Solar Flight fancied in steeples at Oamaru

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33869, 14 June 1975, Page 8

Solar Flight fancied in steeples at Oamaru

One of the features of the Oaniaru Jockey Club's first i winter meeting last month was Solar Flight’s successful debut; as a 'chaser.

On that occasion Mr B. Vickerey’s good jumper won the club's Burnside Steeplechase by a wide margin from Haste Ye Back.

Today these two are expected to dominate the betting and the finish as well on the E. H. Aubrey Mem orial Steeplechase on the same course.

When they met three ; weeks ago Solar Flight and j Haste Ye Back gave a dashing display of fencing and pace on the flat as they matched, strides in the lead Through much of the last 1600 metres, but from the home turn Solar Flight was clearly the; master.

In that race there was I.skg between them, in Solar Flight s favour, but this time they meet at even weights.

. The difference, considering . that the distance between'; winner and runner-up last’ time was eight and a half ' lengths, seems hardly • enough to give Haste Ye Back a chance of turning the tables. ,j But if the going is good,; .and up till yesterday it was,. "i although showers were pre-: dieted, it will come as a sur-; , mse if Haste Ye Back fails jto pay a dividend in the i seven-horse field. RECENT WIN 11 Of the others only Rustik- ; han and Richneil are likely; Jto be given much consideration. The former was the; ■ next best, after Solar Flight. Hand Haste Ye Back, in the J corresponding race on the; '•course last month then went! Ton to record a win over; >: country at Wingatui and a; couple of fifths in his two | starts since.

Until last Saturday Rich- i [neil’s record was pretty' 'bleak but -his effort to run I Broze Boy to three lengths, with a good stayer’s run, ini the steeples at Washdyke 1 was the performance of a' likely improver. i The combined efforts of ■ Off Drive and Annenic in ■the feature flat race, the; Omaru Winter Cup, should ; give Wingatui’s John Dow.; ling bright hopes of carrying i off the thick end of the $1450 stake. The stablemates. along 'with Washdyke’s Hagen’s; Cloud, will probably domi-i jnate betting in the first leg' ;of the T.A.B. double. The issue in the second I leg, the Elderslie Handicap, • looks very open but if the “breaks" go the way of; •Thor. Otaio Chief and Te i Pango Nui they might battle lit out.