IGLOO INJURED

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32803, 31 December 1971, Page 7

IGLOO INJURED

(N.Z. Press Association) PERTH. The Perth Cup favourite, Igloo, has been injured and his trainer. T. J. Smith, said yesterday he was a "most unlikely" runnor in the $lOO,OOO race on Monday. The former New Zealand stayer, second in both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup this year, pulled up sore after galloping at Ascot yesterday. There was swelling in a foreleg and Smith, after calling a veterinary surgeon, cancelled plans to stay in Perth for the Cup and will return to Sydney. Ruefully looking at the swollen Smith said there was only "a very remote chance” of the horse starting in the Cup. Igloo will be treated in a desperate attempt to get him to I the post.

Igloo had galloped on a track called the "little grass” and the sharp turns and poor surface are being blamed for the I horse’s injury. Track watchers said they! heard the jockey, K. Moxham, tell Smith before thp gallop that it would be unwise to run Igloo on the "little grass ” the only grass track made available at the track yesterday. Moxham said he was astounded when he i arrived at Ascot to find the main track unavailable for training gallops. But despite Moxbam’s warning, Smith decided to work Igloo on the "little grass.” Early in the gallop, Igloo appeared to be mixed Up with two other horses, which threw him off balance. For two furlongs after the mix-up he was hanging away from the inside rail and this was when the damage was probably done.

Igloo was 5/4 on favourite for the Cup before the mishap and Smith confidently expected the Arctic Explorer horse, formerly owned and trained at Wingatui by A. E. Didham, to break the West Australian two-mile record of 3min 20sec.

With Igloo almost certain not to start, bookmakers have re* framed the market and are now quoting the local horse Kendon the 7/2 favourite.

Moxham also rode the Vic-torian-trained New Zealand horse, Spectre, in his work yesterday. Spectre ran a mile in Imin 41sec—-a good gallop on the small track.

Moxham, before he knew of the mishap to Igloo, said that in his opinion Spectre was the horse for Igloo to beat in the Cup.