BIG SPRINT WIN

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

BIG SPRINT WIN

Castanea In Stradbroke (Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) BRISBANE. The five-year-old Sydney horse, Castanea, which seemed fated to always run second in big races, scored a thrilling win in the £BOOO Stradbroke Handicap, seven furlongs, at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Castanea started at 16/1 and took the big sprint, first leg of the Brisbane winter double, by a neck from the favourite Maritana, with Brandy Lad a short neck away third. Castanea was superbly ridden by Aboriginal jockey, D. McCarthy, who notched his third Stradbroke win. Castanea’s career has been dogged by bad luck. He developed faulty breathing about 18 months ago, and veterinary surgeons diagnosed sinus trouble. Surgeons drilled two holes in his skull so that the veterinarians could clear his sinus channels. Castanea still has the scars on his forehead, and races with his mouth wide open, trying to gulp extra air. Always unlucky in big races, he has been second in an A.J.C. Derby, second in the 1964 Epsom Handicap, and second in this year’s Doncaster and the weight-for-age All-Age Stakes. He won brilliantly on Saturday. After starting one from the outside of the field of 19 he was forced to race wide on the home turn and cover a lot of extra ground, but finished with a dramatic dash to take the lead from Maritana In the last couple of strides.