Bob Skelton off M.B.J.

Press, 22 September 1980, Page 27

Bob Skelton off M.B.J.

; The former New Zealand jockey, Bob Skelton, has teri minated his association with My Brown Jug for the remainder of the Riccarton four-year-old’s spring campaign in Australia. i A message received from Melbourne last evening confirmed Skelton’s decision io quit the My Brown Jug camp and continue his: association with Our Epi-; logue in all of his spring engagements.

Skelton and Our Epilogue, which is being campaigned in Australia by his partowner and trainer, Gn»bam Warwick, combined successfully for a handsome victory in the Kilmore Cup last Wednesday. NZPA reports from Melboyrnbe that Mr Herb Kendall, a part-owner of My Brown Jug, and the colt’s trainer, Peter Jones, had a disagreement after the colt ran second in the John F. Feehan Stakes (1600 m at Moonee Valley on Saturday. The argument was about Skelton’s ride on the four-year-old. which has now slipped from favouritism for next month’s Caulfield Cup.

Mr Kendall criticised Skelton but Jones backed the jockey saying: “He was a victim of circumstance and you don’t known what you are talking about.” My Brown Jug was caught

four-wide in the field of seven on the first turn and then Skelton dashed him round the outside to challenge the leaders near the 1200 m.

At that stage My Brown Jug was still three wide but Alan Trevana on Arbogast passed the New Zealander on the outside to set a three lengths lead turning for home.

But My Brown Jug fought on to close the gap to one length at the winning post.

“I didn’t know what to do soon after the start but decided to go forward and force the issue rather than go back to last and have no hope when the field sprinted near the 600 m,” said Skelton.

He said My Brown Jug had turned in a “reasonable performance.” My Brown Jug, now S to 1 equal second favourite with Brava Jeannie behind the Kingston Town (6-tol) in the latest Sydney markets for the $205’000 Caulfield Cup on October IS will next race on Thursday in the $3 0,000 weight-for-age Underwood Stakes (2000 m at Caulfield.

Last week, the top Melbourne jockey, Roy Higgins, expressed interest in riding My Brown Jug if the mount became available in the Caulfield Cup.