FROM STUD AND STABLE Former apprentices in racing overseas

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33625, 29 August 1974, Page 9

FROM STUD AND STABLE Former apprentices in racing overseas

Two former local apprentices, both recipients of the F. D. Jones Challenge Cup in their respective years, are still following their chosen vocation—to be associated with thoroughbreds—overseas.

They are G. A. Jackson and A. R. Telfer who were both forced out of racing at home by increasing weight. The former is now working in one of the biggest training establishments in West Germany and Tejfer is private trainer to a West Australian grazier. Jackson, who switched to riding jumpers with a fair measure of success after having to forgo flat rides on several occasions because of illness through wasting, realised about this time last year that his opportunities at home were fast diminishing and so decided to try his luck in England.

Jackson set out on this new venture soon after the 1973 Grand National meeting. He had little trouble securing a position and made an immediate impact with a first-up victory over the English country. The rides kept coming Jackson’s way but the wins did not, although he rode his share of minor place-getters, so after stints in Wales, Scotland and Ireland and the odd

trip across to the continent he decided when the English flat-racing season started he would try his luck in Europe.

On June 8 this year Jackson, accompanied by an English jockey, A. Knight, arrived at Durchousermof Villa, Cologne, to take up a position at one of West Germany’s biggest breeding and training establishments.

Durchousermof is a huge estate with two stables—it takes 20 minutes to walk from one to the other—and on it there is a private racecourse. Four stallions stand at the stud there and none of the stock are sold.

The prospect of Jackson furthering his race-riding career at Durchousermof were not good —they do not have any jumpers there!—but the remuneration was good and there was plenty of opportunity for travel. Horses from the stable do much of their racing outside of Germany and Jackson has had several trips to Belgium as well as France and Italy.

Because there are two stables at Durchousermof there are two teams to be ridden out each day. On six days of the week the work is restricted mainly to cantering and on the Sundays the horses are trotted through the woods on the property. If Jackson’s work permit will allow it he intends to stay in

West Germany until the end of this year. It is his intention then to move on to Canada and, perhaps, the United States and lie hopes to be back in New Zealand for the jumping season next year. 1 FRESH START Until a few months ago, Telfer had been away from racing for at least three events. His increasing weight problem began when he was involved in a tractor accident while on loan from his employer, the former Riccarton trainer, w. A. Welton, to the Mosgiel owner-trainer, G. B. Thomson. By the time he recovered from his injuries his weight had Increased to such an extent that race-riding was out of the question. About five months ago Telfer decided to make a move and see what opportunities were avail-I able In Western Australia. He accepted a position as private trainer to Mr V. Daws, a committeeman of the West Australian Turf Club.

Mr Daws's main Interest is in cattle but he is also a keen breeder and owner of thoroughbreds and Telfer has a private training track on the farm where he prepares the eight horses he has in work at present. Teller’s first training success came at Northam early this month when he saddled Saba’s Pride for a handy win at good odds in the Three-year-old Handicap. His other two runners at the meeting, Cfddy and Barbary Lass, finished second and third in their respective races.