RACING Top Weights Succeed In Riccarton Double

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32119, 15 October 1969, Page 4

RACING Top Weights Succeed In Riccarton Double

Glamis Lad and Red Chips, both ridden by the leading South Island jockey, E. J. Didham, carried off a top-weight’s TA.B. double at the Westport Jockey Club’s meeting at Riccarton yesterday. Supporters of this combination received $9 for $l.

Glamis Lad recorded his seventeenth win and advanced his stake earnings beyond $20,000 when he gave the others a sound beating in the first leg, the Morley Handicap.

Mr K. G. McLaughlin’s seven-year-old was a dominating favourite, and won hands down by a length and a half. “It is no trouble riding a horse like that fellow,” commented the Wingatui jockey, who will go to Trentham to ride the seven-year-old in the Wainui Handicap on Saturday. Glamis Lad was made a firm favourite after an easy win in the Geraldine Cup at his previous start and there was not much doubt what would win when Didham allowed him a little more rein to go after the pacemaking Kiowa early in the run home. Glamis Lad was nicely clear at the furlong and Didham saw nothing to concern him from that point

When he saw it would be a slack pace early in the race Didham took the top weight forward to be alongside Sir Limond in the chase after Kiowa.

I Sailing Home, the only run- . ner backed with much confidence to beat Glamis Lad, > was being given every chance ' in a rails position in the middle of the field. Characteristically Sailing i Home responded gamely ■ when called on for her utmost . but she could not find the » speed to get to grips with ! Glamis Lad, and only just - saved second from Golden Promise. i This was Golden Pro- ’ mise’s second such placing t behind Glamis Lad“in his last i two starts. t The Wingatui-trained Blue i Amber started her eight-year-i old racing with a fourth a ! length behind Golden Pro- . raise. It was a good run, as ' she was close to the tail of i the field six furlongs out, and i picked up several positions after they cracked on the pace in front Beau Leigh was only a t head back fifth, and then ■ there was a nose to Sabell, ■ which lost several lengths at the start

Kiowa weakened to seventh a head back, and then there was a gap of two and a half lengths to Gee Tee. Brilliant Win Red Chips, Riccarton’s top stake earner last season, started his six-year-old racing with a brilliant win in the Canterbury Handicap, second leg of the double. He was giving away from 121 b to 231 b but it was easy for him and his winning margin of a length and a half under 6-2 at the end of seven furlongs hardly represented his real measure of superiority. Didham found a rails run for the top weight before they went far, and brought the chestnut out a little wider to be in perfect position behind the leaders, Gay Doctor and Tumble on the home turn. There was a wide gap for Red Chips near the home turn and he bounded through to capture the lead in a few strides. After that it looked more

like three-quarters pace work than a race in earnest for the top weight He came out on top by a length and a half from Billy Joe, which came from the middle to beat Gay Doctor by half a neck for second. Pretentious made an encouraging fresh start for the season with a fourth a length and a half back. He improved several positions for that placing. Red Carpet, which appeared to strike trouble near the half mile, was fifth a head behind Pretentious.