G. Hugh es to ride Mop at Awapuni

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34009, 25 November 1975, Page 9

G. Hugh es to ride Mop at Awapuni

(N'.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON. Grenville Hughes will ride the brilliant filly. Mop, at her next start in the Murty Brothers Eulogy Stakes at Awapuni on December 20. Mop’s trainer, Keith Couper, confirmed the change last night. Mop has had nine starts in her career and with one exception she has been ridden by the apprentice, Brent Thomson. Under Thomson’s guidance she was unbeaten in four races last season and this term with Thomson aboard she has won the Golf Trail Stakes and the Lowland Stakes. Last month at Trentham she won the Desert Gold Stakes while Thomson was in Melbourne. Hughes rode her then. Mop has had one start since the Desert Gold. With Thomson back up she contested the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton 10 days ago and

was beaten by half a length by Entice. The judicial committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club cleared Thomson of any responsibility for Mop’s defeat. Couper, who said last night that he agreed with that verdict, drove to Wanganui to tell Thomson and his father, the trainer, Devin Thomson, of the change. The decision was reached after discussion between Mop’s owner, Mr T. C. Lowry, and the trainer. After the Eulogy Stakes, Couper said, he supposed Hughes would continue to ride Mop. The stable may be faced, however, with the need to choose another replacement if a clash between Mop and the Te Rapa filly Tudor Light eventuates, Tudor Light, which has not yet raced against Mop, is unbeaten in three starts over 1200 m this season. Hughes had ridden her each time.