Big offers refused for Little Brown Jug

Press, 28 November 1979, Page 26

Big offers refused for Little Brown Jug

~ By J. ,U BOYLE Two S2OOdJOO offers for Little BrowrirJug have been made in the iliast week or so, but the connections of the star . threei-jyear-old have turned themfdown. One of Che offers was made by Mr Peter Kelly, Wrightson’s Palmerston North bloodstock manager and leading lauctioneer who, it is believed!, was acting for an Australian client. “I would, be surprised if Mr Ballin and his partners took s3oo,otho for the colt,” Little Brown Jug’s Riccarton trainer, Pejier Jones, said yesterday. Little Bix/wn Jug yesterday had ; his first gallop right-handeid as part of his build-up for his engagements in the Avondale Guineas and the New Zealand Derby next month. He werst on the course proper, was restricted to 60.4 s for lus opening 800 m, was allowed to stretch out.

around the next turn and along the back straight. He completed 1800 m on a well-grassed but firm track in 2min 3.65, running from the 800 m to the 1600 m in 50.65, and on to the 1800 m in Imin 3.25. Little Brown Jug’s regular rider, “Tito” Poblete, was satisfied with the colt’s first try at speed right-handed. Little Brown Jug will be an attraction for the Canterbury Jockey Club next week in the first contest for a $lO,OOO weight-for-age race over 1600 m. He will be then flown north for the Avondale Guineas, and will be brought back to Riccarton after running in the New Zealand Derby. Jones said yesterday that he did not wish to make extra demands on Little Brown Jug with starts in weight-for-age races in the north. After the New Zealand Derby Little Brown Jug’s! main summer mission would! be the Wellington Derby.)

Then, he said, it would be time enough to decide* whether to take the colt toj Sydney for the A.J.C. Derby; next Easter. Although Little Brown Jug appears to have the ability to tap the riches of the Sydney carnival next Easter, Jones said yesterday that the colt might not be taken out of New Zealand until next spring, with big weight-for-age races in Melbourne to form the programme. Jones said yesterday that he would be keen to take the promising Athos to Melbourne next spring with Little Brown Jug and run him in the V.R.C. Derby. Athos is now spelling and will be brought back in the autumn to run in the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Champagne Stakes at Easter. His spring ‘ programme 'produced one win, and he ran third in the C.J.C. Wellcome Stakes, but his connections are acting in the I belief that he will be best