Starjo upsets in Derby

Press, 28 December 1985, Page 24

Starjo upsets in Derby

NZPA-AAP Perth A battling hobby trainer upset the millionaires with Starjo’s courageous win in the sAust3so,ooo ($72,500) Channel 7 Australian Derby (2400 m at Ascot on Thurs-. day. Jim Dickson, aged 45, who works in a Perth fruit market, shattered the hopes of the merchant banker, Laurie Connell, for an sAust3so,ooo bonus by training the winner. Connell’s colt, Rant and Rave, finished a tired third behind Starjo and the Sydney galloper, Beelbangera. Rant and Rave was the favourite, and looked to

have the race at his mercy with the shock withdrawal of the second favourite, Roman Artist. But nothing could detract from the performance of the winner, which came from well back early to score a meritorious win. Ridden by David Rudland, aged. 26, Starjo (Star Way— Ali Jo) got up in the last stride to pip Beelbangera, ridden by the veteran, John Miller, by a head. Rant and Rave, after looking certain to win with 50m to go, weakened to run third, a short half head back. Dickson has been training

for ten years and was beside himself with emotion in the winner’s circle. He bought the colt by Star Way for SNZ37BO at the Waikato yearling sales — “because I liked the sire.” He sold Starjo to Brian Mews, who is his boss at the fruit market. “I gave him a good chance in the race today, in spite of his poor run at Pinjarra last week,” Dickson said. He said that because of the colt’s joint trouble, he would send Starjo for a spell and miss the rich Autumn racing in the eastern states.