Bon Filou’s Career Finished

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30900, 5 November 1965, Page 4

Bon Filou’s Career Finished

Bon Filou. one of the best stayers developed at Riccarton in recent years, has finished racing.

The 1964 Wellington Cup winner bled in a recent race in Melbourne, and a long spell would have been necessary even if hopes were held for another racing programme.

Bon Filou raced in New Zealand as Gay Filou but the change of name was necessary when 1. McClure took him to Australia in the winter of 1964. In some of his races in Australia he was opposed by Melbourne's Gay Filou, another Le Filou gelding bought in New Zealand.

Bon Filou’s best wins in New Zealand, apart from the Wellington Cup, were the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Great Autumn Handicap and the Wellington Hutt Handicap. In Australia last spring he won the Coongy Handicap and was beaten by inches in the Hotham Handicap.

Last autumn he ran third in the Sydney Cup, won by River Seins, and second in

the Autumn Stakes, won by Craftsman. Mr D. D. Fea, of Winton, who bought Bon Filou as a yearling and raced him in partnership with Mr Reece Smith, of Christchurch, will return from Melbourne today.

Mr Fea has his consistent Isaac of York gelding. Flying York, engaged at the New Zealand Cup meeting. He will run tomorrow in the Riccarton Handicap. Flying York's Wingatui trainer. A. E. Didham, who was also in Melbourne for the cup, will also return today.

Another form runner for the Didham stable tomorrow is Bastille. This half-brother to the brilliant Adelaide filly, Te Parae, will contest the Hagley Handicap tomorrow.