Reassurance on Uncle Remus

Press, 26 August 1978, Page 18

Reassurance on Uncle Remus

Special correspondent Auckland The connections of Uncle s Remus probably derived > some reassurance from the i win of a Takanini runner at ■ Pukekohe recently, the six-year-old mare Black Pepper. Black Pepper had an operjation for respiratory trouble ; practically identical to, and 'just three weeks before, the Jone performed on Uncle i Remus. It was her third i comeback race when she 1 won at Pukekohe on August 5, in a maiden 1200 m. The trainer, W. H. De Man, said that Black Pepper' !■ was “well and truly gone’’ before her wind operation, she could be heard 150 m. away. She was a bit noisy i still in her breathing when paceworking but it was not noticeable when she went at speed. After her operation, by a | Drury veterinary surgeon, Mr J. Ewen, Black Pepper was let up for a month and Ishe was then trotted and

generally exercised on the roads before being brought 5 back to the training tracks. It was much too early to ' declare yet, said the trainer, 'C. M. Jillings, this week whether Uncle Remus would '.start in the Caulfield Cup or any of the big spring races. ■ Jillings had been asked to N comment on a report that *! Uncle Remus would certain1i ly miss the Caulfield Cup 3 and be kept for the Mel- *■ bourne Cup. ? ! A part-owner, Mr K. F. 1 ; Clotworthy, said he pre- ! ferred the Melbourne Cup as a race for Uncle Remus '' rather than the Caulfield ’ i Cup but all decisions on the ’ i horse’s programme were left '•!to Jillings.