Paul Richards to ride Noble Note in Brabazon

Press, 23 July 1986, Page 45

Paul Richards to ride Noble Note in Brabazon

By

J. J. BOYLE

The versatile southern rider, Paul Richards, has been engaged to ride Noble Note in the Ashley Meats Brabazon Handicap at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting at Riccarton on Saturday. Noble Note’s regular rider, Grant Davison, returned from Brisbane at the week-end, but he is under suspension, and unable to take advantage of what would have been a full book of mounts at the Christchurch Hunt meeting. Davison will be back in business before the AIC Winter Cup on the third day of the Grand National carnival on August 9, and has been offered the ride on Noble Note in the $40,000 metric mile. Noble Note’s trainer, John Bourne, said yesterday he expected a decision from Davison by the week-end. With Chris Johnson also under suspension and no 'ikelihood of North Island

riders being available for the Christchurch Hunt meeting, trainers are having their difficulties in their search for experienced horsemen for Saturday’s racing. Johnson is under suspension until August 16 for a weight-related offence at Washdyke on Saturday, but he has appealed against the length of that term, and the appeal will be heard by the Canterbury District Committee this afternoon. Noble Note, Black Arrow, and Reingard, entrants for the Brabazon Handicap, captured much of the attention in training on a rain-affected No. 6 grass at Riccarton yesterday.

Noble Note and Black Arrow were paired to run from the 600 metres in 41.8. There appeared to be little to choose between them. Garth Jackson will decide about a Brabazon start for Black Arrow after he studies the

weights this morning. Reingard was given the best of the footing when assigned 1000 metres, much of it along the back straight. He finished at the 600 m in 1.9. Marche Noir sprinted from the 1200 m in 1:24.3, finishing keenly with 600 m in 39.8. Donizetti and Advocate completed their 600 m in 40. Jan Cameron has been engaged to ride Donizetti in the Brabazon. Blovinski was restricted to 42.8. He had a slight setback last week, and had to miss a start at Washdyke, but has shaken off the trouble. Blovinski’s stablemates, Our Rob and Elitist Streak, recorded 42.4 for their 600 m. Frontiersman and Tidemark followed in 40.8. Frontiersman had an unrewarding campaign in Brisbane, but the ability he has shown on soft tracks could be employed to some effect at the Riccarton carnival.