Youthful Ballajoy too good for rivals

Press, 12 October 1985, Page 26

Youthful Ballajoy too good for rivals

By

J. J. BOYLE

Ballajoy left a youthful stamp of excellence on the Timaru Racing Club’s Woodfield Stakes at Washdyke yesterday. The only three-year-old in the field, the Gore-trained filly showed formidable front-running powers to win in style by a length and three quarters. She scorched over the 1200 m in Imin 9.65, a record gallop for the course. This was Ballajoy’s second win from four starts for the Gore trainer, Alan Borthwick, who races the Balidon filly in partnership with his wife, Cindy. The Borthwicks bred Ballajoy from Dan’s Joy, winner of three races, including the Geraldine

Stakes. Dan’s Joy’s dam was Dan’s Pride, an Ayrshire Bard mare the Borthwicks bought for only $BOO, with ideas of preparing her for a jumping career. Ballajoy was ridden at 0.75 kilos overweight yesterday by Paul Richards, but he considered his self-denial in the last week or so, was well worth the while, after he brought the filly home a comfortable winner over Peat yesterday. Peat was extending her spring record as one of the bridesmaids of Canterbury racing with yet another minor placing yesterday. She could not find the early pace to get away from the tail end line in the first 400 m, but closed strongly in the straight to cut Jonny Alone out of

second. “She needs 1400 m the way she’s racing now,” said her rider, Grant Davison. The Waimate-trained Beaufort Sea mare would get her chance at that distance in the weight-for-age Evergreen Stakes at Hawera later this month. Jonny Alone was a clear third and it was not at all a bad run for he had been three wide around the home turn. Black Arrow, the lone Riccarton-trained runner, was fourth in a gap of a length and a quarter. Royal Adder made easy work of winning the second leg, the Hocking Travel Handicap under a top weight of 55kg. The Orari-trained In the Purple mare came from the

tail-end line and won by a length from Donizetti, which had been alongside her in the running until they were called on for something extra.

Royal Adder was ridden by Jim Pankhurst, whose cousin, Ray, trains the six-year-old mare, an entrant for the Chemico New Zealand Cup next month. Donizetti found enough to beat another Riccartontrained contender, Tiger Bow, by half a length for second.

Tiger Bow had his chance in the third line and had a battle to save third from Sir Kelly.

Noble Jewel was unable to quicken from a rails position and was a well beaten sixth.