Jan Kerr valuable asset

Press, 16 September 1982, Page 26

Jan Kerr valuable asset

By

SHELLEY CALDWELL

When Clansman romped away with the John Grigg Stakes at Ashburton last week, the record books showed it was another training success for the Riccarton trainer. Dave Kerr.

Kerr officially trains by himself, but his wife, Jan. is an . important link in his training successes. Jan works full time in the stable and rides "99.5 per cent" of the track work for the Kerr team. Dave believes it is a big advantage to have someone from the stable riding the team in track work. “You get an outside jockey riding work and they are jigging them (the horses) up and doing what they are not supposed to do. If you have your own jockey.’ he. or she. do what you want." he said. It was difficult to get senior jockeys to ride track work at Riccarton. he said. "Unless you have a good horse and you put the ‘acidon them, they won't line up."

However, this was not the case at many North Island tracks.

“At Trentham you go to the track at 5 a.m. and the senior jockeys are there waiting." he said. This was why North Island jockeys, such as Bruce Compton and David Peake, were so successful, Kerr said. They were more competitive.

Although Jan had always been “interested in horses." she had not worked full time in a stable before starting to help Kerr about four years ago. She was born in Hawke's Bay and rode work for the late Harry Greene during her

school holidays and later rode work for Jim Nightingale at Hastings, part-time.

Although she had ridden in a couple of the earlier women's races during the middle 70s she was not eager to ride in races now. In 1975 she rode Red Jekyll to victory in a race for women rider's at Riccarton. ■ “All I had to do was jump the horse out and sit there," she said. But she had been lucky to get the ride; originally there had been another rider booked who wasn't able to make the weight. Kerr said that Just A Rebel, which he races in partnership with Mr Dave Clarkson, was the best performed horse in the stable, but the tall chestnut Clansman was a "lovely colt." Clansman was "only about three parts ready,” and “when he gets trimmed up a bit he can only improve." Raced lightly last season as a two-year-old. Clansman was unsuccessful but was “just a bit weak and overgrown." This year, though, he

has really come to his work and has won two races, with style, from only two starts, the most recent being the John Grigg Stakes at Ashburton. Kerr said Clansman had been at the stable since he was a yearling and they had broken’him in. "We knew he was good right from the start. He’s got a long way to go but he might get there one day," he added. “He's got a ’ very patient owner." (Mr Don Cameron, of Blenheim) "so he’s half way there," Kerr said.

Although Just A Rebel was nominated for the Melbourne and Caulfield cups, Kerr said they would not be going to Australia. "I couldn't leave the chestnut (Clansman) at home." he joked, but added that the weight allotted Just A Rebel (53kg in the Melbourne Cup and 52.5 kg in the Caulfield Cup) was more the reason they were staying home. Kerr said he went to Australia with his father, Jim. in 1954 when they campaigned Surprise Ending, which was owned and trained by his father. The venture was successful. Surprise Ending won the O'Shea Stakes and the Quality Stakes, ran fifth in the Caulfield Cup but was "skittled" in the Melbourne Cup. Although weight problems prevented Dave Kerr from having an extensive riding career, he certainly made an early start.

He began his apprenticeship, while still at school, at 11 years of age. Nine months later he rode his first winner, on Beaugency at Motukarara. in October 1948.