American inquiries made for Ashburton winners

Press, 7 September 1983, Page 40

American inquiries made for Ashburton winners

By J. J. BOYLE

Attempts were made to purchase the Riccarton stablemates, Charles Beaufort and Clansman, for American interests before they won the Ashburton T.A.B. double yesterday. The Levin trainer, Mick Preston, telephoned the Riccarton trainer, Dave Kerr, yesterday morning, inquiring if connections of his stable’s talented four-year-olds would be interested in sales to the United States. Preston also made inquiries about Gaffa, which started a memorable, day for the Kerr stable yesterday by winning the John Grigg Stakes in his trainer’s colours.

The only other runner for the Kerr stable at yesterday’s meeting was McKendrick, which finished second in the hurdles. Charles Beaufort and Clansman returned a double

dividend of $7.10 with their handsome victories yesterday.

Charles Beaufort brought up his fifth successive win when he triumphed in the Ashburton Cup. “He’s improved since he won at Oamaru,” the Wingatui jockey, Ali Robinson, remarked after he brought the sturdy bay home on top by two lengths and a quarter from Lord of the Dance. Robinson settled Charles Beaufort forward of the middle of the field in a rails position, moved him away from the inside to clear a tiring runner near the 800 metres, and had him nicely poised for a challenge on the home turn. For the second time at the meeting Lord of the Dance started his .run from dead last, and it was one of the minor wonders of the race that he could wind up so brilliantly. But by the

time he got back into the race Robinson and Charles Beaufort had flown the coop.

Handsome Heir made it an all riccarton finish by finishing third. Lord of the Dance’s spectacular late charge cost Handsome Heir second by only a nose.

Clansman looked the next best thing to a handicapping certainty in the Hurley Mazda Handicap, and easily handled the demands of a sprint race fresh up. However, the payout on the race was delayed while the judicial committee considered a protest lodged by David Wadley, the rider of Sharlanza (fourth). Clansman, Sharlanza, and Beauzia got into close quarters up the straight, but the incident was not considered serious enough to affect the result.

Clansman, also the mount of Ali Robinson, settled to

bis race in the fourth line. Astral Row was all hustle and bustle out in front, but Clansman had the class to mount a finishing run the others found irresistible and completed the 1200 m almost at leisure in the smart time of Imin 10s.

Mr Don Cameron’s big chestnut recorded the first two wins of his career at the corresponding Ashburton meeting last year, then went on to win a feature race for three-year-olds at Rangiora and then the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas.

He will be given another chance to show his sprinting prowess in the Timaru Racing Club’s weight-for-age feature race next week, and he could have a rewarding spring and summer in New Zealand before a Queensland campaign planned for him next year.