Vo Rogue wins Futurity, ready for Bonecrusher

Press, 7 March 1988, Page 35

Vo Rogue wins Futurity, ready for Bonecrusher

NZPA-AAP Melbourne Champion Queensland galloper, Vo Rogue, came through his danger race in the weight-for-age sAustlsl,ooo ($160,000) Futurity stakes (1400 m with flying colours, breaking the course record at Caulfield on Saturday. Connections of the four-year-old k Ivor Prince gelding believed that the Futurity would be his toughest ment this preparation because he had toj come back 1400 m in distance in seven days and take on the best available

weight-for-age sprinters. However, Vo Rogue was equal to the task and broke his third consecutive course record.

Jockey, Cyril Small, let Vo Rogue find his feet over the first 100 m before the gelding strode to a clear lead and midrace he led by three lengths. In the straight Vo Rogue was tackled by top weight-for-age performer, Campaign King (5-2 out to 9-2), but refused to surrender the lead and lasted to score by a short head. Top colt, Rancho

I ' | Ruler (7-1), raced in the first three throughout and battled on well to finish two and three quarter lengths away third, i j

Vo Rogue, sent out at 4-9 favourite, ran the distance in an amazing 1:22.2 to break Galleon's six-year-old record by two tenths of a‘second. Galleon’s win in] the 1982 Futurity champion gallopqr Manikato’s hopes of winning the Futurity . fhje times in five attempts. Manikato won the Futurity in 1979-80-81-83. j Vo Rogue now igoes into the race he has

been set for — the sAustsol,ooo ($531,000) Bicentenary Australian Cup (2000 m at Flemington on Monday week — with a record of five consecutive wins in weight-for-age company this preparation.

He is due for a titanic clash with the New Zealand weight-for-age champion, Bonecrusher, which has won both his races since making a comeback this year.

“I have a lot of admiration for Bonecrusher,” said Vo Rogue’s trainer, Vic Rail. “But all Td like to say is it is going to be a

good race and tell Bonecrusher’s connections not to underestimate Vo Rogue.”

Rail said he was not shocked when Campaign King loomed up on Vo Rogue’s outside in the straight. “I knew he would kick but he has blown a bit more than I thought he would,” he said.

“He sprints well doesn’t he? But 10 furlongs (2000 m is his real go.”

Regular jockey, Cyril Small, also said he was not concerned ( when Campaign King challenged. J

“I knew they wouldn’t be far away today but I always had something up my ! sleeve,” said Small.

Top jockey, Harry White, who rode Campaign King heaped high praise on Vo Rogue.

“You would need a hammer to knock him out,” said White. “I don’t know how they are going to beat him. I thought I had him.”

Vo Rogue took his outstanding record to 35. starts for 14 wins, eight minor placings and $AustBM,7M ($944,142) in stake money.