Williams in form

Press, 28 December 1988, Page 26

Williams in form

The Orari-based horseman Gary Williams rode back-to-back winners at Timaru yesterday, on Silver Scholar and Carat. Silver Scholar came with a fast late run to catch the tearaway pacemaker, Sunday Morning, thus repaying the many patient hours Silver Scholar’s trainer, Gaye Goble, has put into bringing him back to racing trim.

Silver Scholar is a four-year-old son of Savant, a Canterbury-owned halfbrother to the top northern hemisphere sire, Sharpen Up.

Savant was bred with 40 mares in the Waikato this season after doing part of the season at the property of Brooke McKenzie of Yaldhurst who bought Savant at a time when the stallion had a history of fertility problems and several shifts in environment. Savant’s fertility is fully restored and he has left some promising horses. Silver Scholar bowed a

tendon last season but has been nursed back to full fitness by Goble. Yesterday was just his ninth start and his tenth is likely to be at Rangiora next week.

Carat is another with which great patience has been shown and he gave Williams an armchair ride in front to lead all the way in the Hoteliers Maiden. Carat is a halfbrother to Chiasso a speedy sort from John Bourne, who trains Carat, a few seasons ago. Their dam, Fair Petingo, an English mare, is owned by Richard and Virginia Johnson, who races Carat. They also raced Chiasso and have a four-year-old full-brother to Carat, Peridot, with Helen Preston and two younger full-sisters, all by Noble Bijou. Carat has always shown some stability but seems stronger this time in and clearly relished the role of pacemaker. He is also likely to race at Rangiora.

Cook again Lorna Cook continued her golden run by posting her tenth win for the season when bringing Our Formation through to a solid win over a gallant Mellors in the Timaru Motors Maiden. Our Formation is a half-sister to the winners Our Bismark, Our Hope, and Our Amalgam while the other foal of their dam, Gayley, to race, has been successful in Singapore. Gayley, winner of three, is owned by a retired Methven butcher, Roy Straight, now of Christchurch, and his wife Doreen and trainer Keith Wadley. Mr Straight obtained the mare from the late Ken McLaughlin and Gayley is a close relation to Gay Defore. Her sire Reformation was imported in utero from England. Mellors fell out of the gates and his effort to bid for the lead 100 m out was a highlight of the race.