Paddy Busuttin has memorable day

Press, 10 November 1986, Page 31

Paddy Busuttin has memorable day

By

J. J. BOYLE

The fattest fish eluded his net, but the Foxton trainer Paddy Busuttin still made Riccarton’s racing memorable on Saturday by landing five prizes, four of them at successive attempts. That’s Devotion, So Certain, Crimesta, Merger, and Serene Pulse picked up $22,800 for winning five supporting races on the card, but Busuttin could be excused for reflecting that his four-year-old Gallipoli would have

returned just as much if he had won the Benson and Hedges Handicap. Gallipoli had to settle for fifth in the first leg of the T.A.B. double, for which he was second favourite. That performance yielded $BOO leaving Kentish as the only stable runner not to- make a return. Four of the five Busuttin winners had the skilful assistance of Garry Phillips, whose remarkable strike rate at Riccarton is in no small measure attributable to his patience

and the importance of getting the last run in down that long straight. But when finishing powers were looked for in the 2500 m Benson and Hedges, the strongest to respond was The Filbert’s half-brother Red Hawk, a five-year-old racing in Christchurch interests from the Hawera stable of Don Couchman.

With patient handling from Ross Elliot, a 16-year-old apprentice from Levin, Red Hawk drew generously enough on

reserves of stamina under his light weight to beat the favourite Del’s Delight by a length.

Giveaway, another lightweight, and Secured Deposit contributed to a spectacular line-up for the minors by finishing almost in line with Del’s Delight. This was Red Hawk’s fourth win from 16 starts for Messrs John Hughes, John Taggart, and Stewart Taylor, and he is now becoming something of a bargain for the $12,000 he cost as a yearling at the

Waikato sales. The Benson and Hedges has given some valuable guidelines for the New Zealand Cup, but Red Hawk’s first try at 3200 m might be delayed until the Wellington Cup in January.

William Chua, the owner-trainer of the diminutive Del’s Delight, will not decide about a New Zealand Cup start for his Pevero gelding until later in the week.

Courier Bay completed a double for Taranaki stables with a comfortable

win at the expense of the other sprinters in the Printpac Handicap. This was Courier Bay’s first win since he triumphed in the Black Douglas Stakes in Brisbane in June and it heightens interest in his expected clash with Canterbury Belle in The Stewards on New Zealand Cup day next Saturday. Courier Bay’s successful partner on Saturday was Noel Harris. The best of his rivals was Orangeade, winner of the corresponding race last year.