The turf
Comings and goings
Robin Oakley
Jockeys and trainers are not always in harmony. One Epsom trainer has been kn. own to complain, 'If brains were a virus, Jockeys would be the healthiest people in the country.' And jockey-trainer partner- ships do break up. Sometimes it is owner pressure. In racing he who pays the feed hills certainly does call the tune. Some- times it is personality, either trainer or Jockey getting too big for their boots. Sometimes there is a more direct cause. One celebrated break-up recently occurred because the jockey was getting the leg-up not only on the trainer's horses but on his Wife as well. Whatever the precise cause in their case, Warren People in racing were surprised when vy linen Marston and Jenny Pitman decid- ed, fairly mutually, that he would sever his connection with her stable despite having ridden some 70 winners for her over the Last two seasons. All was clearly not well at Weathercock House. Other jockeys like Nigel Williamson were being invited in to ride the stable's best prospects too often long, any proud young rider to bear it for Tlig- Mrs Pitman's strike rate has dropped this Season, and had he stayed much longer riding only the also-rans then Marston's confidence would have seeped out through his boot-soles. A fit all-round sportsman (he is a former England youth international at hockey), Marston is young enough to build a suc- cessful career. Before his stretch with Mrs Pitman he was part of David Nicholson's team and the Duke does not hire chumps. Re insists that Marston has what it takes, and at Windsor I noted that other trainers Were taking the same view. He had a full book of rides for the seven races. The first, Sharialtanndi, was for Jeff King, whom few would accuse of sentimentalism. Indeed, they still tell the tale in the weighing-room of how King, in his riding days, put John tancome through the wing of a hurdle. When Francome limped back in, nursing an. injured wrist, he asked, 'Why the hell did you do that, Kingy?' Receiving in reply what Paddington Bear used to call a 'hard stare, and the one word: 'Practice'. Marston's other rides were for Robert Allier, Norman Babbage, Reg Akehurst, Peter Bowen, Les Montague Hall and David O'Brien. Leaving aside the O'Brien horse, which didn't have much chance on the form, and Bowen's Royal Saxon, which had pulled up on its last two outings, I thought it seemed sensible to try each way cross doubles on Marston's remaining five mounts, on the basis that one would be backing a determined young man with a point to prove. Alas Shariakanndi, prominent in the early stages, faded to fifth. Over the Water (Alner) led four out but weakened to finish sixth. Convamore Queen (Babbage) was tailed off last in the novices steeplechase (an improvement, admittedly, on her previ- ous form — one 'unseated rider'). Mr Wild (Akehurst) made a mess of the first hurdle and had only three behind him at the finish and Sophie May (Montague Hall) was a faller. The only time Marston made the frame was on Royal Saxon, third in a six- horse race. When your luck is out, it some- times stays out for a while.
Windsor's figure-of-eight is not the easi- est course to ride. But Marston's mounts were neatly positioned in the early stages, and well presented at their fences. He rode a nice winner for Di Haine earlier in the week and if the horses are good enough then so is he. But there is a difference between 'get them round' rides offered out of sympathy and tapping back into a supply of ready winners. I was, fortunately, able to repair the hole those cross doubles had left in my pocket. Roger Curtis's move to Lambourn has had its complications. He was desperately ill last year with meningitis. But he has been delighted with his relocation from Surrey in every other way and his capture of the Fairlawne Chase with Equity Player was a fine piece of training. On past form with Yorkshire Gale, Equity Player had to be worth an interest, but had not seen a race- course for 326 days. The 12-year-old did, however, look good in the parade ring and won his lad the prize for the best turned- out horse. That was enough for me to take the available 5-1 and after looking to be struggling to go the pace half way through, Equity Player stayed on strongly to win convincingly. Not easy to train and not inclined to enjoy too much of a battle if he can take it easy, according to his trainer. Equity Player should win again on decent, but not soft ground. It is usually worth taking an interest in Alan Jarvis's horses when the money is down, and I should have done so when his Black Minstrel gelding Jazzman, a 12-1 shot in morning papers, was backed down to 4-1. His trainer once had a nice touch at 33-1 at Towcester with another Black Min- And remember, son, one day all this will be your mother's divorce settlement.' strel gelding and Jazzman got the better of an epic tussle with the favourite Sparkling Spring. Owner Mr Fust was apparently watching the race in a betting shop in St Petersburg, so I hope they didn't run out of roubles. Jarvis, who reckons him still a baby at five, says Jazzman stays for ever and a likely next target is the Grand National meeting at Liverpool.
Robin Oakley is political editor of the BBC.
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