Last ride a winning one for Dowling

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33966, 6 October 1975, Page 9

Last ride a winning one for Dowling

f'The Press” Special Service/ , , ~ DUXEDiN John Dowling, who has been in the top bracket of jockeys for the last 16 years, experienced l his greatest thrill a$ a rider when he won the McLean Stakes, on Beil Flight at Wingatui on Saturday in his last race ride. ’*! have had a iot of thrills rifling but 1 would just about have to give that one the edge ’ said Dowling. “1 was reallv expecting to win it.” Dowling had >et his mind on retiring from race riding this season because of the demands of wasting: **| have been getting HI wasting 1 am often walking at 9.12 '62.5 kg > and being leouired to ride at around «.6 he remarked. He became more specific about the time to hang his riding boots and sjjks on Saturday morning when he told hi* wife, Kay. ‘j having my last ride today.” Dowling considered he had the chance to ride three winners from three rides - all from his own stable. He got the first home. Kadesiut, in the County Vaiden, was beaten a head withthe next, on In For Nicks in the Blossom Maiden, and guided Bell FPght home well clear of the 1 others. LOST CHANCE In For Nicks would almost certainly have won but for hanging i in the run home. Dowling had to stop riding and straighten’ him twice. Said Dowling as he dismounted from Beil Flight: “He is a champion. Hr was off the track all the way.” Bell Flight indeed took a course close to the outside fence for much of the BUO metres dash. According to Dowling “He tried to run off because he is so used to working on the outside of the course.” Bell Flight, whose hanging tendency saw him surrender the lead to Twelve Oaks soon after the start, sustained his run and turned what Dowling considered; a five length deficit into a win-'

filing margin of four and a half: lengths. Dowling selected Bell Flight as| a yearling for Messrs Kevin! Laidlaw. Archie Forde. Johnny; Nicolson and Fergus McCallum,' all of the Nightcaps district in 1 Southland and stewards of the Wairio Jockey Club. They bought him for $3OOO from Mrs J. M. Puller, of Gore.

Bell Flight, which Dowling* rates the best two-year-old he! has ridden from the point of view of staying potential, will be aimed for the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes in March after a spell.

I Dowling’s main success has [been on older horses, but he was I associated with Summer Magic. !the top South Island two-year-!o!d in the 1963-64 season and won the 1965 C.J.C. Welcome Stakes on Miss Mod. GUINEAS WIN His most important riding success from a monetary angle was the $16,000 Two Thousand Guineas at Riccarton last November on Persuasian. He has a long list of major wins including the New Zealand Cup (Princess Mellay), New Zealand Derby (Roman Consul and Fair Account). New Zealand Oaks Aquarelle). IL R. Chalmers Handicap 'Palisade). Metropolitan Handicap tWatallan, Red Siren. Palisade <twice) and Cassarook). Summer Handicap at Trentham (Palisade, and Pearce Handicap (Dervish). Other highlights in his career as a jockey have been topping the national jockeys’ premiership as an apprentice, riding 144 winners while indentured, riding live winners in one day and landing five consecutive winners. His record as an apprentice with the late Dave Wilson after starting with Maurice Corkery at Riverton, was achieved when: fewer riding opportunities were; available than today. It was on: the Wilson-trained Grate Game; that Dowling gained his first! riding success on New Year’s! Dav. 1959. at Wyndham. A memorable day during his! apprenticeship was at Wingatui! on September 26 1959—the second day of the Dunedin I Jockey Club’s spring meeting. Only a lad. with little experience. Dowling rode both the on and off-course doubles. The on- , course double. Chief General and (Legal Game, paid £B9 Us for £1 j and the off-course or T.A.B.

double. Barkier and Black Star, (returned £53 3s fid. i Dowling has established a rid-1 ling record in the Ashburton I ’County Racing Club’s Maronanj .'Handicap that will take match-! .ling. He has ridden the winner! six times—Palisade (1963).! (Golden Blossom <1964), Jester'jinks <1967). Royal Blue (1968), : Pseudonym 11972). and Quetta | (1973). i Dowling incurred the displeasure of the stipendiary stewards on many occasions in his younger days in his determination to succeed. At one stage he was spending more time in the judicial room than he was riding. Gradually the storm subsided and he settled for a style that continued to win races and was still marked by a grim will to win. Dowling, who is working a team of 12 horses, finished with a tally of 627 winning rides.