Australian campaign for St James

Press, 22 December 1989, Page 31

Australian campaign for St James

St James, a close and unlucky third in the $433,000 Royal Hong Kong Cup on Sunday, is likely to race l in Australia before returning to New Zealand.

St James is at present in quarantine in Adelaide after he and the other New Zealand and Australian horse entered in the cup were re-routed from the original quarantine point of Melbourne. Tony Prendergast is expecting to learn today what training facilities are availble in the quarantine area and that will decide when the big Sound Reason horse is likely to race again.

“We understand it is qute a big complex where they are quartered, but until we hear from Kerry (Prendergast’s daughter who is in charge of the horse) we won’t be too certain about things,” Prendergast said. Prendergast, who trains the galloper in partnership with his wife, Lyn, deserved an accolade for having St James cherry ripe for his tilt at the Hong Kong Cup, a race the horse had been set for for several months.

“Yes, he was spot on, but things didn’t quite go our way on the day. He went a mighty "> race though,” Prendergast said.

St James moved, off the fence across the top in the 1800 m Hong Kong event and Was denied a run at a vital stage in the straight. Grey Invader, which tracked him and stuck to the rail, won the race.

“It was just one of those things really. Grant (Cooksley) was off the fence and saw the gap, but it closed on him. He was in trouble twice trying to get a run. I thought he might have got into trouble over it, but nothing was said,” Prendergast said.

- The visitors were treated in fine fashion by the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club and there were no hitches in the lead-up to the race. “Really St James did exceptionally well on the trip. He never missed a feed and took to the imported oats and lucerne up there well,” Prendergast said.