Slump In Form Of Stradbroke Fancies

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31081, 9 June 1966, Page 4

Slump In Form Of Stradbroke Fancies

Just when things seemed to be working along according to schedule, and to the benefit of punters who had taken early doubles, form for the Stradbroke Handicap and the Brisbane Cup has been severely jolted. Wicklow, one of the main fancies for the Stradbroke failed badly in the second division of the Windsor Flying Handicap, and Pyramus, the favourite for the Brisbane Cup missed a place in the Churchill Stakes. Another great Stradbroke fancy, Eye Liner, filling third place in Wicklow’s race in a close photo decision, and many good judges were disappointed even with this effort.

The Churchill Stakes was won by the Adelaide stayer, Fulmen, who is by Le Fiiou, and is trained by J. B. Cummings, who trained the Melbourne Cup winner, Light Fingers. He is now bracketed with Pyramus as cup favourite, followed by Bore Head and Apa—the latter third to Fulmen On Saturday. Another Record Nebo Road, the son of Wilkes limp.), who is to go to Brisbane for the Sires’ Produce Stakes, again won easily at Rosehill on Saturday, creating another race record for seven furlongs. . , There was never any doubt, ing his superiority aver his opponents. in spite of his big.bur-

den of 9-9, and his fitness and eagerness to run was quickly shown when his rider, A. Mulley, sought to s'low him down after a brisk start from the stalls.

Nebo Road fought hard against the restraint, and Mulley had no alternative but to let the colt run along more or less at his own will. Towards the finish the rider reined his mount down, and Nebo Road pulled up in great fashion. It certainly appears as though the Sires’ Produce Stakes is at his mercy, just as Matariki seemj a certain winner of the other big two-year-old race, The Claret Stakes. But like everything else in racing even the best of form can fail to bring out the winners. Looked Easy The Gong, fpr instance, was taken to Brisbane in the belief that opposition among the staying fillies in the north was weak, and that the Oaks would be comparatively easy for her. Brisbane people evidently thought so, too, for The Gong started at odds on and a local filly, Blue Roc, was neglected in the betting at 50 to 1. Blue Roc had won a two-year-old race over five furlongs, but no-one expected this daughter of Wilkes to run out one mile and a half. But apparently this filly has inherited a lot ’from her dam. All Blue, which is by Delyille Wood from Kirrang, and is therefore half-sister to Aristo* crat, a St. Leger winner and winner at two miles at weight-for-age, and to other stayers in Right Royal and Sir Coral, both winners of important races. Surprise Win Fair Summer, the Summertime colt which was the rage in the spring but then lost form, returned to the winning list with an unexpected success in the Flying Handicap at Rosehill. Fair Summer capped his two-year-old run of success by winning the Canterbury Guineas and the Rosehill Guineas in his early three-year-old racing. But he failed badly in the A.J.C. Derby, and although tried several times since then has failed to show any promise . until Saturday. I His success annoyed the i crowd, for a stablemate of Fair I Summer, McLauchlin, was a • heavily backed second favourlite and had finished last in the [small field.

Perhaps now that he has'found his way to the winner’s stall again Fair Summer will go on and repay the patience the stable has shown throughout his disappointing season.