Costly wide run by Bell Flight

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34127, 13 April 1976, Page 8

Costly wide run by Bell Flight

Bell Flight, a dominating favourite, was, as well, one of the controversial figures in the North Canterbury Racing Club's Fernside Nursery Handicap at Rangiora yesterday.

The young speedster from Wingatui beat himself by taking a very wide course after leading to the home turn, finishing third. Silver Coat was virtually left without a chance when he was carried wide by the favourite. He had to embark on something of a slalom course and could not finish closer than sixth. Bell Flight’s third placing was left undisturbed.

Bell Flight charged down the outside rail in a great bid to retrieve his position in the straight but could not get to Up a Hundred and Unic, which had capitalised on the situation on the home turn with runs down the inside.

Up a Hundred, a Never Giv eUp gelding from Ray Harris’s big Tuahiwi team, made it by a neck from the attractive Country Dance colt, Unic. This was Up a Hundred’s third successive win for Mr R. Rickus; he had picked up a double at the Westport meeting. It is now planned to put him aside until next season. Lady Lucifer, the third favourite, did not find as

much early speed as several of her rivals, but she finished strongly enough for fourth position and, fortuitously, came up with a place dividend for her backers when Beil Flight lost third place. The club’s judicial committee concluded from its inquiry into the race that Jim Pankhurst was doing his best in handling Bell Flight and he was not held responsible for any interference. The trainer, John Dowling, was advised that he must correct Bell Flight’s hanging tendencies in a race.