Blinkers do the trick for Vrinsk

Press, 14 January 1986, Page 32

Blinkers do the trick for Vrinsk

By

ALEX McMILLAN

Hokitika

Vrinsk, a dismal failure when last in the Sweetman Corcoran Centennial Nuggets at Kumara on Saturday, staged a major form reversal when he led throughout to win the $7500 Hokitika Businesses Hokitika Cup, the feature event and first leg of the T.A.B. double at the Westland Racing Club’s meeting at Hokitika yesterday. The son of Bandmaster II was having his first win since entering the Riccarton stable of Dave Kerr late last year, having formerly been trained at Mosgiel by his part-owner, Mrs Di Bowbyes. Kerr was mystified by the gelding’s performance at Kumara when he drifted right out of contention 800 m

from home, after pacemaking. It was decided to try blinkers on the chestnut yesterday, gear in which he has been successful in the past, and the wisdom of the decision was soon painfully clear to Vrinsk’s struggling rivals as the six-year-old opened up a handy advantage in the middle stages of the 2025 m race.

Vrinsk, in the hands of the Riccarton apprentice, Jackie Oakeshott, lasted to win by a length from Kumara winner, Ike’s Revenge, which made up a huge slice of ground in the run home, with Frontline five lengths back, third. The well-supported North Island visitor, Gay King, was a plodding sixth in the holding ground, unable to improve from a rear position.

Vrinsk, which is likely to contest feature events at Omoto later this week, was recording his seventh career win yesterday for Mrs Bowbyes, who races him in partnership with her husband, John.

The Ray Pankhursttrained Cadmium completed a front-runners’ double when he held out a spirited late bid by Charlie’s Pal, with the favourite, Double Bank, a battling third, in the 1200 m Hilton Haulage Handicap. Cadmium, which was recording his eleventh win, was ridden by the stable apprentice, Austin Brown, who was registering his second riding success of the day, having ridden the Tauherenikau-trained leska, to clear maidens earlier in the day.