AUSTRALIAN TURF REVIEW

Southland Times, Issue 24229, 12 September 1940, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN TURF REVIEW

SPRING CAMPAIGN PROSPECTS-

NEW ZEALAND-BRED HORSES IN DEMAND

By SIR MODRED By winning the Memsie Stakes (lm. Ifur.), Ajax recorded his thirty-fifth successful turf feat. The spring weight-for-age prospects in Sydney and Melbourne are the best for several years. Hitherto a disappointment, Patrician (Iliad-Courtsey), 3yrs, has opened his winning way in Sydney. His one representative (Rivette) put Mr H. Bamber at the top of last season’s list with £13,105. The English horse Dhoti, by Dastur, is recovering from his recent injury at a Melbourne meeting. High Caste (9.5) and Beaulivre (9.4) dominate the Epsom Handicap (one mile) betting market. The Australian J. C. Spring meeting opens on October s—Derby and Epsom Handicap race day.

When Bob’s Idea won the South Australian Grand National Steeplechase last month he was at odds on.

Buzalong, the recent Newcastle Cup winner, won the Caulfield Cup two years ago, then lost form. El Golea, who has fruitlessly chased Ajax home in several races, is trained by J. Fryer, a New Zealander. It is noticeable that the Siegfried horse Wilson retains second place in the Melbourne Cup market prices. Her Highness, a South Australian two-year-old, is the first winner for Duke John (imp., and by Blandford) in Australia.

South Australia is the only State in Australia to promote two-year-old races in August—elsewhere October is favoured.

Within three days the New Zealandbred Aladdin, by Limond-Solange, won two races in Sydney last month. Mr A. E. Cooper, of Sydney, has engaged a new trainer, but Gold Salute remains in the stable of J. T. Jamieson. Beau Vite’s New Zealand winnings of £5015 last season exceed those of any other horse in a Dominion season for 10 years. A tall order has been adopted in Sydney. Beaulivre has been supported in doubles for the Epsom (lm.) and Metropolitan (lm. sfur.). A CLOSE CALL Supporters of Ajax experienced a thrill at Flemington last week when El Golea ran the champion to a neck in the Memsie Stakes. Ajax started at long odds on to record his 35th success in 43 starts.

The Melbourne-owned colt, Sir Richard has been sent to Sydney to contest the A.J.C. Derby. He is by Constant Son (imp., and by Son-in-Law) from Lile Queen, by Sir Dighton (imp., and by Bayardo) from Lile Lass (imp.). Owned by a shrewd Victorian sportsman, the colt is bred to stay. The Sydney juvenile Ensign has been proclaimed a desirable A.J.C. Derby candidate. His owner contends that he is more likely to succeed as a sprinter and will not have him trained for the classic. The colt is by Andrea (imp., and by Solario, a son of Gainsborough) from Reserved, by Magpie from Reticence. by Wallace (son of Carbine). Ensign sports a stayer’s pedigree and he may display stamina with age. Mr R. H. Dangar, a New South Wales studmaster, has passed away. He bred Poseidon, who subsequently won the A.J.C. and V.R.C. Derbies, the Caulfield Cup (twice) and the Melbourne Cup for Sir H. Denison, who purchased the son of Positano (a descendant of St. Simon) at 500 guineas as a yearling.

The first and second divisions of the Doona Trial, £4OO (lm.), decided at the V.A.T.C. meeting at Flemington on Saturday, were won by stablemates in Royal Comet and Alpine Maid respectively. In addition both winners were piloted by Melbourne’s crack lightweight jockey, W. Elliott, who has been absent from the public gaze for a long period as the result of a racing mishap. A FRESH RECORD

Apart from the fact that Aurie’s Star carried 10.6 to victory in record time down the long six-furlong straight run at Flemington on Saturday in the Whittier Handicap, £5OO (6 fur.) there were other interesting features connected with this event. Aurie’s Star ,is South Australia’s crack sprinter. Second place was filled by the very smart three-year-old colt All Veil, owned by Mr G. J. Barton (Dunedin) and W. Balloch. A recent winner, All Veil is by Veilmond (N.Z., and by Limond from Veil). All Veil was at a doublefigure quote, and returned a nice place reward. The gelding Hilton, who ran into third money, was bred in the Dominion as one of Beau Pere’s early crop of progeny. His dam was Awaken, by Chief Ruler, from Wake Up, a mare of similar maternal line to the Southlanders, Cough and Thornton. When he won the Whittier Handicap (6 fur.) at Flemington on Saturday, beating All Veil and Hilton into the places, Aurie’s Star created a new record of lmin B}sec for Australia and New Zealand. Hitherto the Australasian record was held jointly by Silver Scorn and the Southland-bred and owned Dark Flight, who won races at Riccarton in lmin 9 2-ssec respectively. The track over which Aurie’s Star set the new record was the Victoria R.C.’s straight six furlongs at Flemington, a course on which many thousands of pounds have been expended to perfect it, and speaking from personal knowledge of the area and a very close inspection it is not surprising to find that it has presented a record-breaking surface.