Lucky Beau and Bo Diddley impress

Press, 27 February 1984, Page 28

Lucky Beau and Bo Diddley impress

From

ALEX McMILLAN

Westport Lucky Beau and Bo Diddley caught the eye with impressive victories by wide margins in minor events at Westport on Saturday. Lucky Beau, an attractive trial winner at Riccarton the previous Sunday, was backed as if unbeatable in the 1200 m Patterson Park Maiden No. 1, and at no stage gave his army of backers any anxiety about their inspired support for the Beaufort Sea four-year-old.

The bay jumped best from an inside draw and was always nicely clear for Bruce Smith, winning under a hold by four lengths in a useful Imin 12.7 s from

Sweet and Gay, with a shorter break to Waimea Countess. Prepared at Rangiora by one of his part-owners, Graham Thompson, Lucky Beau has not accepted for the second day of the meeting but should not prove hard to place to advantage in coming weeks. While Canterbury stables provided the winners of the first eight races on Saturday’s programme, it was Bo Diddley, from the Richmond stable of John Healey, which registered the most impressive win of the day, in the final event, the Ngakawau Handicap (1500 m Handy from the outset, the Beaufort Sea gelding was always travelling a treat for Gary Blair, who put the issue well beyond

doubt when he urged his mount forward from a trailing position to assume control 600 m out. Blair was confident enough to allow himself the luxury of a quick glance over his shoulder early in the run home, allowing Bo Diddley to coast over the final 100 m after appraising his favourable position. Four lengths clear in a canter at the finish, Bo Diddley was still able to record an outstanding time of imin 31s for the 1500 m journey, thus equalling the track record shared by Nosinalong and Regal Red. It is reasonable to assume that with even slight resistance from one of his rivals the winner could have posted a time well inside the track record.