Zilla changes Davison’s luck

Press, 28 December 1988, Page 26

Zilla changes Davison’s luck

Grant Davison’s luck took a long time to change at the Timaru meeting yesterday and when he finally broke through with Zilla in the Timaru Handicap, there was no owner present to congratulate him. Zilla is now owned by the Californian trainer, Roger Stein, who has had considerable success training thoroughbreds exported from Canterbury. Among them have been Rufus Dawes and The Mean Machine, both trained by Jan Hay who prepares Zilla. Hay, who has had a lean season to date by her standards, had produced Zilla only once previously since taking over her training from Lester Olsen of Awapuni, running second to Fiesta Point at Beaumont when needing a run. Zilla, which has quite remarkable speed from the gates, easily outran another noted speedy be-

ginner, Lightning Lad, early and was always clear.

She is nominated for the Class One sprint at Rangiora in spite of having won only three races. Hay regards her as a straight speed horse

Another trainer with a change of luck was Pat Corboy who produced Tropical Blend to win the Ken Lane Handicap in a time equal to Shorty Bijou’s in the feature event.

Tropical Blend, troubled with a double dose of the virus and other setbacks in the last 12 months, was always well placed and won easily. The favourite Beechwood Beauty was trapped wide on the hot pace and faded in the last 100 m after leading at the top of the straight.

Davison had a second win when Triana took the final event, the Bert Martyn Sprint.