Oamaru victory for Decor Doll

Press, 31 May 1982, Page 21

Oamaru victory for Decor Doll

Special correspondent Dunedin Decor Doll improved a sound record with her win in the Norwood Handicap at the Oamaru Jockey Club's meeting on Saturday. It was her fifth win since she began racing 10 months ago. She has also gained 12 minor placings in a total of 30 starts and earned $11,035 in stakes for her seven owners. The syndicate bought Decor Doll for $BOOO as a three-year-old last season from Mr Ron Blair, of Christchurch, who had secured her in the North Island. She is trained at Tuahiwi by Barbara and Ray Harris and has been ridden in her five wins by Tane Matthews, the stable apprentice.

The syndicate is managed by Mr John Beachamp, of Christchurch. Decor Doll will have value as a brood mare. She is by Sucaryl, the sire of this season's New . Zealand Cup winner, Gold Bullion, Candyboy, Sweet Offer (N.Z. Oaks and Eulogy Stakes) Duty Point and Speculation. Her dam, Maintop (MainbraceNew Amber), is a sister to Topaz, the dam of Chimbu, winner of' the $150,000 Auckland Cup last January. Decor Doll has been one of the most travelled gallopers in the South Island this season. She has raced on 16 different courses from Richmond. at Nelson, to Ascot Park, at Invercargill. She won her maiden race at Orari in October and has als.o won at Waikouiati, Reefton and Greymouth.

Decor Doll, four back on the inner for much of Saturday’s race, burst on the scene at the top of the straight, forged clear and lasted to beat the strong-finishing Supremity by a long neck. Supremity had been three back on the inner and made her run wide out entering the straight. The well-supported Red Rebel dropped out to third last after disputing the pace with Napiat and Jane Again (three wide). Marque Vue looked set for a successful innings as a jumper when he won the Burnside Steeplechase. Marque Vue disputed much of the pace and fought on strongly to hold out the bold-finishing Liberty Dance by half a head, with a neck to Mining Law, which gave a much improved display of jumping.

Marque Vue showed ability over country last winter. He won the Irwin Steeplechase at Wingatui, finished second to Taitan in the Timaru Steeplechase and filled a similar place behind Cellay in the Te Waimate Steeplechase. . Douglas Stalker, his trainer and co-owner with his wife, Robyn, decided against racing him at Riccarton because of a setback with corns.

Marque Vue was placed behind Vymai and Mondida in a steeplechase at the Eastern Southland Hunt meeting in August and was then spelled. He resumed racing with a third among the hurdlers at the Birchwood Hunt meeting in March.

Stalker, a farmer at Gorge Road, said on Saturday that his other steeplechaser, Connecticut, is still turned out.

Connecticut was put aside after showing signs of soreness last June.

Marque Vue gave John Laidlaw, his 20-year-old Invercargill rider, his first jumps win. Craig Edmond also gained his first win when Angus easily won the Tokarahi Hurdles. Ron Weaver, a former successful jockey, was seen in the role of winning owner when Tudor Peak scored a shock win in the Members’ Handicap.

Tudor Peak had had one other win, in November 1979 when prepared by Ray Pankhurst for Messrs A. N. and G. A. Farry.

Tudor Peak, a seven-year-old, was taken over earlier this season by Weaver, Diane and Wayne Burgess, of Winton, and Ray Dunick. The gelding was having his third start for the partnership. Diane, a sister of Ron, trains Tudor Peak. Ron, who retired from race-riding in February last year, is a partner with Ray Dunick in a horse-transporting business, based at Invercargill. Tudor Peak, was tried in blinkers and obliged at odds of 62-to-one. Steve Allen, who rode him, was also the successful rider in his other win.