Ayres resumes well

Press, 28 December 1987, Page 20

Ayres resumes well

PA Palmerston North It’s been a mixed year for Palmerston North jockey, Peter Ayres, but it ended on a top note when he rode Sir Zeus to victory in the $lOO,OOO Evening Standard Manawatu Cup at Awapuni on Saturday. Ayres fell foul of officialdom earlier this year after he was discharged without conviction from court on cannabis charges. The Racing Conference took a dim view, and suspended him for five months.

Ayres resumed riding early this month determined to re-establish himself as one of the most promising young riders in the Central Districts. He was originally engaged for Cornwall King in the Cup, but when that horse was scratched late in the week he was offered the ride on Sir Zeus. Ayres had Sir Zeus in the first four or five all the way. The Amyntor four-year-old challenged strongly in the straight, and held out a determined bid from The

Bishop to win by a head. The Bishop ran his best race for the season in finishing second, just a neck in front of Guess, which finished on strongly as well. The favourite, Melbeck, battled on well without looking like winning, to be three-quarters of a length away fourth, with Red Lava and Double Lang close up. Second favourite, Chief Commander, led from the 1400 metres, but faded to eighth. Smart four-year-old Tricavaboy returned to his best form when he wore

down the pacemaker Sterling Exchange in the second leg of the T.A.B. double, Tricavaboy settled third, but finished best by a length and a quarter from Sterling Exchange, which had opened up a handy break approaching the turn. Hot favourite, Kosha, settled well off the pace. She ran on well, but could get within only two lengths of the secondplaced horse. Mister York, which chased the leader, wilted to fourth.