Racing: Rambo in rude health

A week after a vet failed to give Rambo Waltzer a clean bill of health the five-year-old demonstrated his well-being with a victory in a tight finish at Hamilton yesterday.

A deal to sell the gelding to the United States last week was called off after the unfavourable vet's report. But Rambo Waltzer, produced fast and late by Carolyn Bales, caught Gadge near the line for a short-head verdict with the same distance back to the third, Mels Baby.

"This is a fantastic horse and I don't know what the vet was thinking when he failed him," David Nicholls said. "I wish I had 25 more like him in the yard."

The trainer was full of praise for the 18-year-old Bales, who was scoring the first riding success of her career. "She joined me five months ago and is a cracking lass," he said.