Bonecrusher (horse)
Encyclopedia
Bonecrusher Is a retired champion New Zealand
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who was widely admired in both Australia
and New Zealand
. Bred by Bill Punch, his dam's sire was a son of a French champion, Tantieme
. Bonecrusher was purchased by Peter Mitchell for just $3,250 at the Waikato Yearling Sales, and was trained by Frank Ritchie. Peter also bought Bonecrusher's full brother. A chestnut
, Bonecrusher was nicknamed Big Red - the same name as the immortal champions Man o' War
, Secretariat
and Phar Lap
.
races in New Zealand, including the New Zealand Derby
, and six Group One races in Australia, including the AJC Derby, the Tancred Stakes, the Cox Plate
, and the Australian Cup
.
In the 1986 Cox Plate
, Bonecrusher prevailed in the 'race of the century'
with another New Zealand champion, (Our) Waverley Star
. Later that year, Bonecrusher was the pre-post favourite against some of the world's best racehorses in the Japan Cup
but contracted a virus in Tokyo
, nearly lost his life, and had to withdraw from the race.
In the new year, Bonecrusher recovered from his illness, won the Australian Cup
, and was named horse of the year in New Zealand and Australia for the 1986-1987 season. He was the first horse to be awarded both titles.
Bonecrusher continued to campaign at five, six, and seven years of age, and won three races in New Zealand, but was unable to reach his previous heights in Australia.
Bonecrusher has appeared at racetracks throughout New Zealand and Australia over the years, but is now fully retired at the age of 21
. In retirement, he has been a guest of the Moonee Valley Racing Club
, however his last public appearance was Derby Day in 2003.
Bonecrusher's strapper, Shaune Ritchie, is now a trainer based in Cambridge and trained Magic Cape, the winner of the 2006 New Zealand 2000 Guineas
and runner-up in the 2007 Kelt Capital Stakes
, and 2010 New Zealand Derby
winner Military Move
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
who was widely admired in both Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Bred by Bill Punch, his dam's sire was a son of a French champion, Tantieme
Tantieme
Tantième was a French Thoroughbred horse racing champion and prominent sire who twice won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, France's most prestigious horse race. He also won several other important conditions races including the Grand Critérium in 1949, the Poule d'Essai des Poulains, Prix Lupin and...
. Bonecrusher was purchased by Peter Mitchell for just $3,250 at the Waikato Yearling Sales, and was trained by Frank Ritchie. Peter also bought Bonecrusher's full brother. A chestnut
Chestnut (coat)
Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
, Bonecrusher was nicknamed Big Red - the same name as the immortal champions Man o' War
Man O' War (horse)
Man o' War, is considered one of the greatest Thoroughbred racehorses of all time. During his career just after World War I, he won 20 of 21 races and $249,465 in purses....
, Secretariat
Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, that in 1973 became the first U.S. Triple Crown champion in 25 years, setting new race records in two of the three events in the Series—the Kentucky Derby , and the Belmont Stakes —records that still stand today.Secretariat was sired by Bold...
and Phar Lap
Phar Lap
Phar Lap was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse whose achievements captured the public's imagination during the early years of the Great Depression. Foaled in New Zealand, he was trained and raced in Australia. Phar Lap dominated Australian racing during a distinguished career, winning a Melbourne...
.
Racing Life
Bonecrusher raced 44 times for 18 wins, five seconds and 12 thirds, and prizemoney of NZ$674,225 and A$1,679,495. He was the first New Zealand horse to win over $1 million in prize money. Bonecrusher won three Group OneGroup One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
races in New Zealand, including the New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby
The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old, run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2...
, and six Group One races in Australia, including the AJC Derby, the Tancred Stakes, the Cox Plate
Cox Plate
The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...
, and the Australian Cup
Australian Cup
The Australian Cup is a Group 1 Weight for Age race for Thoroughbred racehorses run over 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March...
.
In the 1986 Cox Plate
Cox Plate
The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...
, Bonecrusher prevailed in the 'race of the century'
Race of the Century (Horse racing)
The Race of the Century was the name given to a 1986 W.S. Cox Plate, a thoroughbred horse race in held in Melbourne, Australia, between two great New Zealand racehorses of the 1980s....
with another New Zealand champion, (Our) Waverley Star
Waverley Star
Waverley Star was a New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who is best remembered for finishing second to Bonecrusher in the 1986 Cox Plate - widely referred to as the 'race of the century'. Waverley Star, who was known as Our Waverley Star in Australia to distinguish him from a 1976 foaling of the...
. Later that year, Bonecrusher was the pre-post favourite against some of the world's best racehorses in the Japan Cup
Japan Cup
The is the most prestigious horse race run in Japan. It is contested at the end of November at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu, Tokyo at a distance of 2400 meters over the grass. With a purse of ¥476 million , the Japan Cup is one of the richest races in the world.The Japan Cup is an invitational event...
but contracted a virus in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, nearly lost his life, and had to withdraw from the race.
In the new year, Bonecrusher recovered from his illness, won the Australian Cup
Australian Cup
The Australian Cup is a Group 1 Weight for Age race for Thoroughbred racehorses run over 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March...
, and was named horse of the year in New Zealand and Australia for the 1986-1987 season. He was the first horse to be awarded both titles.
Bonecrusher continued to campaign at five, six, and seven years of age, and won three races in New Zealand, but was unable to reach his previous heights in Australia.
Bonecrusher has appeared at racetracks throughout New Zealand and Australia over the years, but is now fully retired at the age of 21
Retirement
Bonecrusher is now fully retired and is cared for by his owner, Peter Mitchell, on a property in TakaniniTakanini
Takanini is a suburb of Auckland, and until 2010 is under authority of the Papakura District Council, in northern New Zealand. Located on the shores of the Pahurehure Inlet, it is located at , 28 kilometres southeast of the Auckland CBD....
. In retirement, he has been a guest of the Moonee Valley Racing Club
Moonee Valley Racing Club
The Moonee Valley Racing Club is located at the Moonee Valley racecourse on McPherson Street, Moonee Ponds . It is one of three racing clubs in the Melbourne metropolitan area; the others are the Victoria Racing Club and the Melbourne Racing Club...
, however his last public appearance was Derby Day in 2003.
Bonecrusher's strapper, Shaune Ritchie, is now a trainer based in Cambridge and trained Magic Cape, the winner of the 2006 New Zealand 2000 Guineas
New Zealand 2000 Guineas
The 2000 Guineas is a set-weights Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses run over a distance of 1600 m at Riccarton Park in Christchurch, New Zealand...
and runner-up in the 2007 Kelt Capital Stakes
Kelt Capital Stakes
The Kit Ormond Memorial Spring Classic is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Hastings Racecourse in Hawke's Bay and is New Zealand's richest weight-for-age horse race...
, and 2010 New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby
The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old, run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2...
winner Military Move
Military Move
Military Move is a New Zealand thoroughbred racehorse. On March 6, 2010, he won the 134th running of the New Zealand Derby.The gelding is trained by Shaune Ritchie, who was the strapper for the hugely successful and popular 1985 Derby winner Bonecrusher. Bonecrusher was trained by Ritchie's...
.