Messent loses a leg

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33092, 6 December 1972, Page 8

Messent loses a leg

(N.Z. Press Association) WANGANUI, Dec. 5. A month ago on the crest of a wave; yesterday a chapter in the history of the New Zealand turf — this is the Wanganui jockey, J. A. Messent, whose leg was amputated on Monday as a consequence of complications after a race fall at Hawera last Wednesday. His leg had been broken. Along with G. Scanion and G. Chitty, he was dumped on the track in a three-horse crash during the Normanby Maiden which prompted the abandonment of the meeting after the fourth race.

Messent, aged 26, has earned recognition throughout New Zealand as a light-weight jockey of exceptional ability and, just as important, for being a young man who set a fine example to his colleagues. His career hit a peak last month when he rode the Bulls mare, Beatnik, to victory in the $25,500 Avondale Cup. This was the highlight in Messent’s rewarding association with the Bulls trainer M. B. Andrews. Messent’s ability with

horses quickly became apparent when he started his apprenticeship at Riccarton with G. H. Murfitt jun., after a short spell at Gore with the late T. G. Pollock. Messent’s first big success came when he was still an apprentice on the Andrews-trained Alaska in the 1964 New Zealand Cup. At Riccarton he was awarded the F. D. Jones Cup as the centre’s leading apprentice. From his Cup victory in 1964 over the great Kumai, it was steady progress for Messent. Eleven months later he teamed with Alaska for another neck victory, this time in the Wellington Handicap at Trentham. Messent moved to Wanganui in the late 1960 s and quickly established himself as one of the top horsemen.

There were four wins on Beatnik before the Avondale Cup. These were the Bolton Handicap at Woodville in 1971, the 1972 Pahiatua Cup, the George Adams Handicap at Riccarton, and the 1972 Harcourt Stakes at Trentham. Messent rode nearly 300 winners. Among the notable wins were the 1969 Manawatu Cup and 1970 Wanganui Cup on Aristoc; the New Zealand Oaks on Devante and Young Ida; the 1969 Awapuni Gold Cup on Aquarelle, and the 1966 Great Easter Handicap and 1965 Dunedin Guineas on Middy, owned by the Wingatui trainer, G. B. Thomson, for whom Messent rode many winners. At Wanganui Messent was one of the most regular trackgoers and naturally won the commendation of the racing industry. Unassuming and obliging, he will be greatly missed as a jockey. His condition in hospital tonight was “fairly satisfactory.” It is understood the leg was amputed somewhere below the knee.