Bonecrusher prevails in tight finish to Guineas

Press, 16 December 1985, Page 34

Bonecrusher prevails in tight finish to Guineas

Special correspondent Auckland Bonecrusher might not have dispelled, altogether, the doubt of his stamina to go the Derby’s 2400 m but he lessened it to a fair degree by the way he ran his 2000 m at the Avondale Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday. Hot Ice, when second in the Auckland Breeders’ Avondale Guineas, and Flight Bijou, third, and Field Dancer, fourth, also did their prospects for the big three-year-old race at Ellerslie on Boxing Day not the slightest harm. Add Tristram’s Belle and two or three up-and-comers Idee Sir Sydney and the field for the Derby could well become one of the more interesting ones in recent years. Bonecrusher, Hot Ice and Flight Bijou, for one reason or another, could have all been excused a failure to get into the Guineas placings — Hot Ice with such an awkward barrier position to contend with, the other two through their being so badly hampered in an early part of the race.

Hot Ice, for all the ease with which he picks up speed, had to go pretty hard before he was able to lead them into the first turn. His wilting in the finish would have been understandable on that account.

Bonecrusher and Flight Bijou both suffered in a scrimmage which resulted through Random Chance, in his first right-handed, having trouble making the first turn. When going wide, Random Chance, which had a rails run, took with him Choir Boy . and, in turn, Flight Bijou and Bonecrusher.

Choir Boy and the other two regained their balance quickly enough, Choir Boy to take up the running once Hot Ice was eased to take up a nice trail. Bonecrusher became well placed, about midfield, and Flight Bijou kept close at hand with Random Chance.

When Choir Boy gave in, once around the home turn, Flight Bijou came to the front, pursued by Hot Ice and Bonecrusher until very close to the finish. Flight Bijou looked likely to hold

- on and Bonecrusher, on the outside, and Hot Ice, in the middle, edged him out in the last stride. Field Dancer was close in behind the first three, fourth, and Brooke Bond was handy, fifth, clear of the next two home, Star Board and Random Chance. The closeness of the finish made the picking of the winner, from any angle, next to impossible. The judge, Mr Des Clarke, called Hot Ice first to weigh-in, then Flight Bijou, and third, Bonecrusher.

It was only after viewing two photo-finish prints that he declared Bonecrusher the winner by a nose from Hot Ice, with Flight Bijou a nose away third, and Field Dancer a neck behind these three in fourth place. In the meantime, Hot Ice, fairly naturally the way things are done, had been brought back to scale into the winner’s stall, Bonecrusher into the one reserved for the third finisher.

It was an unfortunate state of affairs that could

not have happened had the fairly regular Australian procedure been followed, that of the horses being kept from the unsaddling enclosure until the judge’s placings are declared.

Bonecrusher is a chestnut gelding, by the Australianbred Pag Asa from Imitation (Oakville—Snow Bird). He bought him at the Waikato Yearling Sales for just $3250. The horse has proved to be a bargain, with five wins, seven minor placings, and $156,209 in stakes from his 14 starts.

Except for Random Chance, the best-backed runners in the Guineas all ran close to expectations.

Random Chance, after enjoying a beautiful run, made only a brief bid in the home straight. It was disappointing but he had not raced for a month and the run very likely did him good. Random Chance is staying on for the Derby and with Bonecrusher will be one of the the interesting horses at Ellerslie during the next week or so.