New owner for Dirk

Press, 29 November 1978, Page 20

New owner for Dirk

Dirk, a lightly raced five-year-old Sobig gelding, has been sold by Mr Cyril Smith to Mr Ivan Anning, of Kiccarton. Dirk’s best run in only three starts from Jim Tomkinson’s stable was a fourth in a divided maiden race at Rangiora last autumn. Mr Smith has the veteran ■ Entourage, still an active i campaigner from the Tomkinson stable, and the Faux I'irage gelding will be joined soon by a two-year-old son of Decies, purchased for $5OOO at the national sales last January. Mr Smith’s most recent

purchase was bred at Morrinsville by Mr M. K. Semmens from Firebird, a winning daughter of Beau Diable. This is a noted family; its most successful representatives include Star Bell, winner of 18 races including the Great Northern Guineas, Derby and. St Leger; . the high-class sprinter Supreme Court (Auckland Railway Handicap), .. Great Northern Challenge Stakes),, and Asgard (14 wins including the Australasian Champion Stakes.) . Mr Smith’s purchase of a ; Decies colt was timely. Stock of this well-performed son of Pardal will engage lively Australian interest at Trentham next January, after rewarding campaigns I this year by Lefroy and the ■ V.R.C. Derby winner, Dul;cifv. ; Another recent departure i from the Tomkinson stable I was Tara. This Oncidium ifilly, a close relation of the big winner Game, was leased i by Mrs Derrick Gould, o! I Christchurch, from .Mrs T. IC. Lowry with a racing programme in view, but has

been sent back to Hawke's Bay. Tara did not. show much when tried for speed, and her programme was also affected by shin soreness.