Skirmish may have cost Grey Way winning chance

Press, 17 April 1979, Page 23

Skirmish may have cost Grey Way winning chance

By

J. J. BOYLE

Grey Way, a dominating favourite, lost an almost certain winning chance when checked in the straight in the Great Easter Handicap at Riccarton yesterday. The famous Washdyke veteran was virtually knocked out of the race when Spy Force went off line towards his left to charge through a gap towards the lead. Spy Force went on to win narrowly, but lost the race after an inquiry into the incident Grey Way rallied after his check to finish fifth. He was promoted to fourth, an unrewarding exercise for his army of backers,

but a placing that boosted his splendid stakes tally by $3OO to $217,665. Grey Way’s rider, Kevin Morton, said he was confident the veteran was going well enough to win until he met trouble.

“He did not wind up until late in the race when I won on him at Wingatui, but today I felt he was ready to turn it on the moment 1 pressed the button,” Morton said after the race.

Spy Force’s rider, Ron McCann, was suspended until after tomorrow.

The chief beneficiary from the mixup was the veteran Orari trainer, Lionel Pratt. His colour-bearer, Flying View, had sailed down the

outside on a trouble-free run to get within a neck of Spy Force. As a result of the inquiry Flying View was promoted to first and returned a win dividend of $38.60. Great Day was promoted from third to second and Napiat’s place backers came in for a windfall of a $9.20 place dividend when that Southerner secured third place after having finished fourth. Spy Force, a four-year-old gelding by Kings Troop II from Smuggler’s Bank was bred by Mr G. H. Murfitt, who races the gelding in partnership with his wife. Spy Force’s win backers had a tantalisingly brief view of the $10.60 win divi-

dend and a $52.75 double with Mr Ay Bee. The Mr Ay Bee-Flying View combination returned a $175.65 dividend and Great Day completed a concession double worth $37.45. Flying View, the mount of the Riccarton apprentice, Shane Laming, drew one of the inside positions but was wider on the track before they went far and was some way from the leaders on the home turn. It was late before he came into the race as a real contender and he was cutting into Spy Force’s lead in the last few strides. Brutus was the disappointment of the race. The second favourite finished eighth.