Rapid Flight retired

Press, 27 February 1980, Page 30

Rapid Flight retired

Southland correspondent Invercargill.

The 1978 Grand National Hurdles winner, Rapid Flight, has broken down and will not be tried again. The 10-vear-old Lomond gelding was progressing satisfactorily in his preparation for the Great Western Steeplechase next month under the guidance of his part-owner, Bill Hillis. “It’s not much use carrying on — I have put a lot of time into getting him sound again,” Hillis said yesterday. Rapid Flight, with a lightweight up, pulled up sore after a track gallop at Riverton recently with a damaged near foreleg, which had been pinfired after an earlier setback. Rapid Flight was a useful flat performer from Rex Cochrane’s Gore stables for his Riverton breeder, Mr Herb Tweedie, and later won five races for Bill and Monty Hillis. His retirement marks the

first casualty from this season’s Great Western field. Hillis rode his last winner when he won the 1978 con. test on Trial Run. Amalgic, impressive winner of last month’s Wyndham Cup, has gone amiss and has also been retired from racing.

The Summer Magic mare, which won five races, was trained throughout het career by Ted Winsloe, who stands her first selected con. sort. Sovereign Eagle, at his Gore property.

Amalgic, a promising hack before being side-lined by injury at Riccarton 15 months ago, recovered surprisingly well to win the Wyndham Cup last month and was an unlucky seventh in the Invercargill Gold Cup. Plans to retire her were made recently after she damaged tendons. Amalgic was raced irs partnership by her Mossburn breeder, Mrs Nola Turner, and Mr Tom O’Connor, oi Winton.