s son, E. J. Didham. Anvil had been disappoint-

ing in his three previous races this season, but he was sent out favourite ahead of- Governor General, which just failed after a brilliant finish. Anvil was never far from the pace. He was on the outride of Stepbanair behind the pacemaker. Sir Umond. He joined Sir Limond at the half mile and shaded a bunched field racing to the straight, with Governor General last Anvil drew clear but was then challenged by Governor General and in a desperate finish Anvil held on by a neck. Stephanair battled on for third four lengths back with three lengths to the weakening Sir Limond.

Lady Venture, having her first race since October, scored a decisive win in the Brydone

Hack Handicap to complete a $21.30 T.A.B. double with Anvil. Te. Weka rounded off the concession, worth $9.15. Lady Venture made a smart beginning and disputed the pace with Te Weka. The favourite and top-weight, Flying Melda, which was trying for het third successive win, came wide from a trailing position. Didham had to stop riding her on two occasions when she attempted to run in under pressure. Under the circumstances her effort was full of merit. She was only three-quarters of a length and half a head from Lady. Venture and Te Weka. There was a length to Wairio, which came home well after a slow start.