HOT SUN BY 20 Lengths

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31096, 27 June 1966, Page 5

HOT SUN BY 20 Lengths

Now Hurdle Favourite (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) MELBOURNE. Hot Sun took Grand National Hurdle favouritism after a runaway win in the Plenty Hurdle, two miles, at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Hot Sun, which carried 11-5, was having his first race over hurdles for nearly a year. In a desperate attempt to stay with Hot Sun the equal secondfavourite, Ross, toppled over at the last jump, leaving Hot Sun to go to a 20-iength win from the dead-heaters, Solar Dale and Richmond Manor. Mr R. Ansett, who races Hot Sun, has had a run of minor placing® in Grand Nationals. These include two seconds with Hot Sun and second in both hurdle and steeple the same year with Red Braid. Wilson, which is not in the Grand National Steeple on July 9, won the Melrose Steeple, giving a perfect exhibition. Dark Gleam, which ran second, also is not in the Grand National. Bl Carum, third, is a first acceptor. In a collision after the race, the jockey, P., Mohi. rider of Wilson, was knocked out of the saddle. He hurt a leg slightly but remounted and rode Wilson to scale. In another collision, Karingal, one of several riderless horses, fractured his skull and died. Some big bets at long odds were landed on the New Zealander Forest Lass (Comte de Grasse—Genevieve) in the Airport Handicap, one mile. Forest Lass, which started at 16 to 1, won by four lengths from Betamyl with Joelau third.

Heavy rain earlier in the day had increased Forest Lass’ chances df winning. She had previously won three races, all in heavy going. The New. Zealand-bred fitly, Te Parae (Agricola—Excellency), was firm in the betting, but ran a disappointing race and beat only two.