Tawhiao Unlucky In Randwick Race

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29333, 12 October 1960, Page 4

Tawhiao Unlucky In Randwick Race

(Special Correspondent N.ZJ’.A.)

SYDNEY, October 10. Diminutive Ernest John Didham, who is apprenticed to his father, Arthur Didham, at Randwick, will have no weight worries for some time. But his lack of strength prevented him from achieving his first winning ride in Australia at Randwick on Saturday. E. J. Didham rode Tawhiao, a close second in the £2050 Squatters’ Handicap.

The former New Zealand galloper had toe race all but won, but Didham was not strong enough to ride his mount right out, and the favourite, Count Rego, headed him in a tight finish.

He rode a well-judged race, hugging the rails behind Sea King with the speedy New Farm tearing away to a lead of six lengths. The winner ran the mile in Imin 36 2-ssec, so no time was wasted. In the short time he has been riding, Didham has been a close second three times and he appears to have a promising future. Put Off Feed

Tawhiao, a good winner in the colours of Sir Ernest Davis in the Dominion, has given Arthur Didham some concern since he has been in Australia. He has not been quite right and is easily put off his feed. He won over a mile and a quarter at Randwick in January when ridden by J. Didham and it would take little improvement on his part to return to the winning list The grey Marco Polo gelding is one of the large team owned by Mr Duncan McFarlane, of Christchurch, prepared by the former Wingatui trainer, Arthur Didham.

The eight-year-old Lochie, a veteran by Australian standards, still continues to pay his way. But with luck several close seconds lately would have been win-

Thing efforts. Sydney trainers wonder how he keeps racing so consistently. The work Didham puts into his team is the answer. While others rely on needles to supply the vitamins, Didham makes daily trips to the outskirts to gather grass, a luxury in most training establishments in the closely settled area of Randwick.

Emblem created a great deal of interest in her’ first start at a totalisator meeting in the Widden Stakes, a five furlong sprint for two-year-old fillies, but after disputing the lead to the turn she was shaken off to finish half a length and four lengths behind the stablemates, No Match and Grand Brio, trained by J. Denham. Emblem is a sister to the champion three-year-old filly, Wenona Girl, which scored a runaway win in the Flight Stakes at Randwick on Wednesday.

Emblem is one of the 16 two-year-olds in R. W. Roden’s stable. Fourteen of these youngsters are New Zeeland-bred.

The winner No Match, is by the imported French horse, Wilkes, which is climbing to the limelight as a sire of early speed. His oldest stock are three-year-olds, and include Wenona Girl and Emblem. Hilton Cope

Count Rego was ridden by the stronger and more experienced Hilton Cope, who won the Metropolitan on the little-fancied Red Wind.

His success on Count. Rego was his tenth in the metropolitan area and his 71b allowance drops to 51b.

Cope, who learnt to ride in the show ring where he won more than 1000 prizes, took up race riding against his parents’ wishes, but he is fast becoming one of the < most sought after riders in the district.

He is apprenticed to Vic Thompson, who shifted his quarters from Kensington to Rosehill to give Cope more opportunities.

Count Rego landed a confident betting plunge. His trainer is Harry Plant, a regular visitor to the Trentham yearling sales, who is well known in New Zealand His owner is Mr A. O. Romano of Bernborough fame.