King Anthony now at Washdyke

Press, 19 August 1982, Page 32

King Anthony now at Washdyke

By

W. R. CARSON

■ When King Anthony contests the third leg of the Otago Racing Club’s T.A.B. treble tomorrow he will be carrying the colours of the Washdyke trainer, Graeme Jackson,, and Mr Brian Flaws, of Christchurch. This partnership, which had much success a few seasons back with the illfated jumper Terex, purchased King Anthony from his Cheviot breeder, Mrs Dulcie Burnett, after the six-year-old had finished sixth in the First Avonhead Handicap on Grand National Steeplechase day. Since the demise of Terex — he was put down after falling at the last fence in the Wanganui Steeplechase two years ago — Jackson has been on the lookout for a likely replacement for the partnership. He feels 'that King Anjhony has the poten-

tial to make a good jumper. Since his arrival at Washdyke, King Anthony has been getting plenty of practice. “He is certainly not an accomplished jumper yet but every day since I got him home at least one hour is spent teaching him to jump and he is leaguing fast,” said Jackson earlier in the week. But King Anthony, which only began racing last season and won two and was six times placed for Mrs Burnett, will not be rushed into a hurdling career. Present intentions are to give him another race or two on the flat then one over hurdles, perhaps at Ashburton next month, before being turned out for a well-earned spell. Lord Hymac, which jarred up rather badly on the firm track after chasing Bymai home in the Timaru Steeplechase on his home

-track early last month, has recovered from that setback, but is still unlikely to be seen in action again for a while unless there is plenty of spring rain to ease the ground. Taitan, on the other hand, is to be kept on the active list for a while yet. Jackson is seriously considering a campaign for his talented ‘chaser at the Waikato Racing Club’s champion jumpers' meeting next month. The principal event on that programme at Te Rapa on Friday, September 24, is the $12,000 Champion Steeplechase.

“I haven’t had an invitation to take the horse north, but Ken Browne extended an invitation to me verbally at the Grand National meeting,” said Jackson. “There is nothing left for him around here now so I think I’ll make the trip.”