FROM STUD AND STABLE Jockeys Decline Work For Riccarton Trainer

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30050, 7 February 1963, Page 4

FROM STUD AND STABLE Jockeys Decline Work For Riccarton Trainer

Some Riccarton jockeys are refusing to ride horses in training for a Riccarton trainer. Their action is a protest against decisions by the owners of horses in the stable about who should ride for them in important races this season. In two cases, the owners have engaged the services of the Wingatui jockey, R. J. Skelton. Owners, as the Ones who pay, have customarily exercised their own right of choice.

But tibia does not appear to be acceptable to some Riccarton riders, and they have reacted against the trainer, who bad nothing to do with the owners’ decisions in any case. They have told the trainer to “go and get the man who rides it on race day” when approached on the tracks to ride some work.

Owners say they are entitled to get the best available riders for their horse, whether the jockey lives in Wirigatui or Auckland, or anywhere else.

The fact that Riccarton has not had a premier jockey since the heyday of L J. Ellis suggests that it has no embarrassment of riding tadent

Actor As Owner

The American film actor, Gregory Peck, will have a runner in the Grand National at Aintree this year. Last week he bought Owen’s Sedge from the Irish owner, Mrs Frank Farmer.

The deal was negotiated by Paddy Prendergast, acting for the Anglo-Irish Bloodstock Agency. This is not the first occasion that Peck has invested in Irish bloodstock.

He raced Tetread in partnership with the producer, John Huston, when that horse won the Brooke Plate at the Phoenix Park spring show meeting in 1955. Owen’s Sedge will be ridden by the successful horseman, Pat Taaffe, in the Grand National The handicapper took no chances with Mr Peck’s purchase, giving him 11-6, 81b less than the topweight, Frenchman’s Cove. But the horse is still expected to give his new owner a sporting run for his money on March 30. Remote Chance Next year, within the space of a month, it will be possible for a colt to win £170,000 in prize money in the three Derby classics in England, France, and Ireland. But it is unlikely that the feat will ever be accomplished. The three races have become much more competitive and few trainers would risk an outstanding three-year-old in three such hard races.

With the help of the Levy Board, the Derby at Epsom will again be the most valuable of the three in 1964. Only the peculiarities of the switch-back Epsom course are

considered to be an obstacle to the classic attracting the best field.

The seven-horse spill in the English Derby last year has brought forward a fresh num. bar of critics, and many owners prefer the Curragh, where the Irish Deity is run. A itor winning the Uriah classic on Tambourine last year, the successful jockey, Roger Poincelet, commented;

“The track gives each horse a chance to race and is such that there is very Little risk of crowding, jostling or bullying.”

Australian Interest

Asked what horses he would take with him to Australia if be had the pick of those on view at the Wellington Cup meeting, a prominent Melbourne bloodstock authority settled for Polo Prince and Summer Regent. “These horses could go to Australia before they get the glamour and the weight on them and they would do very well,” he said. “It’s not much use waiting until they win everything in sight here before they go to Australia. Then they've got their work cut out running under big weights." Overseas inquiries have been made for Polo Prince, but »o far no business has been done.

His owner. Mrs L. W. Davis, rejected a big offer before his win in the Ruapehu Hack Handicap at Treritham.

Polo Prince has won again

in the meantime. Carrying 9-0 he easily won the Champion Hack Handicap, one mile and a haM, at Wanganui Last Saturday, and goes into open class with winnings amounting to £l4lO. Polo Prince is a four-year - aid sob of Marco Polo II and the Ruthless mare, Sou'east. The next dam. Light Fantastic, was by Foxbridge from the prolific Tripping, which left the good winners Poutautau, Imperium, False Step, Golden Jest and others. Summer Regent, like Polo Prince, is four, and can be expected to develop his greatest powers next season. He is by Summertime, which has sired several of the outstanding performers in Australia in the last few years.