WITH THE HEADS AWAY

NZ Truth, Issue 1142, 20 October 1927, Page 11

WITH THE HEADS AWAY

Smaller Fry Get Their Chance of Paying Exes.

GOSSIP FROM SYDNEY TRACKS

(By Cable. — From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Sydney Representative.)

When the New Zealand contingent invaded Sydney this spring it appeared such a formidable battalion that the locals expected the visiting representatives to make a clean sweep of most of the classics.

CERTAINLY Limerick, Ridgemount and Merry Mint won their share, and while a few of the lesser lights picked up a small handicap or two, the New Zealanders did not prove themselves the giants expected. With the Sydney spring carnival now completed it is hardly worth their while remaining here and most have gone back. Paddy Neagle will take Penman and Royal Lineage back on Friday. The latter was soen in a new role at City Tatts on Saturday, where he contested the handicap, of a mile and Sydney folk thought Mm a sprinter, but the son of Wormwood made a brilliant showing over the middle distance and he finished third. It was he who was responsible for the exceedingly fast time of 2.4%. The hurdler, Asleep, managed to win a race at Warwick Farm, but he is ordinary, even among our mediocre lot of jumpers. He was well backed on Saturday but ran shockingly. Doug. Webster gave First Acre two outings on Saturday last, and after running well in the Flying, he shaped ingloriously in the mile welter. Royal Lineage's track form suggested he would have a great show in the Flying, but the colt was outpaced from the word go and finished nearer last than first. Another New Zealander which was among the rear bunch, was Dick O'Donnell's cast-off, Cawnpore. He looked as big as a bullock and on returning to scale limped badly. It will be months before he races again.

The Thorn which,, a few months back, won a couple of suburban handicaps in good style, broke down badly in the City Tatts Handicap, and will have to be withdrawn from training. One of Otway Falkiner's handsome imported mares arrived in Sydney on Monday, en route to New Zealand. She will do matron duty at Stead's stud and has a foal at foot by Australia's iron horse, David. Trainer Jack Cameron, about whom, grave fears of his recovery were entertained, is on the mend from his bout with pneumonia, but is still off duty. His horses, The Hawk and Goshawk, are being trained at Randwick by B. Walker. Merry Mint has gone over to Melbourne and is doing well in his new quarters, under the care of Frank McGrath, trainer of Amounis. The son of Catmint was "dicky" when he ran second in the Clibborn Stakes and should at least fill a place in the Victoria blue riband. On the strength of his suburban handicap win during the big- meeting it was anticipated True Blood would run well in City Tatts Handicap. He could never get near the leaders and Owner Wenzl Scholium did £250 on his gelding. Jazz Baby has not yet sported silk here, but is engaged on Saturday at Canterbury in medium welter field with a stone off the minimum. Peter Riddle has decided not to take Shiek back to New Zealand to fulfil his engagement in the £3000 N.Z. Trotting Cup.