Paparua victory smart Cup trial

Press, 7 August 1989, Page 30

Paparua victory smart Cup trial

By

DAVID McCARTHY

The Pukekohe trainer, Susan Ellis, kept Mr Spock fresh for his assignment in the Paparua Handicap at Riccarton on Saturday and for a time she thought he may have been just a little too fresh. Mr Spock almost bolted on his rider, Roland Saxton, in his preliminary and fired up again just before the start. Once the business of racing began, however, it was no contest, Mr Spock disputing the pace and then leading all the way up the Riccarton straight to win well. It was only Saxton’s second win at Riccarton and his third may not be on Mr Spock in the Winter Cup even if the Three Legs gelding takes out his main southern assignment. Ellis had not decided yesterday who would ride the horse. “I was only on today because Roy McKay couldn’t come down so I suppose it will depend on what he’s doing,” Saxton said. He was an apprentice with Ellis when she trained with her husband, Lionel; and rode four of his 86 winners as an apprentice for the Ellis stable before shifting to Laurie Laxon and later to Rex Cochrane at Gore. Saxton obtained his position through Malcolm Douglas, a brother of the Cabinet Minister, Roger Douglas, who was a patron of the Ellis stable. Mr Spock is owned by John Ezernieks who bred him. Ellis believes Mr Spock, which has won seven of his 29 starts, has more potential to explore yet. “He’s got stronger each time he’s come in and he is more settled now than he was. He was toey today but he had had only one gallop since Trentham,” she said. Mr Spock was an unlucky fourth in the Wilkinson Handicap there and a good second in the 2200 metre Parliamentary though he had shown considerable sprinting prowess earlier. Diamond Annie, freshened since the Wilkinson Handicap at Trentham, fought strongly and St James loomed into third without threatening the winner. He looked as though the race would improve him. ,