Top jumpers retired

Press, 20 July 1987, Page 30

Top jumpers retired

Special correspondent Wellington Two well-performed jumpers, Tarawera and Hutch, have both been retired. Tarawera had his last race when he finished fifth in the Manawatu Steeplechase on June 13 while Hutch ran his last race in Melbourne earlier this month. Tarawera, an 11-year-old, by Aureate II from Maxine, had only four races in his latest campaign. Part-owner, Mr Allan Donald, said the horse had been troubled by a sore shoulder and it had been decided not to continue racing him. He has been given away to a girl to hunt. Trained at Woodville, by Scott Hammersley, Tarawera only had 38 starts for six wins, seven seconds and five fourths for stakes of $31,735. His most notable victory was the 1985 Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase while he also won a Hastings Steeple and three successive Melford Steeples at Awapuni. Other notable placings were seconds in the Eric Riddiford at

Trentham and the Manawatu Hunt Cup. Hutch, trained by Kevin Myers at Okaiawa, had a busy career, racing in New Zealand and Australia. Originally trained at Stratford by John Gibson, he won four races on the fiat for that trainer before being purchased by 'Myers as a five-year-old- _ He went on to win a further 11 races and showed versatility by winnin three more on the flat, six over hurdles and two over steeples. Stephen Jenkins was the rider for seven wins. Hutch never managed to win a major race, with his best win being the Moonee Valley Hurdle in 1974. In all, he had some 125 starts for 15 wins, 13 seconds, 16 thirds and seven fourths for stakes of $108,755. Four of his victories came in Australia. Hutch returned home with other members of the Myers team earlier this month. He failed to win on the latest trip but managed several placings. However, Myers considers the horse has now had

enough. The trainer picked up six wins on the trip with the best performer being Doctor Sam, which won three races. He is being kept in training and could have a hurdle run at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting on August 22. He could be tried over steeples later in the winter. Meanwhile, the stable continued its good form at home when Freelay won the D. B. McEwan Memorial Steeplechase at Awapuni on Saturday. Freelay was one of the three horses Mayers purchased from Ken Browne the previous day. The others are Zakaroa, which produced a good second on the flat at Trentham earlier this month, and Dunstan Road. Freelay, ridden by Stephen Jenkins, was recording her first success but had been placed at 10 of her previous 23 starts. She won by eight lengths from her former stablemate, Ben Kotay. The latter is likely to be .included in the strong Browne team heading for Riccarton and the Grand National meeting.