RACING Zebak top fancy at Riccarton today

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33514, 20 April 1974, Page 8

RACING Zebak top fancy at Riccarton today

After a romping victory h\ four lengths in the Canterbury Jockey (Job’s Champagne Stakes last Monday Zebak is assured of favouritism in the Richmond I handicap at Riccarton today.

\ not her Zebak victory today would ghe his dam. I’anyo, a notable record lor the meeting a possible of three wins.

Panjp/s only other repretentatr.e at the meeting was Castle Hill, an impressive winner on Thursday Zebak. a close relation of the V.R.C. Oaks winner Sanderae and the North Island Challenge Stakes winner Weenell. now ha* a record of two wins, a second. and a fourth from four starts and if he makes average improvement with age he should be one of the important contributors to a brilliant family record. Messrs A. Davis and R. V\ Weir, who race Zebak in partnership, were approached by would-be buyers after the Champagne Stakes, but a sale at this stage seems unlikely. Winning form from the Riverton meet mg will have an influence on betting on some races on today’s programme. The versatile qualities of Mr W E, Hazlett's horses

should be reflected in the performances of Loch Linnhe and Pole Star today. . Last winter Loch Linnhe emerged as a young hurdler with a future, but he was switched back to the flat and won the Riverton Cup last Saturday. The stables jumping hope

todav will be Pole Star, which also won on the flat at Riverton, and on his last campaign at Riccarton ran third in Watallan's New Zealand. Cup. Pole Star had two falls in hurdle races at the last Grand National meeting, but won over jumps at the Winton spring meeting. The North Island will also have form runners today. B e 1 1 a n a y (Harewood Handicap No. i) and Cattleya (Autumn Plate), both trained at Masterton by T. ;

L. Jennings, were first and third respectively in their engagements on the first day of the meeting. Native Track, from Woodiville, and Kew, a stablemate of Bellanay and .Cattleya, are I northern light-weights in the Great Autumn, first leg of the T.A.B. double, but the second leg, the Waltham: Handicap, will be an all-1 'South Island affair, and if the footing is about the; same as it was on Thursday,! Zarnia and Entourage might; be the top contenders.