Maggie Bee wins for Karen Parker

Press, 22 July 1986, Page 40

Maggie Bee wins for Karen Parker

Special correspondent

Auckland

A temporary licenceholder, Karen Parker, brought off one of the greatest achievements of women in racing when Maggie Bee won the Taumarunui Cup on Saturday.

The success in the A.G.G-sponsored race at the Taumarunui Racing Club’s meeting at Te Rapa, which came on her 29th birthday, left the Cambridge woman in a state of stunned happiness.

She had allowed Maggie Bee some chance, of course, but she simply could not believe her eyes when the mare, ridden by Gary Stewart, reached the post first from the favourite, Joal, and Major Drive.

When the siren sounded minutes afterwards it was as if to confirm to Karen Parker that she had, indeed, been dreaming and now would come the rude awakening. Happily for Karen Parker, the announcement which followed informed there would be an inquiry into alleged interference by Joal to Run For Cover (fifth) at the 200 m.

In the event, the judge’s platings remained, the judicial committee deciding that while some interference had occurred, Run For Cover contributed to it by running in as Joal moved out Karen Parker was granted a temporary licence to train and given a share in the horse, when her mother, Mrs Margaret Parker, the owner-trainer of Maggie Bee, left in May for a twomonth overseas holiday. In her younger days she rode ponies and learned a thing or two about training through helping her father, the late Mr Don Parker, who bred, raced and trained other members of Maggie Bee’s family.

But she was out of the racing scene for many years and it was only when she returned to her mother’s property last October she became acquainted with Maggie Bee.

Mrs Parker- was in Paris on Saturday. Karen Parker reached her by telephone yesterday morning and said her mother was pleased as punch and so proud, and tearful as well.. Mrs Parker returns home next Saturday and then her daughter’s licence expires. The home-coming promises to be joyous.

Karen Parker has lined up Maggie Bee only three times. The mare had not raced for six months when she won a sprint at Ellerslie on June 7. Her next race, over Saturday’s distance of 2000 tn, at Ellerslie on July 8, brought a third placing.

The caretaker-trainer was not prepared on Saturday to accept too much credit for these results. Her mother, she said, had got Maggie Bee to within two or three weeks of being ready to race. It was Karen Parker, though, who chose Maggie Bee’s programme and fitted her for it, and who had the worry, for a week or so leading up to the Taumarunui Cup, of Maggie Bee’s stone bruise which meant some of her preparation consisted of swimming. “She had one gallop between races,” said Karen Parker. “A rather lazy 1400 m last Thursday. Fortunately, she doesn’t need a lot of work — she’s not hard to train.”

Maggie Bee had to be thoroughly fit to win on Saturday. After being trapped wide early, Stewart elected to drop her back in the field and let her relax. At the 1400 m she was second-last She was not much closer at the 800 m, but soon afterwards she began to accelerate on a run that saw her loop the field and charge to the lead 200 m out With some 50m left Maggie Bee had just about run herself out and Joal, chasing hard, began closing, as did Major Drive, now clear of traffic problems encountered earlier in the run home.

But, for all that, Maggie Bee never looked like buckling and she won with a little bit to spare, even if Karen Parker could not quite believe it Upali ran well above expectations for fourth, the main disappointments being Avitt (10th), Great Estate (11th) and Kerykeion (I3th). All had their chances.

Plans for Maggie Bee, a rising six-year-old by Brazen Bay from Vicki Jo, are uncertain. It is possible she will be put to stud this year, though having had only 32 starts there is still a bright future for her on the racetrack. ■