Easy win for Bonecrusher

Press, 23 January 1988, Page 35

Easy win for Bonecrusher

PA Hamilton Champion galloper Bonecrusher had no difficulty in beating four moderate rivals in an open 1600-metre heat at Te Awamutu on Thursday. In a slowly run race, the chestnut gelding trailed Rapace Noir to the turn and went clear to win by two lengths from Regal Realm, which came on strongly to relegate Rapace Noir. The journey took Bonecrusher, which pulled up

very well, 1:39.2. Trainer, Frank Ritchie, owner, Peter Mitchell, and rider, Gary Stewart, all said they were pleased with Bonecrusher’s effort. They had, however, hoped for stronger opposition. "I’d would have liked stronger opposition, as Bonecrusher does only as much as he has to,” Ritchie said. “But then again, you could not expect the owner of a good horse to trial against Bonecrusher at catch weights.”

Bonecrusher’s presence at the meeting attracted three times the normal number of trials spectators. Ritchie said there is a chance Bonecrusher will make his raceday re-ap-pearance in the South Island. Ritchie said he has considered restarting the gelding in the White Robe Lodge Handicap at Wingatui on February 13. This race, over 1600 metres, has special conditions with the minimum

weight lifted while no contestant carries more than weight-for-age. If Bonecrusher was to start he would carry 59kg. If the southern trip does not eventuate, Bonecrusher will probably resume in the weight-for-age Lion Brown Sprint (1400 m at Te Rapa on February 16. Ritchie will decide over the next few days a definite programme for the former champion three and four-year-old.