Sir James relishes soft conditions

Press, 12 May 1981, Page 22

Sir James relishes soft conditions

Special correspondent

Westport

The veteran Ashburton galloper Sir James returned to winning form in his first race since a Canterbury Jockey Club meeting in February, 1980, when he won the Martin and Co. Handicap, first leg of the F.A.B. double at Westport yesterday.

Ridden by David Walsh, Sir James was settled at the rear of the field and it was not until the 1000 m that Walsh asked his mount to stride out. Walsh explained that the half-brother to the champion filly, Powley, was always travelling well and handled the heavy track with ease, “It is the best he has ever settled.' said Walsh who has handled the nine year-old gelding in many of his IS wins.

Sir James was brought into work in February of this year and now has a hu Jling ticket. His owner. Miss Andrea Peddie, said that although a hurdling campaign is planned for the Mellay gelding, this may be delayed until later in the season, depending on the fo~m he shows on th. flat in the meantime. A start at the coming Oamaru meeting is scheduled as his next raceday appearance. The race favourite. Father Lou, looked to be travelling easily with a round to go but met traffic problems at the 800 m and was held up for some time. At this stage. Sir James had joved • > to be handy to the leaders and had secured the winning margin over the favourite, t-ather Lou fought on well for second auead of Et Tu. which went a bold jce. Tane Mathews shot the gelding clear by two lengths at I

the 400 m and Et Tu fought on bravely for third only a length and a quarter from .he winner.

The first-day winner, Tol.o Baru, completed a memorable week-end for his Lower Hutt owners, Mrs H. Enright and Mr Wayne Turner, when, he bolted away with the Wallingford Holdings Handicap No. 1. Mr Turner a;.- his. wife have followed the horse throughout its South Island campaign and * after racing on the firmer Marlbt nigh tracks found conditions mu> h more to his liking at Westport.

A three-year-old by Hblj’ Smoke II from the juvenile winner Panoramic Star, Toko Baru was always travelling sweetly for Gary Blair and he went to tin line a clear six lengths in front of Double March, the mount of Bruce Compton. Ra...part. after trailing the leaders till the ti’ , fought on bravt’y for third, while the wellbacked Washer was one of several to ■ unsuited by the heavy track conditions. Canterbury stables continued their run of good form at the meeting when the Graeme Barr-trained two-year-old, Nob l '> Navarre, won the juvenile event in good style. A clc e second to Graphite on the first day, Noble Navarre was always within striking distance oi the leaders and responded

bravely to a vigorous ride by Danny Frye who had earlier ridden the. John Par-sons-trained Startle to win the Railway Hotel J.a den. | Barr purchased the Royal I Noble colt at the Waikato) weaning sales in 1979 and he has already returned his Auckland owner, Mr 11. H. Cross, over tnree times his purchase price. While not yet certain as to the future plap- Tarr, has it in mind to take Hie two-year-old to Wingatui at Queen’s Birthday wc'k-end where he will have a further opportunity to advance his career on a possible soft track.

The Riccarton horseman, Ron McCann, produced the promising three-year-old Strange Magic to con vincingly win the Albion Maiden Stakes. . McCann kicked the Quito gelding out to a two-length lead ;.t the SOOm and went on to score under a hands and heels ride.

The youngster was h.-./in only his second race-dav start for his owners, Messrs B. M. Prisk and J. T. Rehu. His debut at Marlborough had seen him run I . h after being surprisingly w.ll backed. Strange Magic \v - sec ond favourite yesterday and won three lengths in advance of Monsignor, with the local galloper, /mother Jet, a distant 15 lengths behind in third place.