Riccarton combination formidable at Rangiora

Press, 18 February 1989, Page 32

Riccarton combination formidable at Rangiora

By

DAVID McCARTHY

The Riccarton trainer, Roydon Bergerson, and the rider, Grant Davison, again proved themselves a formidable combination at Rangiora with two wins on the course yesterday. She Flys, which did well to rally late for victory in the Pairtai maiden after being under some pressure to hold her place for most of the way after a slow start, got up to beat Imperiatrix by a long head at cramped odds, but Modem Times paid a false price leading all the way and winning easily in the Mrs Popes Handicap. She Flys, raced by members of the Kyle family, had been quite impressive when running fourth at Riccarton last week while Modem Times had been unlucky there beside being ill at ease in the softer ground. Modem Times, raced by four Christchurch men, John Marlow, Dean Coates, lan Watson and Rex Nelson, had earlier won at Reefton and could head over to Westport next week-end.

He gave Bergerson his fifteenth win for the season from relatively small racing numbers and Rangiora has been an especially lucky course for him. The stable won a double with Triana and Martinet at the North Canterbury meeting in

January. Modem Times gave Davison his seventy-fifth winner for the season, extending his margin over David Walsh who had picked up three wins during the week. Davison’s day was marred somewhat by a $2OO fine for careless riding on Alberjon in the Amberley Cup. The time of 1:10.8 indicated Modem Time’s performance was above average, something supported by Davison. “He was always travelling easily and on firm ground and smaller tracks he shoud go on with it,” he said. Patience rewarded The Christchurch owner, Mrs Jo Waters, had patience rewarded when Sertaw flashed home to win the Gigor Menswear maiden in the hands of Paul Falvey. It was Mrs Waters’ first win for seven years, since Sertaw’s dam, Quetzal Queen, won a maiden event on the West Coast. Sertaw is her first foal and, like many of the Palatable stock, has taken time to mature. He had been an unlucky fourth on the course last month and a trials winner in the meantime so seemed at false odds at 9-1. Mrs Waters shared in the ownership of Quetzal Queen and took over the horse when her partners decided to quit her. Like

Sertaw she was trained by Barry Taggart.

While Palastone may have disappointed his Reefton supporters, the centre may well have been pleasantly surprised by the price about Quartz Reef an all-the-way winner of the Amerley Welter Handicap. Quartz Reef is raced on lease from the estate of John Coleman, formerly of Hokitika, by Jeff Collis, his wife, Debbie, and his father, Jack. There is a right of purchase clause and it may well be taken up after yesterday’s win because the lease expires in July. “He’s had trouble with his feet but they have held up well recently,” said Collis. Quartz Reef had been narrowly beaten on the track at the January meeting and then went on to win on his home track. At his best when the tracks are firm he was one of two winners on the day for Garry Williams, the other being Carat which added further to the rejuvenated form of the John Bourne stable by comfortably beating x Bounty Queen in the Kaiapoi Hotel Handicap. Dowling double John Dowling underlined the value of experience with his two wins on the day. Beaufort Dee brought a welcome change of luck for the Pat Corboy stable and longtime patron, Kenneth Graham, by just nabbing the pacemaker, Deer Game, after trailing that runner.

Dowling saved Beaufort Dee up for the last run at Deer Game, in the hands of a proven rider of frontrunners in Ron McCann, and just got up. Dowling took a leaf from McCann’s book with Black Comet which led most of the way to win the Oaks Stud Handicap. Dowling went to work on the Phil Andrews-trained black before the turn and the break he put on the field saw him through from a fast-finishing Jacks To Open and Isle of Arran, both of which were well back early. Isle of Arran will join Roydon Bergerson’s stable tomorrow as Murray McPhie has retired from training.