Waimate start likely for Handsome Heir

Press, 29 June 1983, Page 27

Waimate start likely for Handsome Heir

By

J. J. BOYLE

Handsome Heir could be back into racing at the Waimate Hunt Club’s meeting — hopefully as a reformed character. His wayward manners in the starting gate sidelined him from racing last autumn, but he has shown all the signs of a reformed character in recent tests before the Christchurchbased stipendiary steward, Mr Bruce Craik. Now Handsome Heir's Riccarton trainer, John Bourne, awaits an official all clear from the New Zealand Racing Conference for the North island-owned chestnut, winner of one race and placed in others, including the Ashburton Cup. earlier in the season. Handsome Heir finished his work on the No. 1 grass by running 800 m easily in 52.4 at Riccarton yesterday. Later his stablemate.

Donizetti, went with Uncle Albert for an easy 800 m. They were restricted to 53.6. Donizetti showed high promise in a light programme of spring racing for two wins and a third, and if he has made average improvement he could be one of the brightest talents amongst the South Island three-year-olds in the new season. Donizetti might reappear at the Waimate Hunt meeting if the footing is good. Kusadasi, a winner for Donizetti’s owner, Mr Cyril Smith, from Jim Tomkinson’s stable last spring, but sidelined by injury at the North Canterbury meeting in March, has been active again for some weeks, and will get chances to atone for opportunities missed over the Riccarton winter carnival. He won brilliantly fresh up at the Banks Peninsula

meeting last October, beating Astral Row. which soon after captured a hat-trick for Peter Jones’s stable. Astral Row was put aside for a freshener in the autumn, but is active again, and will run in sprint events at the Grand National meeting. Peter Jones has entered Third Degree, Damazam. and the two-year-olds Auk Princess and His Latest for the Wellington winter meeting. He does not plan to take both two-year-olds to Trentham, but will be guided by their progress in the next week or so. Damazam will be stepped up to a middle distance at the South Canterburj - meeting next week, and if he satisfies his trainer with that run he will go to Trentham for the Parliamentary and the Winter Oats.