Sharda gives Filipino jockey thrilling win

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33383, 15 November 1973, Page 8

Sharda gives Filipino jockey thrilling win

(From J. J. BOYLE, racing editor of "The Press") AUCKLAND. Ihe exuberance of the 18-year-old Filipino jockey, Jesus Guce, captivated almost everyone at Ellerslie yesterday. Fie gave a triumphant wave as he was about to land Sharda a decisive winner of the I.A.T.A. International Stakes, and the shouting had hardly died down before he was taken before the stipendiary stewards to account for his behaviour.

For the first time in their experience, the stewards had a language barrier on their hands, and N. B. Holland, president of the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association, bustled ofi' to find a fellow countryman of Guce to act as interpreter.

! Guce was shown a film of the finish of the race, told that it was forbidden to flourish the whip in the finish of New Zealand races, and reminded that horses should be ridden right to the post. Through an interpreter, Gdce told the stewards that he had been overcome by the excitement of the occasion. It was the greatest of pities that the international race, so imaginatively and energetically promoted, should have to "be run on a day of heavy rain. But something of enduring memory will be the excitement of the youngest rider of the race as he saw victory in sight on the oldest horse in the race. Jockey’s record Guce, whose father and uncle are also jockeys, has been riding since he was 16. In the last 18 months he has ridden in 881 races for 119 wins. His best monthly tally was 22 wins in September. He leads his nearest rival by 49 wins for the 1973 “jockey of the year” award in the Philippines. Yesterday was the first time he had ridden on a grass track.

I Sharda, in winning, placed j high value on form from the ! Canterbury Jockey Club’s -New Zealand Cup meeting, i His Riccartdn record was two seconds and a fourth and, like many of the stock of Pakistan 11, he went back to a soft track yesterday like a duck to water. “I’m very excited,” said the boyish Guce, after the race. “He won easily, could easily have run more. That track no bother. We have those at home.” D. J. Wyatt, who rode the runner-up, Wiremu, thought it was a pity that the track was as soft as it was. On better going, he felt sure Wiremu would have lasted the race out slightly better 'than he did. [ “1 got to within half a length of Sharda but could not go on with it,” Wyatt said. He had met no interference ' when the winner shifted his line in the straight, he said. Curly Wave Riccarton’s M. J. Skelton, who rode the three-year-old, Paterangi, into third place, said he had had to pull out and go a little early when tiring rivals were coming back on him. Skelton said he had thought Sharda might come back to him, but he never looked like it. “All the same, my fellow is a good little i stayer,” Skelton said. The champion Melbourne jockey, R. Higgins, thought later that his mount, Curly Wave, which finished fourth, might be a bit jaded. “He was close enough on the home turn, but could not come on at a time when evidently he usually starts to do his best,” Higgins said. “That’s beautiful safe ground,” he said. ,R. J. Skelton, rider of Valiant Warrior, which finished fifth, said that the Resurgent gelding had been going well coming to the home turn, which had made him think he had something of a chance. But they had been tight- i ened for room. “That was the end of him. After that, he only battled for his share of it,” Skelton said. OTHER COMMENTS N. G. Harris (Kiwi Can—sixth): He couldn't handle the ground at all well and when lie was squeezed on the home turn that!

was the end of it. I would have, 'liked to have seen him on a dry' ‘track. J. P. Riordan (Fort Hagen—! I seventh): A great race consider-; ing the ground was uo good to| I him. He still managed to run: I up to second on the home turn, | i but I was never really hopeful. ' Through an interpreter, the I French jockey, J. Claude Desaint. I told Master Morgan’s trainer. P.l K. Coleman, and reporters that] the Hastings horse was never I handling the ground well, | “Good gallop,” he managed to! say in broken English.

SI G. L. Willetts ißattle Heights[ninth): We had a nice trail. Could have found the ground a -! trifle heavy. A. K. Robinson (Hasty Min— i (■tenth): Did not handle it. Never! i on the bit any part of it. ’! B. Taylor (Oncide—eleventh):! She never acted in the ground ' ■ and that’s what beat her as much I Jas anything. .' A. Pineda i Tambelina—tjtwelfth): She was no good in the! ■ ground from the time they left .[the gates. )! B. Andrews (Kylie Marielast): Had every’ show . I