Winning run for mayoralty hopeful

Press, 3 October 1977, Page 18

Winning run for mayoralty hopeful

Mr Clift Skeggs, who is regarded as a front runner in a bid for the Dunedin mayoralty, also has a winning way with him as a racing owner. He is part-owner of Catastrophe, the winner by a decisive length of the Dunedin Guineas at the Otagc Racing Club’s spring meeting on Saturday. Mt Skeggs races Catastrophe in partnership with Mr R. M. Hall, also of Dunedin, and the powerful King’s Troop colt, the subject of a big offer earlier this year, is trained at Wingatui by Rodney Marsh.

Marsh had some worrying moments when Catastrophe got away on him when he was being taken to the course on Saturday. But when Marsh bustled down the road after the breakaway he was relieved to find the star of his stable in the

safe hands of a local veterinary' surgeon, but with nothing to show for the escape that would have required on-the-spot treatment. Jim Pankhurst, the vastlyexperienced Wingatui horseman who rode Catastrophe to a fourth successive win on Saturday, has now had four victories in the Dunedin Guineas. He admitted to a moment of concern when Regina Caeli, the only filly in the field, ranged up half a length Sway in the straight, but found the colt had the strenght to cope and widen his lead.

Next for Catastrophe will be the $7OOO Gore Guineas Trial later this month, then the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas at Riccarton in November.