SPORTING Melbourne Cup. Race For Bruce Is Yet Indefinite

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1947, Page 5

SPORTING Melbourne Cup. Race For Bruce Is Yet Indefinite

[SPECIAL TO STAR] , CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Mr S. Ramsay, owner of Bruce, is expected to arrive in Christchurch this week, and will be present to see Bruce make Jiis reappearance at. Riccarton next Saturday. A decision regarding Bruce’s proposed trip to Australia will be made at the weekend;. His trainer L. J. Ellis stated yesterday that if it was decided to send Bruce over, he would accompany him. “I would not like him to make the trip without me,” said Ellis, who has ridden him in all his races. J. Phillips, who was with Ellis before going to Australia with Golden Souvenir some months ago, returned from Sydney with that horse last week, and is back with Ellis.

Prize Ring was a late withdrawal from the Grand National Hurdles because of a filled leg which did not become manifest until late on Saturday morning. The leg has been under treatment since, and the trouble was reported yesterday to have been overcome.

Master Play, a stable mate of Bravura, will have his first race since winning at Trentham at Riccarton on Saturday. He has been more or less unsound since, but it is hoped to get him to the post in good order on Saturday. He will probably be schooled over the main, steeplechase fences on Thursday. Beechwood appeared to have the issue in hand when, he drew to the front nearing the post in the Sumner Handicap on Saturday, but was unable to withstand the determined challenge of Penetrate, who won his first race for his Wellington owners since being purchased for 800 guineas last year. Banshee was sef a severe task for a three-year-old filly in being raced over nine furlongs so early in the new season, but it was hoped that her effort on Saturday would give an indication of her prospects over some ground later in the season. She was never well placed, and although she had every chance of showing some prominence in the straight, she failed to improve her position in about the middle of the field. Good Horsemanship

Lord Dundonald has always been a hard puller, which has accounted for his going to the front in the early stages of his races. On Saturday his amateur rider, Mr E. R. Curtis, manoeuvred him in behind the leading bunch shortly after the start of the Duke of Gloucester Cup, and kept him in restraint until he took him out for a final run a furlong from home. Horsemahship had much to do with Lord Dundonald’s success, as staying has always been his weak point. Fairyhouse was going well in the Beaufort Steeplechase until he hit a post and rail fence about a mile from home. This rare mistake on his part steadied him, and Bravura was able to go past him at the next fence, the kennels double, and to have him at his mercy for the remainder of the journey. One of the surprises of Saturday’s racing was the good double-figure

win dividend of Ganjah in the Woolston Hack Handicap. He won the Camla Hack Handicap over the same distance at the Christchurch Hunt fixture, beating Peculate by three lengths. He was then 4-5 in the betting, but was 7-7 on Saturday. On the other hand the first favouritism of Coral Arc in the same race -was somewhat unexpected, this probably being due to his. solid finishing effort to get within a length of Magnaform in the Cashmere Plate. As it was Coral Arc justified the move by reeling off .another final spurt from the middle of the field. Coral Arc is a three-year-old colt by Coronach from Barbacan and cost his present owner, Mr A. N. Smith, of Dunedin, 1000 guineas as a yearling at Trentham. He is trained at Riccarton by J. C. Tomkinson. Turf Topic, was going well in the loading bunch when he dislodged his rider six furlongs from home in the Spreydon Hurdles on Saturday. Failed to Stay Ruling Moment gave a dashing display out in front for a good way in the Spreydon Hurdles, but once again was in distress before the serious stages were reached. He is undoubtedly a brilliant fencer, but takes so much out of himself that he is unable to master a. journey. John Gay. can be classed as a failure ds a hurdler. He again ran down his fences on Saturday and was always at the rear of the field, finishing a furlong back. It does not often happen that two horses raced in a. hood appear in the same race, but such was the case in the Islington Handicap oh Saturday. Detain and Graeme both carried the unsightly, gear, and they earned further notice by filling first and third places. Town Survey did not threaten danger over the concluding stages of the Grand National Hurdle Race. He has been returned to the north. The Raker was again very lame on returning after his race on Saturday, and is now likely to be nut aside. Tranbycroft was at a long, price in the Woolston Hack Handicap on Saturday. He drew 28 at- the barrier, and although well placed.turning for home, he failed to run on in the straight. The race would, however, be of benefit to him in view of his engagement next Saturday.