Dig In form runner with in-form jockey at Kumara

Press, 9 January 1987, Page 19

Dig In form runner with in-form jockey at Kumara

By

J. J. BOYLE

Dig In is in form to extend a successful holiday record for the Riccarton jockey, Chris Johnson, in the historic Kumara Nuggets at the Kumara Racing Club’s meeting tomorrow.

Johnson won the Kurow Cup on Dig In on December 29. In the meantime he has won the Invercargill Gold Cup on Sea Swift and made an impressive start on the West Coast January circuit by landing three winners and the T.A.B. double at Reefton on Wednesday. Dig In is eight, and winner of 13 races, most of them short of middledistances. These last few months he has been trained at

Riccarton by Myles Johnson, and has been carefully brought to a stage where he could land one of the valuable middledistance races and build on a record that developed promisingly with early wins and a highly creditable placing in the Two Thousand Guineas.

Riccarton will put other strong form contenders into tomorrow’s race. Nomusa is this season’s Waikouaiti Cup winner; Aegean Princess won in style at Timaru in her only previous holiday appearance; Serene Pulse eclipsed a field of lowergraded middle-distance performers at Southland last Saturday.

With the versatile Graikos, the Reefton

winners Charlie’s Pal and Palastone, and the sprightly veteran Dreamville also engaged, the race presents a. wide range of fancies with obvious appeal for trifecta devotees. The Woodbourne Handicap, second leg of the T.A.B. double, cannot offer matching depth of form and if Tirana and Eridick run up to their best they could quinella the 1100 m event. Sound Note will be promoted up the list of fancies if it comes up wet. Her latest race was at a middle distance, but her most recent race on the West Coast was as a sprinter, and it yielded a close second to Beau Magnum at Greymouth.

Race 6 D, TF 3.10 SWEETMAN CORCORAN GOLD NUGGETS $15,000; 2000 m 1 2341 Nornuu 7 G. Davison 55.5 Carried 2.5 kg less to win Waikouaiti Cup. Respected on that form. 2 0665 Royal Adder 13 B. Smith 55.0 Failed in weaker company in Reefton Cup. 3 6541 Dig In 3 C. Johnson 54.0 Attractive winner of Kurow Cup, and could be still improving. 4 1644 Graikoa 1 R. Hewinson 53.5 Battling fourth in Reefton Cup. This field stronger, but could be improved by Wednesday’s race. 5 0841 Aegean Princess 6.... R. McCann 52.0 Attractive winner at Timaru last time out. Top chance if track remains firm for this. 6 163 Dresmville 5 J. Jamieson 52.0 Won fresh-up at Hokitika in November. Good third behind Bacton Abbey 2000 m, Greymouth, December 1. 7 7331 Serene Pulse 2 S. Reid 52.0 Easy winner class 3,2200 m at Southland last Saturday. 8 5531 Charlie’s Pal 12 53.0 Advanced in favour for this with Reefton Cup win on Wednesday. 9 9077 Chemainus 9 51.5 One of the failures at Reefton. Hard to fancy. 10 0848 His Latest 16 R. Bruce 51.5 Latest form holds out little hope. 11 5331 Palastone 10 P. Falveys2.s Improved good record on West Coast courses by winning over 1400 m at Reefton. 12 5452 Taxtale 8 P. Atkinson 51.5 Ran Charlie’s Pal to a nose in Reefton Cup. This is harder. 13 7357 Ariage 11 51.0 Was resuming when down the track in weight-for-age Timaru Cup last month.- Not the worst if he gets back into this field. 14 5872 Ike’s Revenge 4 S. McCann 51.0 Found Aegean Princess too good at Timaru. 15 020 Miracle Mouse 15 51.0 Veteran with improvement to find to measure up here. 16 0007 Marche Noir 14 50.0 Out of form. Emergencies: Ike’s Revenge, Ariage, Miracle Mouse, Marche Noir. Race 7 D, T 3.50 WOODBOURNE TAVERN HANDICAP $6500; 1100 m 1 2592 Tirana 7 B. Smith 57.0 Having his first race after a freshener when second at Reefton. 3 8250 Natural Star 11 C. Johnson 55.0 Weak finisher after being forced wide at Kurow. 4 Our Bismark 9 . . . .K. Prendergast 55.0 First start since last May. Others preferred. 5 6140 Eridick 10 G. Davison 54.5 Win three starts back was over 1400 m at Greymouth. Has sharp speed and could go close. 6 3426 Sound Note 3 R. McCann 53.5 Back to sprinting after failure over 2000 m at Riccarton last month. 7 6166 Puffasmoke 2 52.5 Unplaced in weaker field at Reefton. 9 1209 Aussie Bound 1 J. Jamieson 51.5 Recent form offers little hope.

10 5735 Femdale Lass 12 51.5 Hard- to fancy after unplaced run against lesser lights at Reefton. 11 77 Godunov 8. . J. Fallen 51:5 Lead-up form not encouraging. 12 4360 Jet In 13 51.5 Failed at Reefton. 13 0126 Smooth Shiela 6 D. Wadley 51.5 Hard to fancy at this level. 14 0071 Valley of Wales 4. ..... R. Bruce 51.5 Won on easy track at Greymouth; Others preferred if ground is firm for this. Scratched: Beau Magnum, Blazing Bernie.

Jetbet: 3 Race 1 12.10 THE MAZDA DASH $4000; 1100m 1 Canape 5 . C. Johnson 55.0 2 3233 Castle Prince 16 ... . . J. Woledge 55.0 3 0026 Cinda Bella 11 .J. Jamieson 55.0 4 Ebony Light 10 R. Hewinson 55.0 6 00 Implicit 8 . R. McCann 55.0 7 73 Liability 3 . S. McCann 55.0 8 Magnetizer 12 J. Oakeshott 55.0 10 Palteen Down 7 . . R. Bruce 55.0 11 970 Rome 4 . . .B. Smith 55.0 14 0084 Tiny Tai 14 . . P. Falvey 55.0 15 Videlcos Boy 6 . G. Davison 55.0 16 Balmax 9 . P. Atkinson 52.0 Scratched: Gene, Nicodemus. Santango, Schweppe Step. Race 2 12.45 THE MEAT TAVERN DASH $4000; 1100m 1 Ashway 3 . S. McCann 55.0 2 850 Another Dollar 4 ... . . P. Atkinson 55.0 3 0 Bundi Road 7 55.0 4 Critique 14 . C. Johnson 55.0 6 8065 Lady Loretta 16 .J. Jamieson 55.0 7 0 Little Drummer Giri 5 . . J. Woledge 55.0 8 4005 Micro Dot 12 . . .B. Smith 55.0 9 5072 Ngapu Tai 15 . G. Davison 55.0 10 90 Palatoga 13 J. Oakeshott 55.0 11 Regina May 6 . A. Hunsche 55.0 12 Shine In Chime 10. . . . R. McCann 55.0 13 0046 The Nearco Way 1. . . R. Hewinson 55.0 16 0 Bello Air 2 52.0 Emergency: Belle Air. Scratched: Graceful Rose, Tunnel Proof, Wendy Jane. Race 3 1.20 MCVICAR FAMILY DASH $4500; 1100m 1 6323 Nuclear Rocket 15 . . . . A. Hunsche 57.0 3 12 Blake’s Folly 9 . D. Wadley 55.5 4 7231 Blue Willow 14 55.5 5 4430 Bundi Bid 2 . C. Johnson 55.5

6 317 Kingsley Lady 4 . . .K. Prendergast 55.5 . G. Davison 55.5 7 Marwitzer 1 9 1080 Quiet Riot 13 . K. Kenyon 55.5 10 5619 Rakau Reefton 10 . . . 55.5 11 Water Waggon 3 . . . . . R. McCann 55.5 12 5105 Young Sapphire 5 . . . . . A. Brown 55.5 13 Amalgam Flight 8 . . . .J. Jamieson 54.5 14 9807 Giesen 12 . . R. Bruce 54.0 16 00 Zena Royal 6 54.0 Emergency: Zena Royal. Scratched: Go Spi, Niente Bene, Reisling. Race 4 1.55 THE CONNORS AND BLACKMORE DASH $4000; 1100m 1 03 Belvoir 1 .J. Jamieson 55.0 2 Double Bridle 16 ... . . G. Davison 55.0 3 00 Elitist Streak 1 55.0 4 009 Flying Tour 5 . D. Wadley 55.0 5 6 Imposing Tai 15 ... . . J. Woledge 55.0 6 04 Lady Rio 4 . K. Kenyon 55.0 7 9 Loveable Ace 13 ... . 55.0 8 5909 Morvatan 10 K. Prendergast 55.0 9 949 Paper War 8 55.0 11 9760 Red Briar 9 . . R. Bruce 55.0 12 Signum 12 . C. Johnson 55.0 13 70 Their Loss 7 55.0 14 690 Unison 3 55.0 15 985 Young Till 2 . S. McCann 55.0 16 457 Solenza Star 14 .... 52.0 Emergencies: Lady Rio, Loveable Ace, Their Loss. Scratched: Rakau Rainbow. Race 5 2.30 KUMARA HOTELS STAYERS PLATE $5000; 2000m 1 6111 Eurhythmies 3 . C. Johnson 55.0 2 0641 Another Look 4 .J. Jamieson 54.5 3 5545 Bundi Royal 2 . . R. Bruce 54.0 4 1333 Hayle 5 R. Hewinson 52.5 5 0414 Norwester 10 . R. McCann 52.5 6 2418 Turf Cruiser 8 J. Oakeshott 52.5 7 291 Darren Lass 1 . G. Davison 54.5 8 6076 Pantloss 9 . J. Woledge 51.5 9 2306 Cold Front 7 . . P. Falvey 50.5 10 997 Gold Field Prince 6 . . . D. Wadley 50.0

Race 8 T 4.25 THE WEIGHT SYSTEMS (SI) 1800 $4000; 1600M 1 3046 Another Decision 15. . . C. Johnson 55.0 2 3242 Arkwright 5 . . R. Bruce 55.0 3 3700 Comparable 14 J. Oakeshott 55.0 4 90 Frosty Heir 12 55.0 5 4386 Hurunui 13 . P. Atkinson 55.0 6 0003 Kaiwaiwai 4 . . A. Brown 55.0 7 6554 Lightning Fast 7 . . . . 55.0 8 0805 Miss Behave 2 . S. McCann 55.0 10 4324 Perazzi 9 . G. Davison 55.0 11 3626 Rod Chevalier 8 . . . . 55.0 13 9386 Scrooges Loot 10 . . . 14 7677 Ship Shape 16 . J. Woiedge 55.0 . . .B. Smith 55.0 15 0 The Deijcatessan 6. . . R. Hewinson 55.0 16 7032 Turi Del 3 55.0 Emergencies: Kaiwaiwai, Turi Del. Scratched: Old Scroll, Romping. Race 9 T 5.05 THE JOE ROBINSON MEMORIAL $4500; 1600m 1 014 Clara River 12 . . . .K. Prendergast 56.5 2 09 Roonavari 3 . C. Johnson 56.5 3 9147 Squatter 2 . S. McCann 56.5 4 1870 Al’s Star 9 . . .B. Smith 56.0 5 0603 leska 6 . . A. Brown 56.0 6 La Tobe 17 56.0 7 0 Lisa Crown 14 R. Hewinson 56.0 8 7705 Noble Brizard 1 . G. Davison 56.0 9 2479 Tuahiwi Daisy 11. . . . .J. Jamieson 56.0 10 791 Ballybain 5 . . . S. Reid 57.5 11 0408 Golden Kuda 8 .P. Atkinson 55.5 12 4 Royal Rosa 13 J. Oakeshott 55.5 13 9667 Mainstream 16 55.0 14 8905 Pacific Fair 7 . . R. Bruce 55.0 15 7654 Radin’s Girl 10 . K. Kenyon 55.0 16 00 Supreme Seal 15. . . . 55.0 17 8059 Tracey’s Gold 4 55.0 Emergencies: Pacific Fair, Mainstream, Radin s Girl, Supreme Seal, Tracey’s Gold. Race 10 5.40 THE MONTEITH 1600 $5000; 1600m 1 1431 Miss Isabel 12 . . P. Falvey 57.0 2 1087 Tonusho 4 . C. Johnson 55.0 3 8 Ellon Killeen 13 . S. McCann 54.5 5 4360 Jet In 14 R. Hewinson 54.5 6 1800 Karamuromu 8 . . A. Brown 54.0 7 9405 Sky Rocket 9 . . .B. Smith 54.0 8 84 Totara Million 7 . R. McCann 54.0 9 0369 Green Jacket 10 ... . . J. Woiedge 53.5 10 5170 Silver Shadow 1 . . . . . G. Davison 53.5 11-7902 King's Pal 3 53.0 12 7207 Buller 16 .P. Atkinson 52.5 13 0200 Secured Money 5. . . . 52.5 14 0463 Taimoor 11 52.5 15 85 Eureka Lad 6 52.0 16 -60 Miss Tryphena Bay 15. 52.0 Emergencies: Secured Money, Eureka Lad, Miss Tryphena Bay. Scratched: Golden Time.