Six Fall At First Fence

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31096, 27 June 1966, Page 4

Six Fall At First Fence

Six horses fell at the first fence in the Dro* more Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase at Ashburton. Yet three of the remaining six runners managed to finish two miles and a half “covered” by only two lengths.

Luck must have entered largely into the result—a win for Bandarshar over Barney and Startler. The luck for most of the runners was all bad, a nightmare moment for jockeys coming when Captain Morgan fell on landing over the first fence.

Lovely Clover went over the top of Captain Morgan, and in the next instant there was a tangle of falling and fallen horses. Most of the jockeys were up quickly, but R. O. Cairns, one of the South Island’s most experienced jumping riders, stayed down with a broken leg. This, in itself, was a blow in a season that has already seen heavy inroads made into the ranks of jumping riders with injuries. Came Again Bandarshar, a half-brother to the successful northern chaser, Quenby Hall, was left in front after the mix-up at the first fence. He held that lead until they came to the straight for the last time, surrendered it to the Winga-

tui grey, Startler, regained it by landing better at the last fence, and resisted Barney’s rails challenge by half a length. Bandarshar cost Mr and Mrs A. G. Wigley, of Waimate, 800gns as a yearling. He was the second jumper to win the Dromore Steeplechase in the Wigley colours, following the lead set last year by Windsor Castle, which broke his leg while spelling last summer. First Watch, a stablemate of Barney, and a more strongly-fancied runner, was fourth under difficulties. His rider, C. L. Reeves, was without irons for the last mile, so it was a creditable placing by the second favourite. William David only just managed to escape the tangle of fallen horses, but found the pace too solid and was an undistinguished - fifth. Hesus was last. Game Call, the favourite and R. O. Cairns’s mount, escaped injury in his fall, but jumped a wire fence and careered away through the entrance gates and along the main road. He was sore in front when caught some time later. Others to fall were Gunga

Da, Lovely Clover, Great Guns, and Race Goer. S. D. Hawthorne caught Great Guns and schooled him around to the home straight before pulling him z up. Warning The Wingatui-trained horses. Sir Athol and Ataarangi, battled out the finish of the Hinds Hurdles clear of the others. Sir Athol beat the Oamaru winner by half a head, and his rider, G. Mee, was officially warned of his obligations to ride his mounts out and of the consequences if he had been beaten. Sir Athol’s superior pace gave him his victory. He gave Ataarangi a start of at least seven lengths from the seven furlongs, two lengths in the last half-mile. Mr G. H. Soper’s Callander gelding appeared to have It safely won at the last hurdle, but Ataarangi never gave up trying and only the “nod of the head” went against him. As for the others, it was a procession of well-beaten, legweary, and in some cases, legsore horses. Knight and Race Guide both broke down.