Coniston Water tonic for Harris

Press, 26 October 1989, Page 42

Coniston Water tonic for Harris

Part-owner Ray Harris, who trains Coniston Water in partnership with his wife, Barbara, had to watch the Butty mare clear maidens from the Rangiora track carpark on Monday. Harris had been admitted to hospital over the week-end with a suspected heart problem. Fortunately, this was eliminated as a cause of his trouble, but the medical advice still was that a views, from a distance was the safe way to approach the running of the Kings Mowers Maiden.

The result was satisfactory though, Coniston Water scampering home in the hands of apprentice Michael Brown to win handily. The victory did not surprise Harris, or his' partner, Christchurch businessman John Arbuckle. “She just loves, this sort of ground, just like Nuclear Rocket did,” said Mr Arbuckle. “It’s a good wet track family.” Coniston Water’s dam, Too Fast, did not race, but her second foal. Nuclear Rocket, won five. She was .ft

offered for sale by Harris and Arbuckle at the South Island sale this year, but was passed in. Too Fast was a Double Speed half-sister to Sandbank from a family featuring smart performers such as Ay Em, Sandbank (18 wins), Endowered, The Fluter and Cee Sharp. The Harris stable has been through a lean period, but is bouncing back with three wins this season. • A Canterbury trainer who lost yet won ar Rangiora on Monday was

Ray Pankhurst. Pankhurst’s smart two-year-old, Treacherous, - was beaten into second on the heavy track in the two-year-old event, but her placing was enough to win Pankhurst a trip to Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup — scoring most points from two-year-old racing in the district so far this spring. The visit is timely as Pankhurst is a part-owner of Royal Creation, which is set for the sAust3oo,ooo Honda Stakes on the final day of the Flemington carnival. He will race also in lead-up events.