`blu' Starts On The Road Back
The Age
Tuesday December 23, 2003
Goondiwindi trainer Mick Hicks said he had started to doubt if it would ever happen, but his flying galloper Murphy's Blu Boy finally began training this week after a run of misfortune that had threatened to end the horse's short career.
Hicks yesterday described the virus and subsequent throat operation that has restricted his three-year-old to just five starts as ``terribly frustrating", but said he expected the horse had used up all his bad luck.
``He's really been through it, this horse," Hicks said. ``He picked up a virus when we were in Melbourne (last autumn) and he just couldn't throw it off, as no one was sure what was wrong with him.
``It got to the stage in the spring that he needed a throat operation as it had affected his breathing, but I am happy to say that, just looking at him now, he'll come back as good as ever."
Murphy's Blu Boy has not raced since February, when he was run down late by Hammerbeam in the Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield at the prohibitive odds of about $1.30. He had won his previous four starts by a combined 25 lengths and was being touted as Australian racing's new sprint sensation.
Hicks said he had not made firm plans for the horse. ``We'll take it step by step. I am very confident he will return as good as ever but when and where, well, it's up to him at this stage."
Hicks also had soothing words for part-owners Brian and Geoff Roddy, who bought 49 per cent of the sprinter for about $800,000 just before the horse fell ill in February. ``They have been patient, but I've told them that it'll come," Hicks said.
Meanwhile, Elvstroem and Zazzman are back in work at Caulfield after short lay-offs and could race next month.
Trainer Tony Vasil said Victoria Derby winner Elvstroem had come back from four weeks in the paddock in magnificent order. ``He's grown in that short time and put on condition and he just looks super," Vasil said.
``He'll most probably kick off in the Zeditave Stakes on January 17 and go to the Debonair at Flemington and then the Australian Guineas. He could run in the Australian Cup before going to Sydney for the AJC Derby."
As for Zazzman, one of the country's most improved stayers, Vasil said he was a chance to go for the Hobart Cup or Launceston Cup early next year. ``If he was fairly treated in those cups, we'd consider it because he's back in work and going strongly. Otherwise, we'll aim him at the Sydney Cup," Vasil said.
And the unseasonal wet claimed yesterday's Kyneton meeting, with just 44 horses contesting the eight-race program after there were 24 scratchings.
A total of only 17 horses competed in the four legs of the Kyneton quaddie, with just two runners in race six and three in race five. The quaddie paid $115.40 for $1.
© 2003 The Age
