Chance ride proves profitable

Press, 24 January 1984, Page 22

Chance ride proves profitable

From

J. J. BOYLE

Wellington Gary Phillips did not have a mount fpr yesterday’s Summer Handicap at Trentham when he went to see yearlings paraded on Sunday afternoon. However, a chance meeting with the Stratford trainer, David Eager, he was engaged for Beaver Boy, and that four-year-old ran out a comfortable winner in the first leg of the Wellington Racing Club’s T.A.B. double.

Phillips was told when he was engaged for Beaver Boy that the Valuta gelding could “hang on a bit” but he was agreeably surprised to find yesterday that he had a relaxed runner in his hands as he loped along about the

middle of the field. “He pulled for a few strides near the 1400 metres, but he settled nicely again,” Phillips said after the race. “Then when I gave him a couple of cracks at the 200 metres he almost took off from under me.” Beaver Boy is officially a four-year-old, but he was a very late foal, making his appearance late in a summer. That accounts for the fact that he made a delayed entry into racing. He pulled too hard to last 3200 m in the Auckland Cup, but won at a middle distance on the final day of the Avondale Cup meeting. His win yesterday was in a weaker field, and he placed a firm stamp of authority on the race. Idle Fancy, the closest to

Beaver Boy at the finish of yesterday’s race, lasted better than he did over 1600 m

when he ran from the front end on Saturday. Beau Charade finished third after being given every chance in a trailing spot, but the topweight, Elmar, had something to do from the back in the last 800 m.

Camille’s last stride win in the Visitors’ Handicap gave her rider, Barry Griffin, more pleasurable memories of Anniversary Day racing than those of the corresponding day three years ago. Griffin received serious injuries in a race fall at the 1981 Ashhurst meeting and it was doubtful for a time if he would ever resume race riding.

However, he decided to continue his apprenticeship

with his father, the Awapuni-based Murray Griffin, after a break of about two years. Barry Griffin, now aged 19, is due to come out of his apprenticeship next month, but he plans to sign up for another term. Camille’s last stride win yesterday was achieved at the expense of Mac’s Gamble, which appeared to have a second win at the meeting within safe reach 50m from the post. Reutemann, trying for his fourth successive win, gave it a good try in finishing third. Coronal weakened to fourth after pacemaking. The Australian visitor, Veloso, drifted to the tail end straight away, and never rallied, beating only one of his rivals.