BAGUSH WINS HURDLES EASILY

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30826, 11 August 1965, Page 4

BAGUSH WINS HURDLES EASILY

Favourite Kumai Runs Second

A free gallop out in front for the last nine furlongs or so carried Bagush to an easy win in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton yesterday.

Bagush won by two and a half lengths from the hot favourite, Kumai.

Bagush was one of Kumai’s most : strongly backed rivals. He had earned solid backing with a decisive win in the Jump- * ers’ Flat last Saturday ’ when ridden by P. K. * Cathro. • Cathro was unable to take • the mount on Bagush yester- ; day because of a leg injury, and P. R. Wilson was engaged yesterday morning to replace Cathro, and his chance mount gave the 21-year-old Waikato horseman a memorable win in his first ride in the race. Bagush is owned by Mr A. K. Scott, who manages a sheep station near Hunterville. Mr Scott bought the Lucky Cast gelding for 350 guineas at the dispersal sale of horses owned by the late Sir Thomas Duncan.

E. Temperton, who trains

Bagush at Awapuni, has now saddled three winners of the race.

The others were Tremello in 1948 and Gay Fellow in 1950.

Temperton also had the Wellington Winter Hurdles [winner, Saturnian, in yesteri day’s race, but Bagush carried more confidence after his Jumpers’ Flat victory. Kumai carried £46.793 5s in investments on the Grand National Hurdles including £40,389 15s of the doubles pool of £92,492. He raised the hopes of his backets when he was taken forward on the inside to be close behind Bagush going to the half-mile, but he was unable to make any impression from the home turn. Confidence

“There’s no use trying to ride a stayer like a sprinter, and that’s why I decided to let the others chase me,” Bagush’s rider, P. R. Wilson, said after the race.

Wilson said he felt confident Bagush had the stamina to run the race right out, and doubly confident when he saw B. J. Anderton niggling at Kumai near the half-mile. “There was still one to jump, but I felt sure then I would win my first Grand National Hurdles at my first attempt,” Wilson said. “Well, the handicapper was right,” commented Kumai’s rider, Brian Anderton. “He was beaten fair and square. He pulled for a moment and got well under a couple of hurdles, but he had his chance.” Anderton said he was not confident of beating Bagush on the home turn. “Every chance: not quite good enough,” said R. A. Jenkins, rider of the third horse, Game Call. Esmie Leads

Emsie began keenly and led the Grand National field by a length after the first jump. Captain Morgan trailed, just ahead of Game Call and Bagush. The next two were Compensate and Saturnian, close up, then Chesterman, Kumai, Grand Prix and Harlech. Kumai had been a bit careful at the first fence, but he was better at the second and soon running keenly. With a round to go Emsie was in front from Bagush, which had a couple of lengths on Grand Prix. Harlech and Captain Morgan were next, followed closely by Game Call, Saturnian, Kumai, Compensate, and Chesterman. In the approach to the jump near Cutts’, Bagush ran strongly past Emsie into a clear lead. But he was joined near the mile by Harlech. With five furlongs to go Harlech and Bagush shared the pacemaking, a couple of lengths out from Kumai, Game Call, and Emsie (inside). The others, led by Captain Morgan, were already beginning to fall away. Bagush edged away from Harlech a little further on, and came to the straight clear of Game Call and Kumai. Emsie was tired, but handy to Game Call and Kumai. Bagush came into the last fence with only Kumai, close on the inside, seeming capable of a challenge. Once over it was all Bagush, which increased his lead slightly in the run home for a decisive win. Game Call was a distant third and a length in front of Emsie. Captain Morgan was five lengths away fifth and a length and a half ahead of Harlech. There was a further, bigger gap to Saturnian and Compensate, then Grand Prix.