Buffy Beaufort wins first leg attractively

Press, 2 April 1985, Page 38

Buffy Beaufort wins first leg attractively

By

J. J, BOYLE

mßuffy Beaufort and the successful Auckland jockey, Peter Johnson, struck up a rewarding partnership at their first attempt in the first leg of the North Canterbury Racing Club’s TA.B. double yesterday. Buffy Beaufort was favourite for the Amalgamated Packaging Handicap, and left no one in doubt about the likely outcome from the time Johnson brought her forward for a challenge from a handy position near the home turn. The four-year-old, like Canterbury Belle a daughter of Beaufort Sea, kicked away to win by a length and three-quarters from Royal Sceptre, which was half a length better than All Trebles. This was Buffy Beaufort’s sixth win from 28 starts for her Riccarton owners, Tom and Greta Lalor and yesterday’s victory earned her a start in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s 3ZB Classic next Monday.

Peter Johnson secured the mount on Buffy Beaufort after it had been first offered to the Riccarton horseman, Chris Johnson. Canterbury belle’s regular rider turned the offer down, believing that Lucifer Lad would be running. Buffy Beaufort responds best to’ gentle handling, and when given plenty of space, and she lacked nothing on both counts yesterday. Peter Johnson settled her behind four others early and made no demands on her until they neared the home turn. Ariage and All Trebles were ahead of her there, but they could not find anything extra to cope with her challenge. Buffy Beaufort kicked clear in a few strides and won in style by a length and three-quarters from Royal Sceptre, which had to be brought wide to clear a tight spot on the inside. All Trebles was a meritorious third. But the others were a well-beaten lot, with Noble Boa the best of them.

Tirana improved a serviceable record for the Balcairn stable of hE partowner John Parsons when he beat Pendulyn by a neck and the others easily in the Lion Brown Handicap, second leg of the T.A.B. double. The four-year-old son of Balios was backed down to third favouritEm in thE, his sixth win from 15 starts. It was separated from hE previous victory at Riccarton in February only one one unplaced run, which was over more ground (1600 m at Wingatui. Pendulyn seemed likely to bring off a big surprise when she inched past the favourite, Tim Lea, fairly close to home, but she found Tirana's challenge a little more than she could manage. Charlie’s Pal, another of the little-fancied runners, got up close to home to cut Tim Lea out of third. General Beaufort had a promising fresh start with a fifth. Sea Poppy, the second favourite, tired from the front end to finEh sixth.