Rangiora victories cause to celebrate

Press, 2 May 1988, Page 27

Rangiora victories cause to celebrate

By

JEFF SCOTT

The brothers-in-law, Frank Cournane of Southland, and Ted Hardiman, of Christchurch, had reason for a dual celebration at the Rangiora Trotting Club’s on-course meeting on Saturday.

Mr Cournane, a farmer at Rimu, watched his well-bred four-year-old, Panazz (Noodlum—Elite Del), clear maiden class impressively in the Silk Legacy Pace.

A little over an hour earlier, Mr Hardiman, manager of the Groynes Motel at Harewood, tasted success as a member of the Boss Hogg syndicate who race Star Supreme.

Mr Cournane races Panazz with successful Ardmore trainer and longtime friend, Brian O’Meara. The latter, was at Methven a week earlier to witness the gelding’s debut but was not at Rangiora on Saturday due to business commitments. Panazz, a half-brother to cup class pacer, Sossy, was purchased privately from Temuka breeder, Dr David Langford, as a weanling. The grandson of 1970 Easter Cup winner, Torrent, was left in Canterbury when O’Meara moved north last year and is trained at Kaiapoi by Barry Liiley.

“He has been a bit nervy. My son and daughter have been riding him to settle him down,” said attendant, lan Peters. Panazz raced keenly at Methven, wilting to finish

seventh, but raced more kindly on Saturday after having his ears plugged with cotton wool. The close relative of other cup class pacers, Damian and Diamond Hanover, and the New Zealand Derby winners, Guiseppe and Amaze, has the Nelson-Blenheim winter circuit earmarked for him and should continue improving.

“He had a lot of ability even as a two-year-old,” said Mr Cournane, of Panazz. Mr Cournane earlier raced the cup class pacer, Quiet Win, the ill-fated Really Honkin (1:56.9), Arden Chief and Real Smooth, with O’Meara, and also has Bonus Bon, a half-brother, by Out to Win, to Really Honkin, with the former Southland horseman.

Panazz moved up a lap out on Saturday and was still going strongly at the wire, two and a quarter lengths clear after pacing his closing 800 m in 60.75. He joined Stunning, Watbro Earl and Willow Chip as maiden class favourites to justify their supporters' hopes on the day, the others also winning attractively. Much improved Star Supreme became

the third multiple winner this season from Grant Archer’s small West Melton team when he scored convincingly in the Dominion Breweries Pace. Archer was entrusted with the training of Star Supreme five weeks ago and the Farm Timer five-year-old repeated his win at Rangiora, of a fortnight earlier, on Saturday. Star Supreme, which won a maiden event freelegged at Blenheim last June when trained by Derek Jones, has now won three and been twice third in 18 starts. “He is a tough old sod. I think there is another win in him yet,” said Archer after Star Supreme had led over the last 1500 m to beat the solid-finishing Dainty Dish by two and a half lengths in a respectable 3:26 for the 2600 m. Willem Vink, handy throughout, ran on for third, with Sam Chow shading Visalia, which had every chance. “I do a lot of galloping with him, but apart from that I don’t think I have been doing anything too differently,” said Archer. “The chiropractor has helped him the most. “He is still a bit scratchy in a field after

that fall he had earlier in his career,” he added. “But I like the Farm Timer’s. I have also won a couple with Dual Sticks, which has been back a few weeks.”

Archer prepares his team on his own 20-acre property at West Melton and supplements his income by working as a charge hand with Feltex in the evenings. Circular Note, his other dual winner this season and a useful third at Addington last Monday, has been turned out until next season.

Archer began his career in harness racing assisting Leicester Tatterson (when he was training for the last Clarrie Rhodes), while he gained further experience with Brian O’Carroll, Peter Yeatman and Irvin Behrns. “I learned a lot from all of them. Irvin Behms is one of the best horsemen I have seen. He was uncanny.”

Archer has a team of nine in work and has made a fresh start with the Cl trotter, Miss Fidelity. Crackerash, which Archer prepared to win four races, broke down earlier this term and was retired.