Rich Australian races attract northern ‘stars’

Press, 25 August 1986, Page 29

Rich Australian races attract northern ‘stars’

Special correspondent

Auckland

Sadly, but inevitably, Bourbon Boy, Bonecrusher and Waverley Star, seem likely to be lost to Australia this spring. Only a prohibitive handicap, or his suddenly failing to train on, will will keep Bourbon Boy from*’ running in the A.J.C. Epsom, at Randwick, on October 4.

The gelding’s trainer, Howie Mathews, confirmed at Ellerslie on Saturday after Bourbon Boy had won for the eighth time on end, his plans to race in Sydney. He said he would be looking to fly Bourbon Boy to Australia on September 23 — not allowing himself much time to study the Epsom weights, which are due to be declared the previous day.

Whether Bourbon Boy is taken any further than Sydney — on to the main Melbourne spring carnival — has yet to be decided. As yet Mathews is more inclined to concentrate on the Epsom. The W. S. Cox play, at Moonee Valley on October 25, remains the prime

target for Bonecrusher and Waverley Star but it seems they will take varying courses meanwhile.

To start with Waverley Star is expected to be at Avondale next Saturday week, for the West End Stakes, and Bonecrusher at Wanganui for the Tim Rogers Stakes. The trainers, Dave and Paul O’Sullivan, are looking towards a 1600 metre race at Awapuni on September 20 as the next one after that for Waverley Star. By that time Bonecrusher could already be in Melbourne.

Trainer, Frank Ritchie, repeated on Saturday his concern at the continuing heavy tracks, which he said were hampering him in getting Bonecrusher back into top racing trim.

He thought there would be a firmer surface at Wanganui than at Avondale and that the 1600 metre would be more of a help to Bonecrusher’s preparation.

After that run Bonecrusher might race in a weight-for-age event or two in Sydney. But more appealing was an earlier,

than at first planned, trip to Melbourne in time for the Underwood Stakes, a weight-for-age 2000 metres at Caulfield on September 25. Both Waverley Star and Bonecrusher gave their trainers cause for immense satisfaction in the way they came back to racing in the Admiralty Handicap at the Pakuranga Hunt Club’s meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The more forward of the two in the running, Waverley Star made his attack on the pacemaker, Matthew Ryan, with a round (150 metres) to run and wore him down bravely for his narrow win.

Bonecrushef, not as sure of himself in the heavy ground, took a while to wind up then closed strongly on the other two over the last 40 or 50 metres.

Matthew Ryan, which went close to leading all the way, showed again how hard he is to beat on his day. There was plenty of merit, as well, in the performances of the Te Rapa stablemates, County Lover and Mister Lumlee,

which helped pack the finish.

Bourbon Boy, barked down to odds-on, was tested to the limit before he won the Nova Jeliicoe Handicap from Allez Pa! and Another Phenomenon.

It was almost certainly the hardest race Bourbon Boy has had. Most times, as when he met Catering King earlier this month, he has been able to shake off his-challengers without much trouble. In the Jeliicoe, his first try as far as 1600 metres, he gathered in the two leaders, Mr Mako and Kiwi Alley once round the home turn but was then joined by Allez Pai, which held on gamely all the way to the finish line. Right near the end Another Phenomenon came strongly to be only a head away in third place. According to Bourbon Boy’s rider, Alwyri Tweedie, the closeness of the finish was due to his ride being uncomfortable in heavy track conditions. Mathews is looking forward to allowing Bourbon Boy his chance on firmer footing, perhaps also at Wanganui.