Jumper destroyed

Press, 24 April 1980, Page 2 (Supplement)

Jumper destroyed

The Hawera-trained jumper Philosopher, was put down after fracturing his near-fore ■ fetlock at the flight 800 m out in the Charlesworth Brush Hurdles at Blenheim yesterday. The six-year-old Philoctetes gelding, which had been a useful performer for Messrs B. D. and L. B. Wallis, was prepared for them by Ron Nolan. After Owen Anning pulled up Philosopher, which had been responsible for much of the pace,- Fleet Symbol was left in front, but the win favourite was soon under pressure and surrendered the lead to Toko River before the last flight. The Otaki-trained jumper, the eighth favourite of 12, pulled right away to win by ;

five lengths from Fleet Symbol which lasted for second by a length and a half from the- Atvapuni-trained ’chasfer, Totara Park. The rest of . a soundly beaten lot were led home by Chasland but he was in a gap of 10 lengths.. Eldora led all the way in the hands of Bill Skelton to win the second leg of the on-course treble, the Andrews Maiden Stakes, in. a tight finish with Mary Rose. Dracula and Smokeaway and the third leg, the Kevin Bell Maiden Stakes, went to tlTfe Washdyke-trained, _ Rika,, whiph tracked Hesitation *to the- straight then ran on best to beat the pacemaker by a length. The Toko Boy-Eldora-Rika combination returned their treble supporters a dividend of $328.95. !