Sequence ends but little stature lost

Press, 24 February 1986, Page 30

Sequence ends but little stature lost

By

J. J. BOYLE

Courier Bay was one of the more expensive failures on Air New Zealand Stakes day at the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday.

After wins at his three previous starts the Taranaki-owned and trained Diplomatic Agent gelding dominated betting on the Vancouver Handicap but was beaten into fourth.

The danger signals were apparent early in the race. Courier Bay seemed Intent on a tug of war with his rider, David Walsh, and made such extravagant demands on his store of energy that when he came off the bit

near the home turn he had only gameness left to fall back on. Gameness alone was not sufficient for such an occasion. But it should stand him in good stead when he learns to run in more relaxed style in big autumn races, which could include a programme in Sydney. The Takanini jockey, David Peake, was an efficient partner for Quibble in achieving a front-run-ning victory in the Vancouver Handicap. Derriana and Silver Rhapsody ' edged Courier Bay back to fourth. The Vancouver Handicap was Bi Noble’s first race since joining the Takanini stable of Ray

Verner. Prince Majestic’s Otagoowned brother could not find anything like the pace required for a fastrun metric mile after dwelling at the start, but that was in character for the four-year-old, which was unable to break through for his first win in the south until he was stepped up a middle distance. Verner has entered Bi Noble for autumn races in Sydney, but on Saturday he was unsure about a campaign across the Tasman that early. Verner made spectacular hit-and-run Australian raids with Bi Noble’s distinguished elder brother, Prince Majestic.