ELECTRO SURPRISES FOR SYDNEY CUP WIN

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28259, 23 April 1957, Page 5

ELECTRO SURPRISES FOR SYDNEY CUP WIN

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 8.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 22. The Sydney stayer, Electro, which has had many attempts at winning big cup races, gained a surprise win in the Sydney Cup at Randwick today. He beat a strong field of 16, including six New Zealand horses.

Electro’s win could have been a lucky one as the Wellington Cup winner. Sombrero, ridden by the New Zealand jockey, R. J. Skelton, did not have the best of runs and finished third. Electro's win saved bookmakers a huge pay-out, as he started at 20 to I. Electro won by three-quarters oi a length from Aqua Boy, with Sombrero a short half-head away third. Because of a doubt about Electro running out the two miles of the Sydney Cup. four of Sydney’s top riders—A. Mulley, N. Sellwood, G. Moore, and A. Ward—refused the mount during the week, and the former Newcastle jockey, D. Weir, took the ride. Sellwood rode Field Chief, Moore Llanisfair, Ward Emphatic, and Mulley Sailor’s Guide. Electro was virtually neglected in the betting today, but Weir rode a great race on him, hitting the front a furlong from home and holding off determined challenges by Lycidas and Sombrero. After the race Weir said he had not been more confident of winning any race than he was half a mile from home today. At that stage Electro was well placed and travelling smoothly. At the turn Electro had moved into fourth place and. once they straightened up, Weir kicked him away to open up a lead of one length and a half. Electro was tiring in the last 50 yards, but he still had enough stamina to hold on for a convincing win. Aqua Boy, according to his rider. J. O’Sullivan, was unlucky to be beaten. O’Sullivan had to check his mount at the turn into the straight, and the interference cost him a vital two lengths. Sombrero Unlucky On his performance today. Sombrero would probably have won nine Sydney Cups out of 10. He was backed for a fortune. Sombrero tailed off early in the race, and at one stage was giving the leaders up to 20 lengths. He made a fast forward move at the half-mile, where he ran up behind the packed field. Sombrero was then pulled to the extreme outside and was at least nine horses wide turning for home. The horse seemed to be unbalanced as he came out of the dip one furlong and a half from the finish and Skelton had to stop riding him momentarily to settle him into his stride. , , „ , The favourite and last year s Melbourne Cup winner, Evening Peal, had every chance, and looked the winner at the turn into the straight. Her jockey. G. Podmore, rode her in exactly the same fashion as he did in the Melbourne Cup, but Evening Peal lacked her brilliance in the finish today. The dual Derby winner and A.J.C. St. Leger winner, Monte Carlo, was well backed at 5 to 1, but he failed to stay. His rider. J. Thompson, gave a great exhibition, having the colt perfectly positioned all the way. Llanisfair started at 6 to 1, and dropped well back in the field early, being reserved for a finishing burst. That was the way he won the Tocal Handicap on Saturday, and Moore was obviously riding him with the same plan in mind. But Llanisfair showed none of the dash he did on, Saturday Emphatic dashed to the front one

furlong and a half from home, and looked certain to win the cup, but he failed to stay. Field Chief was always racing in the centre of the field, and was never sighted. Sonnetary was prominent early, but dropped out when the pressure was on, and finished second last. Skelton Hooted Skelton’s efforts on the New Zealand horse On Parade in the C. W. Cropper Handicap, were not appreciated by the Sydney public, and he was hooted when he returned to scale after finishing a close second to Lucky Stride. On Parade was well backed, and had every chance after being favoured with a rails run. The New Zealand horse, Yes Please, heavily backed, and ridden by Neville Sellwood, looked the winner of the Biraganbil Handicap when he shot to the front a furlong from home. However, Athol Mulley forced Zaheida through the field at the turn and grabbed victory in the last stride. The Otaki owner-trainer G. S. Walton’s mare, Franlyle, gave New Zealand its only win of the day. and the New Zealand jockey, Skelton, his first success of the Easter carnival. Franlyle (7 to 1) won the sevenfurlong P. H. Osborne Handicap by naif a length from Brimses, the favourite, with Fairy Dream threequarters of a length away third. Results:— SYDNEY CUP, Of £12,000 and gold cup valued at £5OO. Two miles. ELECTRO (Delville Wood—Lady Lume) 8-8 .. .. D. Weir 1 Aqua Boy 7-8 .. J. O’Sullivan 2 Sombrero 8-5 .. R. J. Skelton 3 Sixteen started. Three-quarters of a length; short half-head. Time, 3min 22 2-ssec. Others, in finishing order: Evening Peal, Beaupa, Emphatic, Llanisfair, Sailor's Guide, Ruthless Don, Monte Carlo, Denvid, Field Chief, Chateau King, Runanga, Sonnetary, Lycidas. Betting: 20 to 1 Electro, 10 to 1 Aqua Boy, 10 to 1 Sombrero. C. W. CROPPER HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. Six furlongs. LUCKY STRIDE (Temeraire— Tyldesly); 7-10 N. McGrowdie 1 On Parade 8-7 .. R. J. Skelton 2 Endius 9-6 .. W. Williamson 3 Fifteen started. Half a neck; short head. Time, Imin Usee. Betting: 14 to 1 Lucky Stride, 10 to 1 On Parade, 5 to 1 Endius. BIRAGANBIL HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. One mile. ZAHEIDA (Bois de Rose—Gold Symbol) 8-2 .. A. Mulley 1 Yes Please 9-3 .. N. Sellwood 2 Royal Kingdom 8-4 .. G. Moore 3 Nine started. Half a head; threequarters of a length. Time,. Imin 36 9-10 sec. Betting: 6 to 1 Zaheida, 4 to 1 Yes Please, 9 to 2 Royal Kingdom. P. H. OSBORNE HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. Seven furlongs. FRANLYLE (White HeatherFirst Round) 8-7 R. J. Skelton 1 Brimses 8-7 .. .. J. Thompson 2 Fairy Dream 8-6 .. N. Sellwood 3 Twelve started. Half a length; three-quarters. Time, Imin 24 3-ssec-Betting: 7 to 1 Franlyle, 8 to 4 > Brimses, 9 to 2 Fairy Dream.