Good fortune following Wadley

Press, 3 April 1989, Page 28

Good fortune following Wadley

By

David McCarthy

Riccarton horseman David Wadley could scarcely believe his good fortune on the last day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Easter meeting on Saturday. Wadley’s two wins equalled his tally for the whole of last season and both were in stakes races.

Altogether Wadley won three races at the meeting and is undeniably the most improved horseman on the Canterbury scene. Twelve months ago his riding future looked far from bright. Now aged 23 he was apprenticed

originally to his grandfather, Jim Wadley, and later to Joe Shaw, completing his time with lan Rogers. It was the last named who gave him the most opportunities for race-day experience and the rider’s career has blossomed further with the help of Paddy Busuttin. Wadley has ridden a lot of work for the Foxton stable during its southern stay and in turn Busuttin has given him some choice mounts on horses like Hot Ice. The rider’s skills have improved with confidence and the results speak for

themselves. Even so both his triumphs on Saturday came on horses which were “castoffs.”

Wadley picked up the ride on Hong Kong Star after Grant Davison and Paul Richards had passed the Centaine gelding over following two disappointing efforts over 1200 m. Hong Kong Star, owned by a Hong Kong movie star, Nat Chan, who will eventually have the youngster racing on his home ground, was one of three Centaine winners on the day in features for two-year-olds around the country, the others being

Centime and Centainette, the Frank Ritchie-trained daughter of the Beaufort Sea mare Kurdaseu.

Hong Kong Star led most of the way and, perhaps helped by a lack of early pace, went to the line strongly to hold out the Riccarton-trained Associate and Avalon which had its chance. So did the favourite, Ash Valley, which could only manage fifth and Cachena (eighth).

Wadley picked up the Peach Melba ride when Terry Kennedy withdrew to ride Margarella which was a late scratching from the Race Images

1600. As a result of his new found confidence he has trebled his riding score of last seaason and looks set to carry on.

Grant Davison with seven wins was the leading rider during the threeday meeting, however, with Lorna Cook easily the leading apprentice with five wins. The Kerr stable with six wins was the leader in that area, Maurice Campbell producing four winners and Graeme Rogerson three.

South Island stables won 17 of the 29 races at the carnival, eleven of them by Canterburytrained horses.