The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 81

AinS NOW MAL'S GOT PALS ON BOTH SIDES caps used at Randwick today wouldn't pass," chief steward John Schreck said. Apparently webbing and other attachments can be improved. All of which means riders track as well as race will have to fork out about $125 for replacements. JL. JOCKEYS will be required to wear new type skull cap after January.

The AJC feels the type currently in use doesn't offer sufficient protection. Only a product described as being "of Australian and British standard" will be accepted. "The majority of the skull ON RACING BEHIND ii THE 1 Hi STEWARDS' DOOR Mi "1 W. A LEADING doubles bookmaker Bill Hurley Is offering 40-1 about Beau Zam winning the Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double. Sky Chase is the current favourite for the Caulfield Cup on October 15 but trainer Bart Cummings announced he would be set for the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 22.

Beau Zam was unlucky when second to Lord Reims in the Caulfield Cup last year and jockey John Marshall is keen on his prospects this time. Cummings may start Beau Zam's Melbourne campaign a little earlier than expected. The trainer is toying with the idea of starting the four-year-old in the S25 1,000 Craiglee Stakes at Flemington next Saturday. Certainly he will be switching some of his strength south in the next week or so to attack the rich Melbourne prizemo-ney. Yesterday Cummings had three winners and four seconds at Randwick.

Sky Chase gave him a double of Chelmsford Stakes as he was successful in the race last year with Campaign King, who failed in the Memsie at Caulfield yesterday. CHAMPION trainer Tommy Smith made a rare attack on the Principal Clubs after Might won the Tatt's Plate at Randwick yesterday. "They don't know much about racing," Smith said refering to the current steroid and medication controversy. Might is part-owned by Stan Dumbell who is standing for the coming AJC committee election on the pro-steroid and therapeutic medicine platform. "We've got the best racing in the world and they are only going to bugger it up," he said.

Smith said: "Why do we '1 Normally sombre Brian Mayfleld-Smlth shares a joke with Mike Wilessee. As far as results went they had nothing to laugh about. By 6LEIIN BOBBINS MALCOLM Johnston could have been pardoned bis elation during a stewards' inqiiry at Randwick yesterday. Johnstca is best known for his nm-ins with stewards, but esterday the boot was on the other foot. "Johnston is doing all he can to lMk after Bead-man.

said chief steward John Schreck of interference in the Chown Welter. And Mai loved every word. "Geez, that sounded nice," he said afterwards. JOHN MARSHALL outpointed the stewards in defence of a possible careless riding charge on Mixed I in the Tatter-sail's Ple. The jockey countered brilliantly to heavy cross-examination over interference to Prince Toronaga and Onota.

Marshall claimed he was a victim unusual circumstances, although he conceded he may have been a shade over competitive. Marshall debated strongly to receive only a severe reprimand. JOHN SCHRECK spoke with stable manager, Anthony Cummings, before trie F. J.T Carbury Quality in which Royal Pardon blew in the betting. Schreck refused to comment on what was said, but obviousl) it was in relation to Royal Pardon drifting from 1 1-4 to 6-1.

Incidentally, Royal Pardon's rider John Marshall was not given a "liven-up" at the barrier. CRITICS of Gavan Duffy's ride on Natski may have had a change of heart 4 BoaGH to had they heard of the horse's bad luck in the A. J. Chown Welter. Many punters felt Duffy had Natski too far back in the middle stages, but the jockey told the stewards he was forced to race there.

"Then from the top of the straight to the 100 metres I never had a clear run and had to duck and weave between he "dded STEWARDS questioned the unusual galloping action of Regal Prize in the O'Dea Su perfect a. Regal Prize ran an eyecatching second, but was so wayward over the final 200m that the stewards considered something may have been amiss. "No sir, he's just an awkward going thing," said rider Mark ickens. THE stewards gave a firm impression that heavily backed Riviera Charm was unlucky in the Carberry Quality. Riviera Charm, who ran on stoutly for a close third, was reported by stewards to be racing unkindly and with her head in the air in the middle stages.

Had Riviera Charm been more tractable for rider Ken Russell, she would have won. STEWARDS' REPORT P93. i i mim n. WDBB Gups yMpfl The lour-year-old was beaten only three lengths by Prince Lochinvar, who looks better than average. Prince Lochinvar was receiving 4.6 kg from Grosvenor Square who was forced very wide throughout.

Also the slew pace was against Grosvenor Square. Prince Lochinvar recorded lm.51.3s for the 1800 metres which is well outside the class record of lm.48.5s. COL Tidy was delighted with his switch from the interstate ring to the locals at Randwick yesterday. "It was like coming out of purgatory and going to Heaven," Tidy quipped. His biggest lay was a winner too to $27,000 about Gold Trump in the Tramway.

While it has hardly been a good pointer in the past, Beirne reckons Gold Trump is the horse to beat in the big metric mile at Randwick. "Gold Trump has showed he can run the distance and it's doubtful whether he will meet stronger opposition in the Epsom," Beirne said. Smith said. "Until last month he would have been allowed to race." Smith can be outspoken on many racing subjects but in recent years he has been reserved in his statements about the rulers. Obviously he now feels it is time for a change if not the medication rules, the men who make them.

want to be like France and other countries? Why change our racing? Did you see how much the TAB held on Wyong last Wednesday. Over in Great Britain they could race for three days and not hold that kind of money." The trainer pointed out that under the old rules his promising three-year-old, Outgun, would have started in the Carberry Quality yesterday instead of being scratched. "Outgun had to have a needle in case of infection after pricking his hoof," GROSVENOR Square didn't lose FORMER bookmaker Dom Beirne, now a leading punter, reckons the Tramway form should work out well any admirers with his sixth in yesterday's Welter as far as the Melbourne Cup is concerned. for the Epsom TV energetic Leeton Jockey Club president Patricia Lodge told Gadfly. "I'll have another go at breaking down the all-male bastion next year." Meanwhile, Lodge's next challenge is to tackle the secretary's job at neighbouring Griffith where her tenure will be confirmed at a meeting tomorrow night.

She'll continue in her present role at Leeton. ans. Signatories to a letter imploring the 5.000-strong AJC membership to support the trio through the ballot box include: Harold Riley and Dr Geoff Chapman from the Trainers' Association; Kevin Ryan from the NSW Racehorse Owners' Association and leading vet Dr Williams. "The ground swell of resentment within the racing industry arising from the new drug rules must be of grave concern to all racing administrators," said Dumbrell. UPDATE on the Wentworth Park controversy: At its THE luck of clan Piggott has finally changed.

Susan Pig meeting last Wednesday the track's Stand and Maintenance Committee resolved unanimously to maintain a grass surface and review the matter again in winter 1989 despite a number of representations to both the Wentworth Park Trust and the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation to change the surface to loam. The track will be returfed for the spring and the opportunity taken during this period to bring the grass surface to top condition. SYDNEY'S Central Local Court heard on Monday August 22 how Baulkham Hills taxi driver Leo Dourdoulakis was treated like a high roller at Hobart's Wrest Point Casino. The management flew him to Tasmania and footed the bill for his accommodation but, after three days of hospitality and special treatment reserved for only the top gamblers, he left behind a $40,000 "dud" cheque and took away $21,000 in cash. Australian Federal Police later tracked him down by showing his photograph around racetracks across NSW.

The court was told he is a heavy gambler who has incurred numerous gambling debts, but has no assets. But Dourdoulak-is's solicitor, Ruth Hazellwood. said her client "absolutely denied" the charge, that police had arrested the wrong man, and that he claimed it was all a case of mistaken identity. On August 24 he was extradited to Tasmania. On August 25 he appeared in Hobart Court of Petty Sessions, before Chief Magistrate Morris and pleaded guilty to a charge of utterinj a forged $40,000 cheque.

He was remanded in custody and committed to the Hobart Supreme Court for sentence on September 12. DOWN in Albury Local Court last Monday Alan Terence Tripp again appeared before Magistrate Clive Worry on an SP betting charge that on June 15, 1988, he used a place, namely 486 Macauley Street, Albury. for the purpose of betting. Bail was continued and the matter was adjourned to the same court cn November 24. NORTHERN shenanigans 1: Rockhampton Jockey Club secretary John Wolsey has been appointed administrator of the financially-troubled Yeppoon Amateur Racing Club.

Queensland Racing Minister Jim Randall revealed auditors had reported considerable problems within the YARC. "I understand police will investigate some financial problems associated with the club," he explained. "But I expect the administration appointed to keep things going and conduct a race meeting at Yeppoon on September 21. I anticipate that, after a reasonable time, a meeting of all members will be called to appoint a new committee." The Queensland Government, through the Racecourse Development Fund, has poured considerable money into the Yeppoon track. Randell assured creditors the club would continue to operate.

NORTHERN shenanigans 2: Latest turf highlight from Queensland's amazing Fitzgerald Inquiry probe into crime and corruption came last Wednesday when confessed bribes "bagman" Jack Herbert named 52 SP bookies protected by the Queensland Police Licensing Branch during the 1960s and 1970s. Those listed were: Jim Boyle, Col Kingston, Basil Duncan Cowan. Don De Campo, Leo Marcus Monagan. Johnny Wat-kins, William Braid Baker, John Munro, Ken Grimley. Paddy Mcln-tyre.

Lenny Dittmar, Bob Collings, Charlie Neilsen. Terry O'Donovan, Jim Beattie, Kevin Kent, Joe Cerutti, Brian Ogilvie, Jim Eustace. Mel Reid, Hector Robertson. Jack Bro-die. Bill Ziliman, Jack Meekin, John Piercey.

Bruce Bowd, Doug James, Johnny Goldsmith, Bobby Bax, Terry Law, Jack Gorman, Bill O'Reilly. Hughie Smith, Pat Hickey, Norm Duce, Margaret Otto, Ray Harris, Mick Fuller, Dr Keith' Pearson. Dr Claxton, Alex Littman, Neil Merchant. Wally Tabke, Billy Morgan, Mr and Mrs Chapman. Stan Saunders.

Jessee Rycroft, Ted Meredith, Bruce Cameron. Tom Griffiths and Con Gleeson. CRIMINAL defamation char ges against ABC journalists gott, wife of jailed British jockey Lester Piggott, has been seriously ill in hospital with head injuries, 10 broken ribs and a broken collarbone after being thrown from, and then trampled by, a horse she took for an early morning gallop. Susan had been training at her husband's stables since last October when Lester began his three-year sentence for a stg3 million tax fraud. Doctors at Addenbrooke Hospital, Cambridge, say she is "in a serious but stable condition." However Tracy Piggott, Lester and Susan's 23-year-old younger daughter, changed the family luck last Sunday with a 10 length winning debut in the saddle on a neddie named Hussam before a record attendance of 20,000 at Leopardstown.

Dublin. UNDAUNTED at missing a seat on the Southern 'Districts Racing Association board after last week's annual general meeting at the Wagga RSL Club, RIVAL candidates in the AJC Committee election Stan Peter Manning and Tony Jones may have been dropped, but civil defamation proceedings are still before the ACT Supreme Court. On August 8 the ABC Legal Department received a copy of civil defamation claims lodged by William Waterhouse. Spokesman Mark Lynch, from the ABC's LegalCopyright Administration Department, told Gadfly the ABC planned to file its defence in the next couple of months, but the action would not be heard until next year. Dumbrell.

Irwin Ormsby and Keith Stiles have joined forces to support the lobby pressing for a review of the rule changes relating to the use of therapeutic substances such as anabolic steroids. Their stand has been endorsed by the Australian and NSW Trainers' Association. NSW Racehorse Owners' Association and Practising Equine Veterinari- 82 THE SUN-HERALD, September 4. 1988.