Sovereign Charles ends racing

Press, 27 April 1983, Page 38

Sovereign Charles ends racing

Special correspondent Dunedin Sovereign Charles, the capable sprinter and half brother to the big winners, Battle Eve and Commissionaire, has been retired from pacing. He is under offer as a stallion prospect. Sovereign Charles has been dogged by tendon trouble since he injured his leg on a chain as a two-year-old. Now seven, he last raced at the New Zealand Cup meeting in November. He won his previous start with an impressive performance over 1400 m at Motukarara. He won eight races and recorded eight minor placings in 39 starts for Arthur Didham, the Wingatui trainer who prepared him in partnership with his son, Leslie. Didham, sen. bought him privately from the An- , croft Stud, Matamata. Summer Eve, the dam of Sovereign Charles, Commissionaire and Battle Eve, has left another good winner in Australia, Major Battle.

Arthur Didham travelled to Australia last week to resume training Noble Boa and Jeweller, which he campaigned in Melbourne

last spring. Noble Jewel and Briny Girl, members of the Didham team, have been put aside to spell. Briny Girl is. raced by Albert Meo, of Sydney, who races Noble Boa and II Vento.

Copernicus, a winner at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Easter meeting and the promising Justa Pique, have been put aside by Arthur Didham, jun. Berkowitz, a member of the stable, looks to be thriving on a course of hurdling. A winner over 2400 m at Wingatui in December, he will race on the flat at the Otago meeting on Monday. Jim Moffat, who completes his time later this year, has transferred to Didham from Brian Anderton. Moffat has ridden 63 winners.

Security Note, winner of five races and stakes placed, has been retired to stud by her owner and trainer, Bob Heasley. A six-year-old mare by Gate Keeper from Khairuzah, Security Note finished second to Powley in the South Island Thoroughbred Stakes in 1981 and third to

Sea Princess and Nottingham Note in the same race last year. Another of her placings was a third to Diplomante and Magellan in the Lumley Handicap at Riccarton. Darnley Flight, the winner of seven races including the 1982 Great' Easter Handicap at Riccarton and some $28,000 in stakes for the Heasley stable, will be let down for stud after racing at Riccarton next month. Owned by Mick Hogg, of Dunedin, and Bruce Sabitson, of Mosgiel, she will be mated with Tawfiq in the spring. Turkabelle, a winner for the stable this season, has also been sent to stud. The stable has been further depleted. Kade has been put out of training with a virus. Scorcher, Sovereign Oaks and Nearco Command are being spelled because of blood disorders. Out Of The Red has been turned out to recover from injuries he sustained when badly galloped on at Beaumont. Wins at Cromwell and Oamaru in successive starts showed the Noble Bijou four-year-old in a favourable light.