Fifth time unlucky for Wayne Harris?

Press, 28 October 1982, Page 26

Fifth time unlucky for Wayne Harris?

From ALLAN BROWN Melbourne A Sydney jockey, Wayne Harris, could be unlucky for a fifth time over a mount in the Melbourne Cup. Harris, booked to ride Lancelotto. one of five horses from Tommy Smith’s stable in the big race next Tuesday, goes before the stewards in Sydney this afternoon charged with careless riding at Warwick Farm on Tuesday. Harris was able to ride Lancelotto in the Werribee Cup yesterday during an adjournment of a hearing into the charge, but made clear his concern over the outcome of the inquiry this afternoon. If he is suspended it would probably be for a period that would take in next Tuesday. Harris has already been prevented four times- by misadventure of one sort or another from riding in the Melbourne Cup. In 1978 he was engaged for Favoloso which failed to survive a ballot following final declarations. Two years ago he suffered

a riding injury which had him out of action at the time of the big race and on the two other occasions he was unable to ride, being under suspension. Smith said yesterday that he would not engage another rider for Lancelotto in the Cup until after today’s inquiry but he was casting about for a suitable one. News of the injury to Queen’s Road had Smith thinking of Gary Murphy, however should Queen's Road not start Murphy will almost certainly ride trainer Tom Hughes’s other runner, Mr Digby. The trouble with Queen's Road — she was favouring a front leg after galloping on Tuesday — is heartbreaking for Hughes, one of Victoria's best trainers, who has yet to win a Melbourne Cup but went so close with Salamander three years ago. It will be especially hard to accept, coming right on top of the injury to another of his team, the former New Zealand three-year-old. Anchor In, for which Hughes

had high hopes of a reallv good showing in the V.R.C. Derby on Saturday. Hughes spent yesterday applying ice packs to the near foreleg of Queen's Road but said he would not know until today just how serious the trouble was. Smith was caused further worry yesterday. where Cup riders are concerned, by Peter Cook's spill at the Warwick Farm meeting. Cook is engaged for Just a Dash, on which he won the Melbourne Cup last year, and Smith expects him to ride the horse in the Dalgety Handicap at Flemington on Saturday. Though stiff and more than a little sore yesterday. Cook was very hopeful he would be fit for Saturday. Malcolm Johnston, who has the regular mount on Kingston Town, resumed race riding at Randwick yesterday after a suspension — his twenty-sixth. He was expected in Melbourne last night to put Kingston Town through his paces at Flemington this morning.