Racing: First NZ Cup beckons

Craig Thornley is looking forward to his first drive in a New Zealand Cup after winning the Hannon Memorial free-for-all with Bobs Blue Boy at Oamaru yesterday.

"He is a nice horse and can only get better," Thornley said.

Owner-trainer Steve Roulston was not going to enter the horse yesterday.

"The race was not in my original plan but I felt he needed it," Roulston said. "I had intended to give him his next start in the Methven Cup and he will still go there and miss the Ashburton Flying Stakes."

Bobs Blue Boy settled back in the field, then improved to outside the pacemaker Harnetts Creek at the 1400m. He received cover from the 900m when Born Again Christian improved on the outer and outfinished that runner by a nose.

There was a length to Jackson Browne, who raced three back on the inner. Linford Christie was a nose back fourth.

The favourite Harnetts Creek dropped back to tenth.

Bobs Blue Boy finished sixth to the winner Kiwi Kosby in the Methven Cup last year. Connections will seek better in this year's race.

The Kaikoura Cup is also under consideration for the horse before the New Zealand Cup on November 8.

Meanwhile, stewards yesterday protested the second placing of Born Again Christian on the grounds that he started from the incorrect barrier position.

It was established that Born Again Christian started from one on the second line. He should have started from the outside of the front line.

The Judicial Control representative, Geoff Hall, dimissed the protest, satisfied that Born Again Christian started from the incorrect barrier position but felt disqualification would have been a travesty of justice for the owners of the horse and the betting public.

The starter Mike McCallum was charged over the incident. He was fined $400.

- NZPA