Grey Bo courageous in Cornwall Handicap

Press, 12 June 1989, Page 32

Grey Bo courageous in Cornwall Handicap

Auckland correspondent

Les and Natalie Scown of Cambridge, are thanking their lucky stars they rethought plans for their talented mare, Grey 80, last spring. Originally the couple intended to retire the mare at the end of her last winter campaign, but when the time came they decided she might just have a few more wins in her.

And at Ellerslie on Saturday Grey Bo proved that in no uncertain terms when producing a great display of courage to win the $BO,OOO Fay, Richwhite Cornwall Han-

dicap, one of the country’s main winter prizes. “She’s certainly come up well this campaign,"

said Scown, "but our big worry is weight. We’re sure it’s going to get the better of her soon.”

Grey Bo has been up in the handicaps for the last few seasons now and being such an honest mare she doesn’t get a chance to slip down a kilo or so.

On Saturday she carried 56.5 kg and fought right to the line.

Ridden by Cathy Treymane, Grey Bo settled midfield and improved on the outer with about

1100 m to go. She swept into a challenging position on the home turn and kept up a dogged run to fight off her rivals, to win by three-quarters of a length. Grey Bo is likely to race next at the Avondale meeting, where she defeated Gatcombe’s Pride last winter.

“After that there’s no plans made," said Scown. who trains Grey 80. King Aussie, from John Harris’ stable at Woodville. proved Grey Bo’s toughest rival on Saturday. He tracked the leader throughout then gave Grey Bo a battle

right to the finish line

Gatcombe’s Pride, chasing his third Cornwall Handicap success on end. wound up third, threequarters of a length away.

He settled back of midfield and it appeared rider David Walsh made a mistake when allowing himself to get locked in near the home turn.

Gatcombe’s Pride, once in the clear, unwound gradually and at the line was finishing better than any other runner. After the race Walsh said the Ellerslie track wasn’t heavy enough for Gatcombe’s Pride.