Racing and trotting Uncle Remus doing well

Press, 13 April 1978, Page 23

Racing and trotting Uncle Remus doing well

Special Correspondent Hastings There is at least a 70 per cent chance that Uncle' Remus will be back in ac-| tion next spring. Mr Kim Clotworthy, one of the part-owners of the champion three-year-old J said in Waipukurau on Monday evening that both hei and the veterinarian who performed the operation on the horse were confident that the horse will come' back to racing. “I’ve had him home at myl place for a fortnight now and am delighted with the way he has come through. 1 sincerely hope he will be back in the spring, and give him a 70 to 80 per cent chance,” said Clotworthy.

Mr Clotworthy was one of five prominent racing identities who formed a panel for a public discussion evening at Waipukurau. The others were Colin Jillings, the trainer of Uncle ‘Remus, Ralph Stuart, and Brian Smith, owner and trainer of Bal.merino, and Peter Grieve, part-owner and trainer of braless.

Mr Stuart was asked of the progress made by Balmenno in England. He said that the conditions there suited his horse and that he was doing pretty well. Mr Stuart receives a weekly letter from the horse’s English trainer and said that the horse was all set to start off * fresh campaign on April to

Possibly the most controversial question put forward was one that has been

in people’s minds for some time now. Who is the better horse: Balmerino or Uncle Remus? Mr Clotworthy, showing a lot of modesty said. ‘‘Personally, Balmerino is the best horse I have seen in the last 20 years.” He recalled Balmerino’s win in the 1977 Air New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie when he gave such great horses as Battle Eve and Tudor Light a five-length start on the home turn, yet passed them as though they were nailed to the ground.

Mr Brian Smith said he knew of only two horses which had run the last 800 m |of a race in under 45s and I they were Uncle Remus and j Balmerino. He said they raced differently and both he and Clotworthy agreed that one could not judge the two until they met on the track. Mr Colin Jillings, who has trained winners of the Auckland, Wellington, and New Zealand Cups among many I others, said “Uncle Remus is the best horse by a furlong | that 1 have had anything to Ido with.”

Jillings said that although the horse was a colt his nature was so good that he was a trainer’s dream. Mr Peter Grieve was . asked what the future held for his fine little filly, BraJess. He said that the horse i would now go out into the ’ paddock for 2| months and i would be brought back for i the spring racing. Mr Grieve said he had a • yearling half brother to BraI less in commission and the I filly’s dam. Snuggles was in I foal to Showoff II again.

Both Clotworthy and Stuart said that they would like to eventually stand their horses at stud in New Zealand. But Mr Stuart said that the National Stud in

England was trying to take ■over Balmerino. Stuart said that Balmerino’s racing career would be over at the end of this year while Clotworthy’s dream is to take Uncle Remus to Australia, on to England and then back home.