Job will decide Barry Stuarts future

Press, 2 September 1980, Page 29

Job will decide Barry Stuarts future

PA J * Wellington If She Masterton ownertrainer Mr Bill Reading, cannot obtain further leave of absence from his job, the top stayer Barry Stuart will return to New Zealand from Melbourne within a couple of weeks.

»• This was the message from Mr Reading, at the week-end after he had had problems with the horse last week.

One of New Zealand’s brightest Melbourne Cup prospects, Barry Stuart apparently went ' berserk early last week when Mr Reading ventured out of Melbourne for a couple of days and left the horse in the care of the Caulfield trainer, Jack Hayes. • Mr Reading is now loathe to return to New Zealand and again leave the horse in the care of a stranger. He was to return ,to his job as training officer at Borthwicks-C.W.S., Waingawa freezing works on September 13 and then go back .again to Australia nearing Melbourne Cup time. However, after the horse’s recent antics, he applied last week for further leave from his employer but was turned down.

“I’m hopeful they will change their minds and let me stav,” said Mr Reading. “If they don’t I’ll just have to bring him home. There’s no way I can leave him there with someone else. He just goes mad.” A spokesman for Borth-wicks-C;W.S. said yesterday Mr Reading had used up leave entitlements and that details of his trip to Australia had been, mutually agreed to by both parties before departure. i The spokesman added that as far as. the company was concerned Mr Reading was obligated to return to his job under the terms of the mutual agreement previously arranged. “We have gone out of our way to offer him more leave so he can go back across nearer to' Cup time and that’s where it stands at the moment,”, said the spokesman.

■ Meanwhile Mr Reading has the horse ■ entered for next Saturday’s Heatherlie Handicap. (1800 m at Caulfield and for the $25,000 Craiglee Stakes at Flemington the following week: •Mr Reading .says the horse has been working in his best style since his first up win at Caulfield a fortnight ago. “He’s been * . working brilliantly and has really thrived since the win,” said Mr Reading. “He was .only 50 p?r cent right when he won and was '■ nearly. brought dpwn 100 metres after-the start. ■ Harry White was really impressed with him and thinks ,he’s •a; great chance in the Cups.”

;If Mr Reading and his employers crime to some arrangement enabling the former to remain in Australia, Barry Stuart will go up to Sydney for next month’s $120,500 Metropolitan Handicap (2600 m “I’m not going up there just to try and qualify for the Caulfield Cup though,” said Mr Reading. “I’m not really Worried about the Caulfield Cup. The Melbourne Cup is the big one and, he’s already qualified for that.” Barry Stuart is presently second favourite for the Metropolitan behind another New Zealand-bred, Lord Banker.' • .

Bob Vance will cross the Tasman to ride the horse if he does start. ‘