‘Mein quinella’ in Riccarton race

Press, 19 April 1979, Page 22

‘Mein quinella’ in Riccarton race

Bv

J. J. BOYLE

1 ;! The successful Riccarton! jockey, Michael Mein, called ,ithe shots wrong when he turned down the ride on) "Keeko to partner Gretnal • ! Green in the Burnside! ■i Handicap at Riccarton ! i (yesterday. ■ His father Graeme inher-) •|ited the rde on Keeko, and sithat gelding beat Gretna

Green, a hot favourite, byii (half a neck. Keeko and Gretna Green! gave their sire, the deceased I stallion Keekerok, a quinella | in the race, and punters oni jthe combination were re-| | warded at the rate of $7,60 'for each $l. Keeko, which boasts rela- i tionship to some famous| performers, including the! I great stayer, Think Big, is!l

I owned by Mr and Mrs G. R. Tuaine, of Christchurch, and I trained at Riccarton by John Bourne. Characteristically, Keeko I was in front in a few | strides, and resisted bravely in the face of Gretna Green’s challenge wider out in the straight. I Keeko lasted to win by , ■ half a neck. Then there was half a length to the second!' I £ ia. _ r-M 1 1 ’

favourite. Sharebroker,.! which was cramped fori room when he had a run in ’ him close to home. Black Melodv was right' up in line fourth, and Del- , larca was close at handi 1 '

'ifth. I The Burnside Handicap! j completed the first of two!, course trebles yesterday. Peligro and Grand Country ) were successful favourites ini the first two legs of this) treble, and the return would' have been a small one if Biddy Magee had continued the run of successes by the favourites The Peiigro-Grand Coun-try-Keeko combination returned $100.30. ''