Star Board back in work

Press, 24 July 1986, Page 36

Star Board back in work

PA Wellington Last season’s top two-year-old Star Board is preparing to resume racing — much to the surprise of the colt’s former trainer Barry Petley.

Injury has prevented Star Board from carrying on this season where he left off as a two-year-old but Petley’s surprise stems not from the fact that he considers the Star Way colt unable to race again.

Instead the Takanini trainer said he was of the opinion that Star Board was destined for a stud career when he sold his half-share in the horse to a Matamata stud proprietor some months ago for a six-figure sum. The purchaser was Robert Lithgow, who recently set-up the Wedgewood Stud where he will stand All Glory, one of Star Board’s racing rivals.

The other half-share in Star Board was owned by Arthur Williams, another to have recently started a stud operation with the development of Cranbrook Stud at Waikanae, near Wellington. “I thought he and Mr Williams were going to go in together and stand Star Board as a stallion,” said Petley. Although this has not eventuated Mr Petley said he is no longer concerned now that he has relin-

quished his interest in the horse.

“I’m not very interested. They can do what they like,” said Mr Petley. Mr Lithgow did not wish to discuss the matter.

“I would prefer to say nothing,” he said. Mr Lithgow confirmed he did purchase the halfshare from Mr Petley but would not add anything further.

“I don’t want to go into it. I’ve got no interest in the horse whatsoever now.”

Mr Lithgow subsequently sold his halfshare to Mr Williams and according to the latter’s private trainer Roydon Bergerson, the horse has been at Cranbrook since the middle of May.

Star Board has not raced since February when winning an open sprint at Ellerslie in brilliant style but it appears he may have been dogged by a cracked pedal bone through most of the season.

“It was not evident until after the sprint at Ellerslie,” said Petley.

“We don’t know when he did it but it must have been well before Christmas.”

Star Board also had trouble with a hoof last year and Petley believes it may have been aggravated by the pedal-bone injury.