Sun Chief's Future In Doubt

Press, Volume C, Issue 29621, 18 September 1961, Page 4

Sun Chief's Future In Doubt

Sun Chief, which is rated as the best pacer in New Zealand at present, was very sore after racing in the Henry Mace Handicap at the New Brighton Trotting Club's September meeting on Saturday. The trouble is thought to be in a suspensory ligament, which could well bring his race career to a close. The Oamaru-owned and trained five-year-old will remain in Christchurch for some days to undergo treatment in the hope that the inflammation will subside. Sun Chief’s race on Satur. day was his first since he was involved In a race smash at Fohbury Park last January. Injuries received in that incident prevented his being started in the Inter-Dominion Championship series in February. The soreness after Saturday's race can probably be traced back to the Forbury Park accident.

Sun Chief had been back in work with his ownertrainer, S. W. Easton, for some weeks in preparation for the New Zealand Cup at Addington in November. He

looked well when paraded before Saturday’s race, but met trouble early. He raced up three wide to be reasonably handy racing to the straight, but then was not knocked about by M. Holmes, who quickly realised that the horse was not right.

Sun Chief walked short after the race and was very sore on cooling out. It is unfortunate he has received another setback, which could be most serious as far as his race career is concerned. He is without doubt the best pacer in the tightest classes and his possible absence from the New Zealand Cup field will rob that event and other important handicaps this season of considerable interest. The Inter-Dominion Championship Series in Perth early next year had tentatively been included in Sun Chief’s itinerary, and it was also intended that he should be sent to the United States next autumn to contest an international pacing series. His progress in the next few days will determine whether he is raced again this spring.