BUSH CREEK GAVE MIXED DISPLAY

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32048, 24 July 1969, Page 4

BUSH CREEK GAVE MIXED DISPLAY

The versatile jockey, R. Weaver, injured his back in a schooling fall at Riccarton yesterday but hopes to be fit to ride Mosque and Radiant Light in their engagements at the Christ-' church Hunt meeting on: Saturday.

Weaver went out to school Bush Creek in company with Duldul (Mr B. Tims) over six fences on the steeplechase course.

Bush Creek, whose jumping on earlier visits to Riccarton had been of a good standard, blundered at the first fence, the carriage paddock brush, and bumped Weaver to the ground. He was unable to continue when it was decided to try again, and W. J. Hillis took over. They made another start at the carriage paddock brush, then on to Cutis’s, finishing at the kennels double. Some of Bush Creek’s jumping was untidy, but the grey improved towards the end.

Duldul did not do at all badly' over fences that were

to him. i Duldul will run In the 'Westenra Cup on Saturday, j forming a strong bracket with White Wine, winner of his last i two races for the Hillis i stable. ! The Riccarton-trained In-

dian Chief will probably run in the Homeby Steeples instead of the Lawford and A. Cowan will ride Mr J. D. Gregan’s consistent King’s Command gelding.

Robert Earl and Marco Lass, the two Waikato jumpers in the Homeby, arrived at Riccarton on Tuesday and were exercised yesterday.

Marco Lass is trained at Matamata by N. Crawford,

who feels that any change of luck for him at Riccarton could only be for the better. In the 1950 s he prepared the good ’chaser French Echo, which was consistently placed in major races at Riccarton but found a Grand National elusive. He won the Homeby in 1958 but lost a great chance in the Christchurch Hunt Club’s feature race on another occasion when his bit broke. J. Singers, the Matangi owner-trainer of Robert Earl, had high hopes of winning the 1967 Grand National after his Earldom gelding won the Homeby a week earlier in record time. But he was out of the race at the second fence in the National with a dislodged ball joint and for a time it was thought this would end his racing career. He was out of work for six months and has returned for a second tilt at the Homeby as a last-start winner. His success was in the Hastings Steeplechase on June 28.