Robinson on Glenanton at Otago meeting

Press, 30 May 1983, Page 24

Robinson on Glenanton at Otago meeting

Special correspondent Dunedin •• The trainer-jockey, Ali Robinson, will take the mount on his hurdler, Glenanton, at the Otago Racing Club’s winter meeting next week-end and he will be offered the mount on Taitan in the Otago Steeplechase. This follows the decision of Richard Collett to ride at Ellerslie next week-end. Collett will team with Bymai in the Great Northern Hurdles on Saturday and Paulmont in the Great Northern Steeplechase on Monday. Collett rode Glenanton to an impressive win over hurdles at the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting this month.

Robinson was indisposed and did not ride at Oamaru on Saturday.

Paulmont finished eighth in the Great Northern Steeplechase two years ago when ridden by Collett. He rode Don Emery to finish seventh in the Great Northern Hurdles the same year. The Taitan mount has become available with Paul Dooney at Wanganui to ride Lord Hymac and Politician. All are trained at Fairview, near Timaru, by Graeme Jackson, who said Taitan would not start at Wingatui unless he could obtain Robinson. Taitan won the Otago Steeplechase last year. Jackson will take Lord Hymac and Politician north by road tomorrow. Bymai and Paulmont fly from Christchurch on Friday in the care of Bill Hillis, who trains the latter.

Hillis trained and rode Eiffel Tower (1967) and

Loch Linnhe (1975) to win the Great Northern Steeplechase and he won the hurdles as a trainer with MacDonald in 1966. Royal Kassel’s last-stride win in the Burnside Steeplechase at the Oamaru Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday erased bad memories of the race last year. Royal Kassel twisted a foot in a hole during the race last year which necessitated his being spelled. He resumed on the flat at Wingatui last month and in one other start finished fourth in the Otago Hunt Cup after being remounted.

Royal Kassel, trained at Oamaru by Dave Allan for Bill Brenssell and the estate of Syd Brenssell, shewed ability as a jumper two winters back. He won three hurdle

races and gained seconds to Dark Purple in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton and to Miracle Jack in the Sydenham Hurdles. All going well the nine-year-old Royal Ridge — Blue Rosie gelding will contest the Grand National Steeplechase this year. On Saturday Royal Kassel improved steadily from well back in the field at the 1000 m and picked up a deficit of some five lengths on Rock Crystal, from the last fence to win by a nose. Rock Crystal had disputed the pace with Marque Vue and jumped clear at the second last fence. Owhata Son was in a gap of five lengths, third. He raced handy but could find nothing extra in the run home. John Dowling has abandoned plans to take him back to Australia.