An unusual double within reach of Brutus

Press, 23 October 1978, Page 12

An unusual double within reach of Brutus

By

J. J. BOYLE

Brutus might attempt to complete an unusual Labour Day week-end : double todav.

He was back in his home paddock yesterday afternoon 500 km from the scene of his triumph in the $lO,OOO Gore Guineas Trial on Saturday, and if his Tuahiwi trainer Ray Harris is satisfied with ■ him this morning the nuggety speedster will run in the North Canterbury Racing Club’s Canterbury Stakes today. Brutus was taken south last week by the Riccarton jockey, Maurice Thornley. It was an eventful as well as a rewarding trip. Thornley completed one leg of the trip back to Canterbury with Brutus on Saturday night by driving as far as Wingatui. Just as he was driving slowly into the property of the trainer. Stan McKay, a wheel on the four-wheeled trailer float came off, but Brutus was unmarked in the mishap, and Thornley phoned Harris later to report that the young star of the stable had eaten heartily. Harris said yesterday that Brutus had nothing like a hard race winning the valuable Gore race for three-year-olds, but would wait until this morning before deciding if the colt has shaken off the effects of his trip from Southland. If Brutus is taken out of the field for today's race Aramis will probably be a pronounced favourite. Aramis finished first, then was relegated to second behind Lejano in the Dunedin Guineas. Brutus did not oppose them in the Dunedin Guineas or in the John Grigg Stakes at Ashburton. But when they met over 1200 m on the first day of the Ashburton meeting on’ September 9, Brutus finished second (to Hi Roona) and Aramis was fourteenth in a field of 16. Aramis improved enough with that race and on better footing to run third in the John Grigg Stakes, and after his ill fortune in the Dunedin

Guineas there could be no more popular winner today. But if Brutus is in the line-up against him it should be a Icontest in real earnest, and many will believe they are ■ on to a dead-set quinella. Grey Way will be one of the big attractions at\ Rangiora today. He won his first race there ■ six years ago. In the mean-1

time he has won 40 times more and if the footing remains good today he should triumph under top-weight in the second leg of the T.A.B. double. Another top-weight’s victory seems likely in the first leg, the Rangiora Centennial Cup. Sir James should show the benefit of his placed run in

last week’s Geraldine Cup when he appears today, and is expected to turn the tables on Royal Dell. Royal Dell won the corresponding race at Rangiora a year ago. Last week he was promoted to first when Young Kelly was relegated from that position after leading for most of the way in the Geraldine Cup.