Racing: Premiership lead risk

Matthew Cameron's chances of taking the apprentice premiership gained a boost and then a hindrance at Otaki yesterday.

Cameron moved into a share of the lead on the apprentices' table when he combined with Don't Ya Lovett to win the $15,000 Winter Championship Qualifier (1300m).

But he was suspended for seven meetings for excessive whip use aboard the second-placed Salt in race five.

The suspension begins after the Cambridge meeting on Wednesday and is up to and including July 13.

Cameron had jumped to second placed on the apprentices' premiership when landing a winning treble at New Plymouth last Thursday and yesterday took his season tally to 43. He shares the lead with Cameron Lammas who had recorded 43 wins when his apprenticeship ended last month.

Cameron's boss Allan Sharrock said they would consider an appeal.

It is Cameron's third excessive whip charge in recent weeks after being suspended for three days at Woodville in early May and then five days at Te Rapa soon after. He was also found guilty on the same charge twice last year.

Despite those charges, it has been a big season for Cameron.

The 18-year-old had recorded just 23 wins at the start of the current season but has lifted his game significantly this term. He still has 13 months of his apprenticeship to go.

Don't Ya Lovett was having his third run back this campaign when he took the honours from favourite Figurinit with Magic Moon just holding third from Plaything and Bulginbaah.

Sharrock said there was still a lot of improvement in Don't Ya Lovett, who is already a warm favourite for the $80,000 Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton on August 6.

He was a $7 favourite when the TAB opened the Winter Cup market last week and he came him into $5.50 after today's win. He is a clear favourite ahead of Balmuse ($10), Go Thenaki ($11) and Lazaros ($14).

Sharrock is unsure of lead-up plans. He is considering the $40,000 Winter Championship Final (1400m) at Trentham on July 9 and the $50,000 Opunake Cup on July 23.

He favours the Hawera race as he is wary of racing Don't Ya Lovett on a very heavy track at Trentham.

"I feel the Trentham mud can take some leg speed out of them," he said.

A $41,000 yearling purchase, Don't Ya Lovett is a product of Ardsley Stud in the Wairarapa. He is by the stud's former successful sire Lord Ballina and from the Sound Reason mare Sea Huntress, who has also left Albacora, Comb The Seas and Gull.

Sharrock races in the horse in partnership with Aucklanders Butch Glover and Bob Lovett.

- NZPA