Champagne for Dig In

Press, 27 December 1980, Page 15

Champagne for Dig In

From J. J. BOYLE Wingatui

Dig In yesterday achieved one of the most impressive wins in the last 20 contests for the Dunedin Champagne Stakes. The Riverton-owned and trained Noble Bijou gelding won running away by four lengths/and a half from the win favourite, Pan Flight, which managed to stay alongside him for a time, but was left struggling hopelessly behind from the 400 m.

Dig In is the first horse raced outright by Mr Tom White, a contractor in western Southland.

Mr White bought Dig In as a. yearling from Messrs John, Graham and Colin White, from Omakau. He had memories of some of his wartime experiences in the Western Desert as a member of the 20th battalion in World War II when he applied for the name of Dig In for his young purchase. “We had to dig in at times to save our lives in desert,” Mr White reminded his wife when she expressed

some reservations about the choice of name. “I was lucky enough to get out of battles likes El Alamain in one piece and this fellow might give me a slice of racing luck,” Mr White said. Dig In was having his second start from the Riverton stable of Bill Hillis when he won yesterday.

His first start at Invercargill produced a third but he ran greenly in that race and lost valuable ground when he shied at a pool of water on the track. Queen’s Keeper the dam of Dig In is a half-sister by Gate Keeper to the good winner, Lomond Queen. Mr John White, of Omakau, said he decided to buy her at a Wingatui auction because she was by Gate Keeper, which has not been a good foal getter. Queen’s Keeper is again in foal to Noble Bijou and Bill Hillis was showing interest in the product of that mating before Dig In’s slashing win yesterday. Dig In’s time for the 1000 m yesterday was 58.85, the best gallop on record for the race.