TROTTING Cardinal Bruce A Winner Clockwise

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31597, 7 February 1968, Page 5

TROTTING Cardinal Bruce A Winner Clockwise

“The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND.

Cardinal Bruce is one Australian candidate for the Inter-Dominion Championships who will not be troubled by the right-handed Alexandra Park track. He has raced four times on right-handed Australian country tracks and has won each time.

His trainer-driver, B. Stocks, said at Alexandra Parte yesterday: “I’m not worried about the track, only about the opposition.”

However, he felt that if Cardinal Bruce showed his best form he would be hard to beat. “He is a prettygood horse,” Stocks said.

A five-year-old gelding by Deep Adios (now at the stud in Southland) from Conceal, Cardinal Bruce has had 24 wins, including five this season.

He was third in the $14,000 A. G. Hunter Cup at Melbourne on January 13 and fifth in the $lO,OOO Summer Cup at Harold Park on January 26.

Stocks said Cardinal Bruce was unlucky in the Summer Cup. “He had anything but a good run,” he said. Stocks, who trains at Bathhurst, about 100 miles west of Sydney, is making his fourth attempt to win the championship. He had high hopes for El Tegra at the Perth series in 1962, but the horse travelled badly and raced accordingly. El Tegra could not handle the track at Adelaide the next year. Even more disappointing for Stocks at the Adelaide carnival was the break-down of Grogan. “He had 18 starts for 15 wins and was the early favourite,” said Stocks. “He might not have beaten Cardigan Bay but, with his start, he could have been tough.” Stocks had more bad luck at Melbourne in 1964, when Soho Rose broke a bone in his foot a week before the series started. “He was the second favourite at the time,” said Stocks. "My other horse, Billabong Chief, wasn't good enough.” Cardinal Bruce has been profitable for his owner, Mrs M. Yates, of Sydney, who bought him two years ago for $l6OO. “He had just been beaten in a race for three-year-olds—-and a certainty beaten he was, too, when Mrs Yates bought him,” said Stocks. “If he had

won the race, the price would have been much higher.” Cardinal Bruce won 516.000 in Mrs Yates’s interests.

Eight of the nine Australian horses which arrived in Auckland on Sunday night were inspected by the stipendiary stewards, Messrs H. C. Fryer and B. J. Dwyer, at Alexandra Park on Monday morning. Halwes went straight to Pukekohe, where he is being quartered at R. Purdon’s stables. He was inspected yesterday morning. Mr Fryer said he was impressed by the Australian horses. “If they race as well as they look, they should do well at the championships,” he said.

Delvin Dancer, gave a good deal of trouble on the wayover, as well as beforehand. As he was being loaded on to the plane, he bit one of the hands of B. Gath, a son of the trainer, G. Gath. “He made a mess of the hand,” said G Gath, “and I’m doubtful whether. Brian will be able to come over to drive Delvin Dancer and my other horse. Corop McElwyn.” Gath said he planned to ask the South Australian reinsman, W. Shinn, to do the driving. “He will be here as a South Australian delegate,” said Gath. Gath is under suspension. P. Coulson, the trainerdriver of Binshaw and Blue Pennant, and B. Stocks (Cardinal Bruce) also have driving problems. Both Coulson and Stocks are suspended from driving. But Stocks thinks he will be able to drive. His fourweek suspension will expire on Friday night.