EVENTFUL RACE

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33230, 21 May 1973, Page 8

EVENTFUL RACE

The Riccarton jockey, 0. AnnIng, was fined $lO after an eventful steeplechase at the Amberley Racing Club's meeting on Saturday. The judicial committee found Anning, who rode Magic Boy had been negligent in riding the Southland jumper inside a pylon about 100 yards from a fence near the mile and a quarter. Magic Boy had been the leader 1 but after passing on the inside! of the marker and being pulled up he was virtually out of the race, although he was taken back to complete the course. G. C. Mee. the rider of the winner, Distant Blaze, also had a moment of uncertainty nearer home. This combination led into the last five furlongs and Mee was in two minds for a moment whether he was on the right course, whether they had to jump the formldabip 4ft lOin ‘‘Jumbo” or a smaller fence to the left. Mee realised just in time that

"Jumbo” will keep until the Grand National meeting in August, steered Mr A. S, Scaife’s Kurdistan gelding to the left, then guided him to a decisive win by three lengths and a half from the favourite, Channel Command.

Mexicano was a plodding third eight lengths back, and well clear of Mister Fy.

Calmay lost his rider at the first fence. Jimmy Donnington crashed at the fourth fence when leading and ChiUi Bean went out of the race when his rider, R Moir, broke an iron after jumping the fence near the nine furlongs.