Uncertain future for Zara’s Star

Press, 24 February 1986, Page 30

Uncertain future for Zara’s Star

From ALEX McMILLAN Westport The racing future of the highly promising Tom Lalor-trained mare, Zara’s Star, appears very uncertain.

The daughter of Watelse suffered a leg injury as she pulled up after making a successful open-class debut in the Black Douglas Handicap at Wingatui last Tuesday, the win being her sixth in a brief career to date.

X-fays have revealed a serious crack in the four-year-old’s near foreleg cannon bone and Lalor says a screw will be inserted in her leg tomorrow.

Blovinski, the stable’s star middle-distance performer, has done well since his luckless run in the Dunedin Gold Cup and Lalor is aiming him towards a start in the Hororata Cup at Riccarton on March 14. The Balcaim trainer, John Parsons, ended a somewhat lean spell in recent weeks when he saddled the promising three-year-old filly, Lucky, to clear maidens at Westport on Saturday. Lucky, which had performed honestly for minor placings since joining Parsons’ stable earlier this season, raced without reward in a handful of starts for the Sydney trainer, Neville Begg, as a two-year-old but appears likely to develop into a useful stayer under Parsons’ care.

The grey daughter of Sound Reason and Fantan is held on a three year lease by Parsons and one of his employees, Mrs Karen McStay, _

Lucky was ridden on Saturday by Grant Davison, who was also successful on Gunyah Earl, another overdue maiden graduate. The wins advanced his season’s tally to 68,

Three young apprentice riders had days of varying fortune at Patterson Park on Saturday. Peter Jennings, aged 15, gained the first two wins of his career when he partnered Pender’s Girl and Charlie’s Pal, both trained by his Ashburton employer, Jim Lalor, to victory. ."<> Dean Morel, attached to the Harris stable at Tuahiwl but formerly of Westport, had a rather forgettable first day of riding. Morel partnered a stable runner, Aussie Bound, to finish a close second in the Majestic Horse Floats 1200, but the three-year-old was later relegated to third for causing interference to Zena Royal (promoted to second) early in the run home. Morel was found guilty on a charge of careless riding and fined $5O.

Morel had further misfortune two races later when he parted company with another stable runner, Tuahiwi Girl, before the start of the D.B. Draught Handicap. The Attalas filly ran a full lap of the Patterson Park course at high speed before a hedge suddenly halted her progress. The three-year-old was a late scratching from the event. It is doubtful, however, if either Jennings or Morel will have as lasting a memory of Saturday’s meeting as will Kate. Crowe, who is indentured to the Leithfield trainer, Neil Coulbeck.

Crowe, aged 17, partnered El Rana, at odds of better than 50-to-one, to a narrow win in the final event on the programme, the P.D.L. Westport Handicap, but had an agonising wait for the judge’s placings to become official as an inquiry was conducted regarding possible interference by the winner with about 1000 m to run. Evidence was inconclusive and the charge dismissed, enabling Crowe to savour her first success.