Riverton may have another Homeby winner

Press, 26 July 1986, Page 32

Riverton may have another Homeby winner

By J. J. BOYLE Twenty-one years ago the Riverton-trained Koral won his first of seven Christchurch Hunt Homeby Steeplechases in the hands of the late Mr Bill Hazlett’s private trainer, Bill Hillis. Riverton again has an able representative in today’s renewal of the Christchurch Hunt’s most valuable race in Coharken, an admirably consistent Codeene gelding from the stable of Gareth Mcßae. Koral won his first Homeby in his final start as a four-year-old. Codeene is nine, but has something in common with the famous grey. Koral won the south Canter-

bury Hunt Club’s Teschemaker Steeplechase in his lead-up to a wide and handsome win in the Homeby. Coharken is this year’s Teschemaker winner, and his tradesmanlike performance at Washdyke last Saturday has placed him high on the short list of fancies for today’s $12,500 race. Coharken has made a much later entry than Koral into the chasing ranks, and the Grand National is unlikely to be on his programme this year. Today’s Homeby should still throw some light on the likely strength of this year’s challenge for Grand National honours. Bymai, as winner of

both Grand Nationals, has already established himself as a great crowd pleaser at Riccarton, and should apply himself ably in his attempt on a top weight’s victory today. Sir Zatopek, from Southland, did not really get into the act in the Teschemaker Steeplechase at Washdyke last week, but that was his first start since his Nescafe fourth at Ellerslie, and it . should have brought him to race fitness for . his Riccarton campaign. The Waimate uainer, Bert Cousins, will put two form runners, Master Bijou and Leading Ridge, into the field.