Little Brown Jug to atone in Derby

Press, 26 December 1979, Page 14

Little Brown Jug to atone in Derby

Special correspondent Auckland For all the hard cash he cost his backers last time, the Riccarton colt Little Brown Jug, remains favourite for the $lOO,OOO New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie today. The story of Little Brown Jug’s defeat into fifth place at Avondale, where he attempted his ninth win on end, has been done to death. A simple fact is that he was ridden badly. The hope all around is that David Peake, so thoroughly accustomed to Ellerslie, will give the colt a better chance to show his ability. Peake finished second on Little Brown Jug at Trenitham last summer and in preparation for today he went from Takanini to (Avondale last Wednesday and Monday to manage the horse in his two trials at speed.

Never one to over enthuse, Peake declared himself thoroughly satisfied with the way Little Brown Jug went each time. The opinion of the trainer, Peter Jones, is that the colt could not be better.

Jones allowed Little Brown Jug a steady 1600 m in his training on Saturday and a quicker run on Mon-

day when the horse did the last 800 m in around 48s. If Little Brown Jug is successful he will be the first South Island winner of the Derby at Ellerslie since Dalray in 1952, although it has to be said that not many from there have since attempted the race. Peake has one Derby win at Ellerslie to his credit, on Corroboree in 1972. That was in the ninety-ninth and last Great Northern Derby, the name being then changed to the New Zealand Derby. The tactics Peake employs on Little Brown Jug will be interesting. The colt has won most times with a sharp sprint home after settling well back in the field, but there seems no reason why, she should not make it easier on himself by keeping up handy to the pace. Next to Little Brown Jug the runners being most considered are the Takanini

gelding Caterman, Owens from Te Awamutu, Via Condios, which is another from Takanini, and an Otaki colt, Top Castle. Caterman will be having his second race for a Californian, Mr T. M. Cavanagh, who bought the horse early this month. He very nearly won the first, the Avondale Guineas, battling out the 2000 m as though likely to manage the 2400 m this afternoon as capably as most. Owens confirmed the impression he made in his Avondale Guineas win of being a good, tough custom-1 er, by running so well at Te; Awamutu last Saturday. ;

Via Condios looked even more likely to do something really worth-while before long when fourth in the 1600 m at Te Awamutu and Top Castle shaped so well when a close third in the Avondale Guineas that he has to be allowed a chance.