Chilean touch

Press, 25 June 1979, Page 28

Chilean touch

Horsemanship breaks down language barriers: the Chilean jockey, Alberto Poblete, has only a scant knowledge of English but he has some persuasive ways with horses which paid off with two wins at Ashburton.

Poblete arrived only last month from Chile to settle in Christchurch and a chirpy “good morning” has been one of his few ventures into English. When Denosera, a gelding, tried to resist Poblete’s efforts to steady him after a gallop at Riccarton last week the new arrival told it in Chilean to stop acting “like a hot old lady.” At Ashburton on Saturday Poblete won on two young “ladies”. Both of them Spritely Miss and Latchmi, ran

“hot” to capture a double for Riccarton’s Thistoll stable.

Spritely Miss overcame difficulties in running to win the Maiden Stakes narrowly but impressively for Mr and Mrs Bob Hambley and Mr and Mrs Jim Hambley, West Coasters and newcomers to the ranks of racing owners. There was no stopping Poblete and Latchmi when they teamed up in the Mayfield Handicap, the last race on the card.

Latchmi, a Diplomatic Agent filly raced in partnership by Messrs Fred Blogg and Selwyn Spiers, made light of a wide barrier position and scurried away to win the 1600 m event five lengths in the brilliant time of Imin 36.25.