Peter Jones has fine record in Haldon Plate

Press, 23 July 1987, Page 39

Peter Jones has fine record in Haldon Plate

By DAVID MCCARTHY The Riccarton trainer, Peter Jones, lines up three runners in the Haldon Plate two-year-old events at the Christchurch Hunt Meeting on Saturday and his charges, Biko, Precision Bid and Colraggi, have something extra in their favour.

The “something extra” is their trainer’s record in the race. Jones has saddled up six winners of the Haldon Plate, the first success being with Fairy King in 1956 when he was training in partnership with his brother, Maurice, at Washdyke.

“It was a harder race to win in those days because it had more importance as a lead-up for the three-year-old racing,” Peter Jones said.

“Fairy King beat Liban, which later won a dozen races, Cheyenne was third and there were some other good ones further back. There were over 20 in the field in those days.”

The Jones stable struck again in 1964 with Channel Fleet ridden by John Dowling and the same combination was successful with Gingerly in 1973. “We should have won both divisions of the race

that year. Royal Clover was beaten a head by Triple (trained by Ned Thistoll) in the other heat,” Jones recalled. Both youngsters were taken north later for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas. “It just shows how unlucky you can be at times. The Guineas that year was won by Fury’s Order, Oopik was second and Paterangi was third.” Silver Print and Argite, last year, have been more recent stable winners. The only unknown quantity among the three Jones runners this week is the grey Sound Reason youngster, Colraggi. “I haven’t done as much with him as the others though he’ll be a nice horse,” Jones said. “Precision Bid should go well and so should Biko.” There is a general belief that subsequent careers of Haldon Stakes’ performers leave something to be desired.

However names like Conclusion, Rustler, Gay Defoe, Flying Time, . Valuate Ruve, Manana, Pasa Doble, Trelay, Lord Nelson, John Peel, Quetta Manana and Orbiton are some which went on to be household names in southern racing at one time or another.