Bell Flight put down

Press, 16 July 1979, Page 20

Bell Flight put down

NZPA Melbourne The New Zealand galloper, Bell Flight fell and had to be destroyed in a tragic outcome to the $31,000 Grand National Steeplechase at Flemington on Saturday. An odds-on favourites, the Jack Winder-trained gelding had the race in his keeping when the fall occurred at the fourteenth fence.

Bell Flight was leading by about 30 lengths and seemed poised to record one of the greatest wins in the history of the event when he fell, breaking his near foreleg. His jockey, Nick Harnett, broke his right collarbone in the mishap and was taken to hospital.

The race became something of an anti-climax, with the New Zealander Somoy (5-to-l), wearing down another New Zealander, Young Command (8-to-l) to win by a length. Chocolate Rdyal was third. “We didn’t want to win it

this way,” Somdy’S trainer, Kevin Thomson, said. “When Bell Flight went dOwn in front of us it was sickening. We went out there hoping to run second for $6OOO and we knew the only way w« could beat Bell Flight was if he made a mistake. It certainly takes the shine off the win.”

Bookmakers reaped a further bonanza when the New Zealand-bred Big Zam fell during the running of the $31,000 Grand National Hurdles.

Big Zam. also an odds-on favourite, was running easily in second place behind Kanawina when he fell at a hurdle 1200 m from the finish.

In a tight finish the 33-te--1 outsider, Overcome, won from Kanawina, with Blue Beacon third. The New Zealander. Trial Bid, was fourth. Brent Thomson, the Mel-bourne-bisCd jockey son pf Somoy’s trainer, hit top form io ride three winners.