'M.B.J.' not at peak

Press, 30 August 1980, Page 25

'M.B.J.' not at peak

NZPA Melbourne

The New Zealand galloper, My Brown Jug, the Caulfield Gup favourite, is two or three runs away from peak fitness, according to his trainer Peter Jones of Ric ; carton. <<•. ■■■-;</ But Jones will be disappointed if his horse races badly in the $25,000 Liston Stakes (1400 m at Sandown today. "He is still too pretty," said Jones, from Morningtori .where, the four-year-old shed stabled, "but he has

thrived here and I would not be surprised to see him win." w : My Brown Jug he has shed the prefix' "Little"rat the direction of the Australian Registrar of Racehorses — is a 9-2 equal favourite with Family of Man and Gondolier in the weight-for-age event today. It is, Jones said, My Brown Jug’s most serious test.

“There are some fine weight-for-age horses in the field, but if we are to be serious about the Cup races he has to show that he is

capable of matching the best." ■

Jones said the testing Sandown straight would hold no terrors for My Brown Jug. “He has a weight-for-age win to his credit. at. Dunedin where the uphill finish is really tough,” he said. My Brown Jug was very impressive at Mornington in trackwork on Thursday and was never off the bit, running 800 m in 56s six metres out on the steeple grass. The Liston Stakes will be run at 4.45 p,m. (New Zealand time).