BRUCE’S TRIP TO SYDNEY

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25737, 24 February 1949, Page 7

BRUCE’S TRIP TO SYDNEY

DEPARTURE NEXT WEEK Bruce, which has been entered for important autumn races in Sydney, will be taken by his trainer. L. J. Ellis, to Wellington next Tuesday and will sail in the Wanganella for Sydney on Thursday of next week. The trip seemed in doubt recently when one of Bruce’s legs filled, but he has thrown off the trouble. He worked on the plough at Riccarton on Tuesday, sprinting over the last three furlongs with Peridot in 39Jsec.

The Australian rule which forbids trainers to ride their horses means that an Australian jockey will ride Bruce in his engagements.

In his last six starts this season Bruce has had two wins, one second, and three thirds. His performances under big weights in the Auckland and Wellington Cups after finishing second in the last New Zealand Cup to Sir Garnish drew attentiofi to his class as a stayer. He was third in the Auckland Cup to Frances and Coral Arc and third in the Wellington Cup to Royal Tan and The Grate. Bruce's stake earnings now total £16,880. He was the leading stake-earner in the 1946-47 season with £BO3O. Full Play for Trentham

Full Play remained at Riccarton under the care of his Riverton trainer, W. McKay, after racing at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s summer meeting this month. He will race at the Wellington meeting next month and has been nominaed for both the Thompson Handicap and the Railway Handicap on the first day. The Salmagundi gelding was not at his best when he raced at Riccarton, but should be in good fettle at Trentham. Back in Work

Wide Range, which had to be put aside because of unsoundness after winning the main event at the North Canterbury meeting last October has been recommissioned by A. Cutts, and it is hoped that he will stand up to another preparation. The five-year-old Wild Chase horse is a capable galloper. Clear-cut Win

Fine Night’s success In the Waikaka Handicap, a mile and a half, at Gore on Saturday was clear cut He covered some extra ground getting up to the leaders over the first half-mile, but from then he was not further back than second. He followed Sea Flower into the straight and, although the latter did not submit without fighting on inside the last furlong, Fine Night outstayed her to win well at the finish. The Nightly gelding was much better handled than on the first day when he finished third, and in his present form he promises to play a leading part in the principal handicaps at the Dunedin meeting. Track. Too Hard

St. Bruno was heavily bandaged when he reappeared at Gore on Saturday, and on a hard track he went down very short in his preliminary. He raced about the middle of the field throughout the sprint race but was last to finish. On an easing track he may be altogether a different proposition, but his immediate prospects may not be bright on firm going. Sprinting Ability

Sea Power came into his own a sprinter at the Gore meeting, that being his first appearance in this role for more than two seasons. He gave the leaders a big start into the straight, but over the last furlong he put in a devastating run which made him a narrow winner. It appeared that Naughty Lady was a clear-cut winner and her name was hoisted by the judge as the winner and a photo was called to decide second placing .between Sea Power and Bonny Royal. When the photo was produced it was found that Sea Power had beaten Naughty Lady by half a head, with Bonny Royal a nose away third. Olio Shows Promise

Olio drew attention to her Wingatui prospects by a runaaway win against a useful hack field over a mile and a quarter at Gore on Saturday. She ran to the front at the straight entrance and came right away over the last furlong to win by eight lengths in 2min Bsec, a particularly good gallop on a greasy track. The conditions appeared to suit her, and it was by far her best performance to late. She is a small Salmagundi mare from Dusk by Foxlight from Helen Grey, by Greyspear from Helen Winkie, by Winkie. and she should continue to race well over middle distances. Gleneagles Promising

The performance of Gleneagles to win the Mataura High-wcight at Gore stamped him as a young stayer of marked ability and likely to play a leading part in the hack distance races at the Dunedin meeting which opens on Saturday. Gleneagles ran to the front with three furlongs to go, and he looked to be in for an easy win inside the last furlong when Lance Art tackled him. When asked for a further effort over the last 100 yards Gleneagles came on again to win narrowly but well. He is a four-year-old Siegfried gelding from Glentruin’s Daughter, an unraced sister to a smart sprinter in Lochlaggen and a member of the same family as Grill, Burnbrae, Cruden Bay, Baitruin, Hotch Potch, and others. There was an inquiry into his improved form, but the explanation of his party was accepted. Troublesome at Barrier

Surprising support came for Beaugard in the open sprint race at Gore, but after being slow to jump out he again finished near the tail of the field. The Beau‘Vite four-year-old is not lacking in ability, but he has proved troublesome at the start in his last two races. Unlucky Runner

Naughty Lady appealed the unlucky runner in the Charlton Handicap at Gore, and her apprentice rider may nave been caught. She had the result in safe keeping a few yards from the post, at which stage she was not being asked of her best. It was the whirlwind finishing effort by Sea Power that clinched the issue and turned what might have been a decisive win for Naughty Lady into a half-head defeat.

Staying Prospect Turora’s placing in the Mataura Highweight at Gore was not without merit, and evidently Vie was all the better for his race on the first day. On Saturday he was prominently placed to the half mile where he lost his position, but once clear m the run home he did well to get up for third. The Siegfried gelding will not be without prospects in the hack distance races at Wingatui.

At Peak Form Sea Flower raced right up to her first day’s form on Saturday when she was the only one to make a race of it witn Fine Night. As on the first day she ran to the front in the middle stages, and when Fine Night tackled her inside the last furlong, she did not give any ground until she weakened in the last 100 yards. Sea Flower lacks nothing on the score of gameness and she is right at the peak of her form. Clear-cut Win

Glenlivet’s novice success at Gore on Saturday yas clear-cut. After being first out from the barrier he was not afterwards headed, and won with something to spare. He is a good-looking Sir Simper three-year-old from Free Service, an Iliad mare from Solanau, by Solferino from Te Anau Maid, the dam also of Salmo Salar, Milford, and Waiau Queen, the last-named producing Benbecula. Sal’s Pal, and Sister Sal. Glenlivet will not be out of his depth when produced in open hack races at the Dunedin meeting.