Hibberd scoops double at Orari

Press, 27 September 1988, Page 35

Hibberd scoops double at Orari

By

DAVOID McCarthy

Brian Hibberd extended a fine riding record on Canterbury courses this season by taking out the T.A.B. double events on Biko and Blukus at the Geraldine Racing Club’s meeting at Orari yesterday.

Hibberd won both races with identical tactics, sending his charges straight to the front and kicking clear on the home turn. Biko earned a start in the Timaru Herald Stakes, a 1200 m weight-for-age event at Phar Lap Raceway on Friday week, with his impressive win. The strongly-made son of Standaan was always going well and while Camallino Star led the chase after him she was never in position to mount a threatening challenge. Hibberd who is based at Awapuni, will return south to ride Biko in the Timaru feature, a race which is shaping as one full of interest. Morgan Page and the smart three-year-old, Saveur, are among other likely starters. Hibberd may have to revise his plans if Squire Gray is sent south for the race as he is engaged for the Awapuni speedster for the season. However, trainer Lester Olsen is not yet certain to bring Squire Gray. Hibberd will also ride at Riccarton on Friday. He has made an outstanding start to the season, Glukus being his fifteenth winner so far putting him five behind the leading rider, David Walsh. Hibberd has been particularly successful on his southern trips, the Winter Cup on Rongonui and the Grigg Classic on Dogwood being among his recent successes. He won the Whyte Handicap at Trentham in July on Rongonui and his last success in both legs of a T.A.B. double came at Trentham

on Infantry and Amorous 12 months ago. His association with Biko could continue until the New Zealand Cup meeting when trainer, and part-owner, Peter Jones, is keen to tackle the 1000 m, Sovereign Sprint

Stakes on the first day of the Riccarton carnival. "Should he win at Timaru I will probably keep him fresh for Riccarton,” said Jones, who believes Biko , will measure up under weight-for-age conditions.

Biko has responded well to a training schedule which sees him rarely at full stretch and while all his wins so far have been at 1200 m Jones believes he will go further when put over more ground in the summer. Camallino Star pleased her connections with a good first-up run and races next in the McArdle Bloodstock Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton on October 15. Godsin overcame an early setback for third, ahead of Headman, which looked a threat on the rail at the turn, and Decree Nisi, which made ground solidly. The well-sup-ported Wanda Girl was never travelling easily and finished well back. Hibberd maintained an excellent record with the Joe Shaw-trained Glukus, on which he had won last time out at Ashburton. Glukus came south from Malcolm Smith’s Feilding stable with a reputation for speed, but little race-day stamina. He has responded well to Shaw’s methods and has shown good form on the three occasions Hibberd has ridden him. “He should have raced better in the north. He had ability, but things didn’t go right for him up there,” Hibberd said. Joytripper, the hot favourite, settled handy enough to the pace, but lost a length or two going around a tiring runner at the turn. Glukus kicked away at that time and was never in danger of defeat. Joytripper will race in the Timaru Herald Stakes, as had been planned beforehand.