Bonecrusher (horse)
| Bonecrusher | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Major wins | |
|
Bayer Classic (1985) New Zealand Derby (1985) Air New Zealand Stakes (1986 & 1988) Tancred Stakes (1986) Australian Derby (1986) Caulfield Stakes (1986) Cox Plate (1986) Underwood Stakes (1986) Australian Cup (1987) |
|
| Honours | |
| Australian Horse of the Year (1987) | |
| Last updated on 26 June 2007 | |
Bonecrusher (17 September 1982 – 10 June 2015) was a 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 NZ$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 champions Man o' War, Secretariat and Phar Lap.
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 NZ$1 million in prize money. Bonecrusher won four Group One 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.
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