Parsons stable takes out feature events

Press, 24 October 1989, Page 41

Parsons stable takes out feature events

By

DAVID McCARTHY

The Balcairn trainer, John Parsons, had a memorable day at the North Canterbury meeting yesterday, saddling Seamist to an impressive win in the Beefeater Gin 1600 and Diamond Annie to take out the next event, the North Canterbury Cup.

The double continued the stable’s run of success this spring. It has produced 12 winners to date, making it the equal-lead-ing establishment in the South Island. The performance of both yesterday’s winners suggests more is in store.

Seamist made no bones about her success in the Beefeater, the half-sister to Ballesteros proving too strong for a fast-finishing Jade Gate, which overcame an interrupted run to edge the warm favourite, Associate, out of third place.

It was just the third start of the filly’s career and suggested she will more than justify the high opinion held of her by Parsons.

Seamist extended a remarkable record in the North Canterbury three-year-old race for the Wigley family. <

She is raced by Sandy and Barbara Wigley, who bred her from the All Alight mare, Quidella, now dead, which earlier left the talented but illfated Young Joe, which broke a leg in a race at Reefton some years ago, and Ballesteros.

The Wigleys shared in the ownership of Spangles, an earlier winner of the race, with their son, Nick, the president of the North Canterbury club. Nick Wigley and his wife, Carol, raced the 1985 winner, Canterbury Belle, which went on to win the One Thousand Guineas. That is the main assignment, too, for Seamist, which was ridden with aplomb yesterday by Shane McCann, who has ridden 10 winners this season, all of them on Parsons-trained horses. Nick Wigley operates the Inglewood Stud, at Kaiapoi, where Beaufort Sea, the sire of Seamist, and Cocky Golfer, the sire of Ballesteros, stand.

Beaufort Sea is now in the veteran class, but he had a big day yesterday as Southern Beau, sired when Beaufort Sea did a

stint at Windsor Park Stud, in the Waikato, downed Reno Belle, one of the northern favourites for the One Thousand Guineas, in the Lion Brown 1600 at Te Rapa. Seamist was well placed on the rails and McCann was able to settle her nicely, with Associate out-

side her. Associate had the measure of the pacemaker, Golden Showers, at the turn when he looked full of running. However, Seamist gained his measure quickly and won with something in hand. Seamist made her debut at Orari in late September

and was an unlucky second. She went down to Gypsy Tap in a maiden at Riccarton at her next start when she spoiled her chances by hanging, later found to be caused by a tooth problem. Her win extended a remarkable record for Mr and Mrs Wigley with the offspring of Quidella.

In their 10 most recent starts, Ballesteros and Seamist have won six races and run second four times. Ballesteros resumes at Motukarara next Saturday. The Wigleys have a full brother to him, the last foal of Quidella. Convincing

The Parsons-McCann team gave the hardy mare, Diamond Annie, a win on her home track at her first attempt in the North Canterbury Cup.

McCann attended the pacemaker, Reykjavik, with Sir Nova caught three wide outside them. Diamond Annie toppled Reykjavik from his perch soon after the turn and held off a late charge from Robinski, with Sir Nova hanging on grimly for third.

It was Parsons’ second North Canterbury Cup, Sir Ashley having been successful for him in 1984. Diamond Annie was bred by Ann Buddle, who sold her as a rising two-year-old to Chris Thompsett, now of Wellington, who was on hand for the race yesterday, and Correen Diack.

The partners gave Mrs Buddle a share in the horse for her race career.

Diamond Annie won in the North Island for the Alan Jones stable and has now won nine more for Parsons, who has the Churchill Stakes at Riccarton in mind for her.

Diamond Annie had been slightly disappointing in the Breeders’ Stakes at Riccarton at her last start, but had been off-colour before the race.

Robinski, second also last year, was impressive and Bruce Marsh was not disappointed with Sir Nova, which will race next at Riccarton.

Dogwood, which had his chance, fought on for fourth and Palastone made ground well for fifth.

Red Hawk ran on, but Reykjavik had been expected to show more fight and Peach Mfelba and Pericolini were unhappy in the ground.