Prettypeen Beaten In Last 100 Yards

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31084, 13 June 1966, Page 5

Prettypeen Beaten In Last 100 Yards

"The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND. With Rethea far behind, and Confer no challenge because he ran off, Prettypeen looked almost certain to take the McGregor Grant Steeplechase at Ellerslie on Saturday, but was beaten by Ringlock in the last 100 yards.

Both horses ended the three-mile run gamely. Either would have been a worthy winner.

Ringlock was one of the disappointments of the Great Northern Steeplechase when

he could manage only fourth, Probably the slightly firmer going helped him to better that performance! n the McGregor Grant Steeplechase, in which he raced with considerably more spirit.

Ringlock set out on a long chase after Prettypeen from the six furlongs. His rider, G. A. Walthers, pressed him hard down the slope to the home straight and he responded generously. After setting a strong pace, Prettypeen fought on well. Two starts before. Ringlock won the Waikato Steeplechase and was successful in the McGregor Grant Steeplechase two years ago. Since being brought into training as an eight-year-old four years ago, he has been a regular winter winner for J. W. Winder’s stable at Cambridge. Confer lost his chance suddenly and unexpectedly. He had been running strongly in the bunch behind Prettypeen when he came to the second fence of the stand double. Although without much room on the inside he looked set to jump the fence, but dived off.

In Trouble Early Rethea seemed in trouble early. The further the field ran the further he dropped behind until, after the fence near the mile, his rider pulled him up.

According to the judicial report Rethea twisted the plate on his off forefoot after jumping the third fence and could not hit out properly. Rethea was the fourth favourite each way and Confer was twenty-second. Prettypeen was the first favourite, backed to short odds. Second Leg Back to a mile after finishing unplaced in the Cornwall Handicap, 10 furlongs, a week before, Old And Bold lasted gamely to win by inches from Wiri in the second leg of the T.A.B. double, the York Handicap. Old And Bold burst into the clear soon after starting the run home. Until half a furlong from home he seemed certain to win clearly. Wlri then produced a late run but failed by a nose. A four-year-old. Old And Bold is raced by Sir Woolf Fisher and trained at Ellerslie by R. 1,. Collett. Sir Woolf Fisher had his colours carried successfully earlier by Mo-I-Rana in the first race, the Orakei Hurdles. Old And Bold won twice in the early spring and again, in the early autumn, at Ellerslie. He was ridden on Saturday by D. A. Raklander. The weather was fine, but the ground remained holding. The attendance was 15,701, against ,14,471 last year. On-course bets amounted to £199,589 10s, against £178,035 15s. The on-course total for the three days was £680,917 15s, against £661,311 ss.