OUR BRUCE IN FORM

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28322, 6 July 1957, Page 7

OUR BRUCE IN FORM

Second Day At Avondale

"The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND. July 5. ■ flv t-year-old Ellerslie geld- !? g ’ ® ruce ' is selected to win the Churchill Handicap, the prineven‘ and first leg ot the double on the concluding day of the Avondale Jockey Club’s winter meeting tomorrow. Success has eluded Our Bruce for more than two years, but he thoroughly deserves a win because he has made several fine showings for minor placings. He has seldom looked better than he does at present. The Churchill Handicap is run over one mile and three furlongs for a stake of £l6OO. A —three more than the safety limit—is engaged, and luck in the running is sure to play an important part. The hardest for Our Bruce to beat may be Flying Meteor, Spring Fair, Palford, if he runs, and Arva. Muscular Soreness

The doubt about Palford starting has been caused by muscular soreness, which prevented him from working on Tuesday morning. Palford has been lame several times throughout his career, but he usually makes a quick recovery, and his trainer, L. Cunningham, is confident that he will be fit to race tomorrow, Palford, Our Bruce, Spring Fair, Flying Meteor and Arva finished second, fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth respectively, in the Rawson Handicap on the first day. Our Bruce was most impressive, because he came from an apparently hopeless position at the half-mile. If he receives a reasonable run in the Churchill Handicap he should be prominent. Greek Legend looks to have bright prospects of winning his third race for the season when he contests the Waitemata Hack Handicap, the second leg. Greek Legend meets Setanta, his conqueror on the first day, on 41b better terms, and it should be sufficient for him to turn the tables. There is a wealth of recent form available, and it should be a good betting race. The fields in the supporting events are large, and they contain a good percentage of horses which ran prominently on the first day. A lot of rain has fallen during the week and the track looks certain to be very heavy. Selections:—

11 a.m.—Bledisloe Hack Hurdles: Ben Vola, Little Count, Recount.

11.50 a.m—First New Lynn Handicap: Bohemian, Statement, Erin’s Bridge.

12.30 p.m.—Whau Steeplechase: Wigwam, Wattie, Our Star. 1.20 a.m.—Churchill Handicap: Our Bruce. Flying Meteor, Spring Fair. 2.5 p.m.—Grey Lynn Handicap: Helenita, Yardgar, Talleyrand.

2.55 p.m.—Waitemata Handicap: Greek. Legend. Setanta, Tarry Town. 3.40 p.m.—Second New Lynn Handicap: Beau Line, James Fox, Distinctive.

4.30 p.m.—Telegraph Handicap: Gay Sailor, Tups, Uppercut.