Regent Diamond’s cup win keeps tallies ticking over

Press, 28 December 1989, Page 21

Regent Diamond’s cup win keeps tallies ticking over

By

DAVID McCARTHY

Regent Diamond’s shock win over Pericolini in the Timaru Cup at Washdyke yesterday not only pushed trainer Graeme Rogerson further ahead in the trainers’ premiership, but rounded things off nicely for the South Island arm managed by Keith Hawtin. It was Rogerson’s fortyfourth win for the season and the sixteenth under Hawtin’s direction in the south. In addition, the South Island stable has had 16 seconds and 16 third placings. Regent Diamond’s was one of the more unexpected, his odds of 36/1 reflecting moderate achievements over 1600 m in three previous attempts.

Regent Diamond, Hong Kong-owned and Austra-lian-bred, has shown great speed at times over 1400 m, his feats including a track record over 1400 m at Nelson last autumn.

His previous win this season was over 1400 at Greymouth last month when he also upset punters to the tune of 17/1. That was the first time the Voodoo Rhythm horse had been ridden by David Wadley, the successful pilot yesterday. Wadley was trapped three wide following Infinite Secret in the midfield before ranging wider at the turn. Pericolini, four back on the rails, received a gap like the parting of the Red Sea soon after the turn and Chris Johnson pushed him through to the lead 200 m out.

Regent Diamond kept up a steady run, though, and nabbed the favourite right on the line. “He settled well today and normally he doesn’t. He’s got the ability, but he takes too much out of himself during the race,”

said Hawtin, who will produce Regent Diamond next in the open sprint at Reefton. i Plans for Pericolini are not finalised, but they could include a tilt at the feature metric miles at Trentham late in January. “I might have got to the front a bit too soon, but the gap was there a mile wide and we had to take it,” said Johnson. Infinite Secret, also inconvenienced by a wide draw, ran on solidly and a North Island summer campaign is also being considered for him. Shorty Bijou, last year’s surprise winner, did well for fourth after being held up at a vital stage in the straight. The well-backed Fly Baby was trapped wide throughout from her draw and was not knocked about when the pressure began to tell in the straight. She will start in the four-year-old race at Kurow tomorrow with Chris Johnson a possible pilot. Raymond Bruce will ride Saveur in the same race.

Ballesteros again did not feel as sharp as he has for rider Shane McCann and he ran somewhat greenly in the straight to finish eighth.

Reykjavik has either the Kumara Gold Nuggets or the Invercargill Gold Cup in his sights after little more than a working gallop to win the Sir Fleet Handicap yesterday. Reykjavik looked more like his old self swinging into his work well in front for Jackie Jamieson and he drew away to win by five lengths.

He had run a moderate seventh in the Hazlett Stakes before yesterday, but that run followed a severe attack of colic, which caused him to miss a race at Riccarton. Trainer Helen Preston was genuinely afraid, at one stage, the attack could prove fatal. “I would like to have a go at the Invercargill Cup, but much will depend on what transport is available. I don’t want to do too much travelling close to the race,” Mrs Preston said. She trains Reykjavik for Tim Rattray, of Christchurch, who bought him privately as a two-year-old. After either the West Coast or Invercargill meetings, Reykjavik will be set for the Dunedin Cup, which he won in Jamieson’s hands last year. Jamieson had scored

earlier yesterday on the Roger Williams-trained maiden, Silver Million, which Williams trains at Leeston for the ■ 10-strong Hobo Syndicate, most of whom are based on the West Coast, where Williams trained for some time. Williams stands Silver Million’s sire, Blue Vermilion, at Leeston.

Jamieson also partnered Silver Million’s stablemate, Balmax, later in the day and almost brought about the defeat of the favourite, Associate.

Balmax set a keen pace and resisted Associate’s challenge until into the shadows of the post, the margin being a head. Outlet was an unlucky third, powering home after being held up in the straight. Associate is likely to race next in a three-year-old event at Omoto next month. The Riccarton horseman, Shane McCann, gained his sixteenth win for the season when The Cantabrian prevailed over an unlucky Lord Gesmo in the Southern Corporation Handicap. The Cantabrian, runnerup to Ballesteros in a four-year-old race on the track at the end of November, was always close to the pace and just prevailed over Lord Gesmo, which ran greenly over the final stages. McCann’s previous 15 winners this season have been for the John Parsons stable, with which he has struck up a close association. Those wins include the Dunedin Guineas on Tuesday aboard Sea Mist. ,

The Cantabrian was McCann’s first ride for the stable of Dave and Jan Kerr, but stable apprentice Gina Tomlinson may resume her association with the horse in an apprentice event at Rangiora on January 4.