- Bonecrusher (horse)
Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Bonecrusher
caption =
sire = Pag-Asa
grandsire = Kaoru Star
dam = Imitation
damsire = Oakville
sex =Gelding
foaled = 1982
country = New Zealand
colour = Chestnut
breeder = Bill Punch
owner = Peter J. Mitchell
trainer =Frank Ritchie
record = 44: 18-5-12
earnings = NZ$674,225 & A$1,679,495
race = Bayer Classic (1985)New Zealand Derby (1985)Australian Derby (1986)Caulfield Stakes (1986)Cox Plate (1986)
Tancred Stakes (1986)Underwood Stakes (1986)Australian Cup (1987)
awards=
honours = Australian Horse of the Year (1987)
updated= June 26, 2007Bonecrusher (September 17, 1982) is a retired
New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who was widely admired in bothAustralia andNew Zealand . Bred by Bill Punch, his damsire was a son of the French champion,Tantieme . Peter Mitchell purchased Bonecrusher for $3250 at the Waikato Yearling Sales and turned him over to trainerFrank Ritchie .A chestnut, Bonecrusher was nicknamed "Big Red", the same name as the immortal champions Man o' War, Secretariat and
Phar Lap . He raced 44 times for 18 wins, 5 seconds and 12 thirds, earning NZ$674,225 & A$1,679,495. His major wins included theNew Zealand Derby ,Australian Derby , Tancred Stakes and theAustralian Cup .His most famous race was the 1986
Cox Plate , a two horse battle with (Our) Waverley Star, another New Zealand Champion which he won by a neck [http://www.ozeform.com/site/racing_info/coxPlate/cp_results.aspx?year=1986] . This race was dubbed the "race of the century".Later that year, Bonecrusher was the pre-post favourite against some of the world's best racehorses in the
Japan Cup . He was struck down by a virus inTokyo and nearly lost his life, and had to withdraw from the race. He was named horse of the year in New Zealand and Australia in 1986/87.Bonecrusher fortunately recovered from his illness and returned the next year, winning the 1987
Australian Cup . He is still alive and healthy now, although he no longer makes public appearances.Bonecrusher's strapper, Shaune Ritchie, is now a trainer based in Cambridge and trains Magic Cape, the winner of the 2006 running of the
New Zealand 2000 Guineas and runner-up in theKelt Capital Stakes of 2007.References
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/bonecrusher3 Bonecrusher's pedigree and partial racing stats]
* [http://www.bonecrusher.co.nz/index.php Comprehensive Bonecrusher website]ee also
*
Millionaire Racehorses in Australia
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