Riccarton trainer carving brilliant Guineas record

Press, 10 November 1983, Page 27

Riccarton trainer carving brilliant Guineas record

By

J. J. BOYLE

After back-to-back victories by Clansman and Gaffa, the Riccarton trainer, Dave Kerr, is making a brilliant contribution to the short history of the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas.

Gaffa won the eleventh renewal of the classic in style in Kerr’s own colours yesterday, to bring his record to four wins and two seconds from as many starts. His time of 1:35.42 for the 1600 m is a race record, and his performance interested his jockey the 23-year-old Grant Cooksley, of Takanini in any opportunities that will be offering to continue the partnership in summer classics including the New Zealand Derby in Auckland. Cooksley has ridden Gaffa twice for as many wins.

“He could be even better next year as he strengthens,” Cooksley said

yesterday. “He relaxed well to his race, and ran it out strongly. “I’ll be pleased to get the chance to ride him again in Auckland,” said Cooksley who was engaged at the week-end to ride Gaffa after the My Friend Paul gelding had finished second in a minor race on the opening day of the New Zealand Cup meeting.

Gaffa is to run in the Canterbury Gold Cup on the final day of the meeting, then Dave Kerr will do some planning for a North Island summer campaign, perhaps on the same lines as the one he followed with

Clansman last year. Kerr bred Gaffa from Kara Sea, which is about to foal to Imperial Guard and will probably return to the guineas winner’s sire, My Friend Paul.

Gaffa is a third-genera-tion descendant of Surprise Ending, which was bought cheaply out of the Trentham sale ring by Dave Kerr’s father, the late Jim Kerr and was one of the best three-year-old stayers of her year. Sut-prise Ending won the New Zealand St Leger and Great Northern Oaks in the autumn of 1954 and Gaffa’s victory in familiar colours yesterday brought some

poignant moments for members of the family, including the Mr Jim Kerr’s widow. Dave Kerr, who rode his first winner when he was 12 and was later given a racing partnership in Surprise Ending, was his usual cryptic self after yesterday’s win.

“Not a bad horse, and a good rider,” he commented. Gaffa was backed down to second favouritism for the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas.

The position of favourite looked wide open after Dun Allen damaged a cannon bone when working on the plough at Riccarton yesterday morning.

In his absence Lacka Reason was installed favourite. This Sound Reason colt from Awapuni gave it a good try for the globetrotting David Peake, closing gamely to the end to cut the pacemaking Tanalyse out of second by half a length. Pronto King the Dunedin Guineas winner, showed some courage under difficulties to finish fourth. He hung badly on John Dowling in the straight. Donizetti, from Riccarton, picked up several positions for fifth and Retsina did well for sixth after being well buried in the pack on the home turn.