Jamie Richards extended a family record when he rode a winner as an amateur rider at his first raceday ride at Oamaru on Friday.
His great-grandfather, Ross Curtis, was a successful amateur rider.
Curtis, grandfather of Paul Richards, father of Jamie, twice won The Duke Of Gloucester Cup, an event for amateur riders. Curtis won on Lord Dundonald at Riccarton in 1947 and Belgravia at Wingatui five years later.
Quantum Dude and Melanion, nominees for a rating 90 1600m race at Washdyke on Thursday, have had changes of stables since they last raced. Quantum Dude is now trained by Paul Harris at Rangiora.
Melanion is with Tommy Beckett at Invercargill. Quantum Dude won seven races, including the 2007 Waverley Cup, when trained by Lester Morris.
The 7yr-old resumed with a third to Hezgottow and First Wind over 1600m at Oamaru on August 15. Morris is concentrating on his manipulative work with horses.
" I am easing out of training."
The 9yr-old Melanion won eight races when trained by David Murray at Cambridge.
There has been an outbreak of strangles in Canterbury, according to veterinarians from the Canterbury Equine Clinic.
Strangles is an acute, contagious and infectious disease of horses. The majority of horses with strangles recover.
Vaccination is the best approach to cope with the disease.
