Trainer Critical Of Handling

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30745, 8 May 1965, Page 6

Trainer Critical Of Handling

“This news has really flattened me,” said the Addington trainer, A. J. Bourne, last night.

Bourne, who prepared Vanderford for all but three of his wins said he felt his youngest daughter would have handled the situation better.

He was at a loss to understand why the horse could not have been brought under control.

“When a horse gets down and they can get close enough to put a bag over his head it beats me why they couldn’t have kept him under control,” Bourne said.

Vanderford, he said, had given a bit of trouble on one flight from Christchurch to Auckland, but his attendant had used a twitch —a leather nose strap—on him, and noone had a moment’s worry. The horse had given no trouble at all on numerous flights later.

The news of Vanderford’s violent death also came as a great shock to his former owner, Mr W. O. Barnes, who recently became licensee of the Hill Top Hotel at Little River.

“It’s just about knocked the feet from under me,” he said. “We were very attached to him He was just like a member of the family.” Vanderford started racing as a two-year-old in the 196162 season. During his racing career he won £15,910 in stakes.

Vanderford usually flew everywhere in New Zealand. “We never had any trouble

with him,” he said. “He was a wonderful traveller.”

Held Option 1 Mr Barnes sold Vanderford to United International Stables in Toronto with an option to repurchase him in three years. He would not say how much he had been paid for Vanderford, but admitted it ran into five figures. “I was going to bring him back to New Zealand for stud services,” he said. “That was part of the agreement.” Vanderford was a five-year-old bay by Great Evander from Ilford Girl. Mr Barnes leased Vanderford with an option to purchase him when he was 12 months old. He started racing as a two-year-old in the 196162 season. Greatest Triumph

His greatest triumph, Mr Barnes said, was beating Cardigan Bay to win the Flying Stakes at Ashburton in 1963. It was a performance that capped seven wins in succession. Vanderford was trained early in his career by D. N. Hayes, of Kumeu, but it was from A. J. Bourne’s Woolston stables that he enjoyed most of his successes. Vanderford had 15 wins and 39 placings for £15,910 in stakes. This season he had won £4735, but had won only once, beating Waitaki Hanover and Jay Ar in a free-for-all at Auckland in the spring. He had been placed in 19 of his other 23 starts, including fourths in the New Zealand and Auckland Cups. Horses On Flight

The horses on the flight with Vanderford were Adios Command,. Brilliant Adios, Flying Blue, Guiness and a filly by Morris Eden from Logan Belle. The filly, which was bred by Mr M. Andrews, of Prebbleton, was the first foal exported from New Zealand. The Canadian syndicate attempted to secure a full load of eight horses last month, but some of the owners approached refused substantial four-figure offers and others with lesser horses asked extremely high prices which the syndicate refused to consider. A seventh horse booked for the flight, Te Kaumanawa, did not make the trip. The horses were accompanied on the flight by the Canadian syndicate's trainer, D. McNutt, and by the Auckland owner-trainers, J. J. Cooney and D. Johnston.