"He’s bringing in the money’

Press, 12 July 1979, Page 20

"He’s bringing in the money’

“He’s as good as my merry go round horses, he’s bringing in the money,” said Mr R. J. (Zeek) Wilson, a Dunedin showman, after his four-year-old Tanner brilliantly won the Lambton Handicap at Trentham yesterday. Mr Wilson, who races the Abridge Member gelding in partnership with the Tuahiwi trainer, Ray Harris, travels all over the South Island with his sideshows and yesterday he was pleased he decided to sally to the North Island with the gelding which slammed his rivals over 1400 m at odds of over 20-to-one.

“I knew he was a grouse horse in the wet, and he has never stopped improving since he arrived here on Tuesday of last week,” Mr Wilson said after Tanner won yesterday.

Mr Wilson is also partowner of Scotch Mist, a good winner for the Harris stable as a two-year-old this season.

According to the race book Tanner was having his first start yesterday, and appeared under the name of his former owner Mr M. F. Neiman.

In fact he has been active on the winter circuit and was a fair fifth at Washdyke at his previous start. Noble Way, a three-year-old filly by Honourary Degree, a syndicated stallion ■ with South Island interests, i was the best of Tanner’s rivals yesterday. She saved second comfortably from Gold Sword.

The favourite Cindie was left in front early, but was beaten on the home turn and quickly faded into the ruck.