Australian campaign for Big Drum

Press, 4 July 1983, Page 28

Australian campaign for Big Drum

Special correspondent Wellington Impressive Hawke’s Bay hurdles winner, Big Drum, is destineed to do his future racing in Australia. His trainer, Bob Walker, confirmed after Saturday’s success that Big Drum is booked to cross the Tasman on July 13 and is to join the Mornington stable of Kath Smith. Mrs Smith specilises in training jumpers and is the mother-in-law of the successful rider, Paul Hely, who is currently sidelined by injury. It is not intended to start the horse again in New Zealand providing travel arrangements proceed as planned. Walker said he may pay up for Trentham this week, but a start is far from certain. He said the horse needed reasonable footing and felt he was unlikely to get that at Trentham. It had been intended for Big Drum to travel to Australia to contest the Grand National events, but his programme was changed after a disappointing seventh in the Waikato Hurdles on May 14. The horse was allowed to freshen and did not resume until the first day of the Hawke’s Bay meeting when he ran ninth in the open handicap. Big Drum’s regular rider, Stephen Gillies, is to travel to Australia to partner the Bandmaster II gelding and one of their early missions is likely to be the A. V. Hiskens Steepls at Moonee Valley on July 30.