Eyes on Randwick For Next Few Days

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 163, 30 September 1927, Page 6

Eyes on Randwick For Next Few Days

NEW ZEALAND WELL REPRESENTED

ALTHOUGH Merry Mint has a chance of pulling off the £B,OOO A.J.C. Derby to-morrow at Randwick, the three-year-old classic bears an open appearance. Many other Dominion horses will also be seen in action, notably Limerick, so that the racing at Randwick holds much to interest New Zealanders.

nPHE principal events to come up for **" decision on the opening day of the A.J.C. meeting at Randwick are the A.J.C. Derby, of. £B,OOO, one mile and a-half; Epsom Handicap, of £3,000, one mile; Spring Stakes, of £2,500, one and a-half miles (weight-for-age). On Monday there is the Breeders’ Plate, of £2,000, five furlongs (for two-

year-old colts and geldings); Metropolitan Handicap, of £6,000, one mile five furlongs.

The third day is Wednesday, when there comes up for decision the Craven Plate, of £3,000, one and a-quarter miles; and Gimcrack Stakes, of £2,000, five furlongs (for two-year-old fillies). The following Saturday is the con-

cluding day, with its programme of seven races, most important of which are the Randwick Plate, of £2.500., two miles (w'eight-for-age); and the Clilborn Stakes, of £1,500, one mile (for three-year-olds, with penalties).

A feature of the three weight-for-age races—on each of which Limerick appears to have a first mortgage—is that there are no penalty clauses. 1905 RECALLED

The winning way of the New Zealanders in Sydney this spring has made one Australian writer recall the spring meeting of 1905. Noctuiform opened the account by taking the Derby, and that was the sole success of the day. On Metropolitan day, however, the programme was “bagged” by the visitors.

Machine Gun, with the steadier of 10.13, won the Shorts Handicap, Isolt. the Maiden Stakes, Maniapoto the Metropolitan, Sultana the Steeplechase, Sun God the New Stakes, and Nightfall the Squatters’ Handicap. As though to show how easy it was the first four to finish in the Steeplechase came from the Dominion. At the meeting, of the 24 races decided, 13 were won by horses bred in New Zealand, nine of them being weight-for-age or special weights events. New South Wales won one weight-for-age race and one special weights race. MASON’S TROT

The team prepared by R. J. Mason for G. G. Stead were the outstanding performers. , Noctuiform, Isolt, Sun God and Nightfall all carried the yellow and black livery, and, in addition to the races mentioned, Sun God won the Grantham Stakes, Isolt the Wycombe Stakes and the Members’ Handicap, and Nightfall the Randwick Plate, ip which she had 20 lengths to spare at the finish.

Five of the winners on the Monday were ridden by New Zealanders. L. Hewitt was rst past the post on three occasions, G. Carruthers once, and F. Jones (trainer of Limerick) once. The Steeplechase winner was ridden by the Sydney horseman, P. Regan. A £1 note invested on Machine Gun and all played up would have netted a return of over £3,000 at a starting price. LATEST FROM RANDWICK

Very recent advices from Randwick refer to the gallop yesterday morning between Limerick and Commendation, in which the former pulled up well, whereas Commendation was distressed, as one of the "greatest ever seen at Randwick,” and the decision of Mr. W. H. Gaisford to scratch his horse and send him back to the Dominion created a first-class sensation in Sydney and Melbourne, because he still maintained his position as favourite for the Caulfield Cup, despite his recent failures:.

In a tribute to Limerick, a highly qualified judge declared that there was nothing to beat the Limond gelding "from a furlong to a mile, and five furlongs, and perhaps two miles." THE DERBY FIELD

There are 18 left in the Derby, which bears a very open appearance, and there will be about sixteen runners, including the New Zealanders Merry Mint and Statesman.,. In giving out his idea of the race and its prospects, the Sydney authority quoted above expressed himself in favour of Trivalve, Statesman, AVinalot and Merry Mint, in that order. The Epsom Handicap to-morrow he considered lies between Amounis, Gothic, Fujisan and Aomngi, in that order. At present Gothic is favourite,

with Aorangi and Amounis next in demand. Amounis's trainer. Frank McGrath, is decidedly optimistic. “Ho won’t get beaten,he said this week. This trainer is a pretty good judge, too. WEIGHT-FOR-AGE CONTEST The field for the Spring Stakes, 1J miles, to-morrow is a good one, comprising Pantheon, Valamita, Horton Gag, Pilliewinkie, Bacchus, Piuthair, and Limerick. Pantheon is in better form now than he was this time last year, but there is very little hope of the English-bred horse defeating the New Zealander. Pilliewinkie will also be a runner, but it is not expected that he will do too well. Limerick looks certain to start at odds-on, and it may be Pantheon and Piuthair that will be his most dangerous opponents. THE METROPOLITAN On Monday the Metropolitan Handicap comes up for decision, and the best fancied are Limerick, Murillo. Bacchus and Amounis. The Sydney expert likes Limerick, Pantheon and Bacchus. This race is run over a mile and five furlongs, and was won last year by Star Stranger, whose success was supposed to have won big sums for those connected with the Martian gelding. TWO-YEAR-OLD EVENTS Of the 20 in the Breeders’ Plate on Monday six are by Rossendale, and include Ramulus, Rampion’s brother, and three New Zealanders, two of them by Leighton. The high-priced colts and geldings are conspicuous by their absence. * On Wednesday there is the Gimcrack Stakes, and here, too, the costly youngsters are absent. There is a Leighton filly engaged, also White Wings, the sister to that good colt Agrion. Endorse is also engaged. She is by Paper Money from the speedy Epitaph, and although a bit on the small side she can go fast. Indeed, the Sydney expert referred to Endorse as “the Rolls

Royee of the fillies” training; at Randwick. ACCEPTORS FOR BIG EVENTS Acceptances for the leading events to be run at the Australian Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting were posted yesterday, states an A. and N.Z. cable message. The respective lists are as follow: A.J.C. DERBY CK £8,000; for three-year-olds, colts and geldings, 8.10; fillies, 8.5; 1£ miles. Winalot, by Rossendale—Princess Volga, 8.10. Sion, by Valais—Gaitee Queen, 8.10. Prime Don, by Sarchedon—Primeness, 8.10. Chromium, by Chrysolaus—Sweet Lady, 8.10. Glenariff, by Valais—Bunee, 8.10. Statesman, by Demosthenes—Mareelle, 8.10.

Padicoi, by Wolaroi—Linera, 8.10. Sir Allan, by Redfern—Honey Guide, 8.10. Rosso, by Rossendale—Persian Nan, 8.10. Ragazzo, by Seremond—Fambina, 8.10. Mondiaga, by Seremond—Mallaic, 8.10. Sacedon, by Sarchedon—Aqua, 8.10. Trivalve, by Cyklon—Trey, 8.10. Pitoota, by Rizzio—Ebony, 8.10. Merry Mint, by Catmint—Merry Roe, S.lO. Holbrook Belle, by Eaton Lad—Otter, 8.5. g Black Duchess, by Magpie—Extension, Maltfern, by Redfern—Etra Malt, 8.5. EPSOM HANDICAP Of £3,000; 1 mile.

st. lb. s t. lb. Fujisan . . . 9 13 Aorangi . . . 8 0 Amo unis . . . 9 10 Wedding Eve 7 13 Gothic . . . 9 8 Cimon . . . 7 10 Don Moon 8 S Bunkum . . . 7 7 Vaals . 8 7 Spectre . . . 7 5 White Fang 8 5 Killarney . . 7 5 L. Constance 8 4 Pigeon Pie . 6 H Mullabawn 8 2 Mak Siccar . 6 7 Bravado . . S 0 SECOND DAY, — MONDAY THE METROPOLITAN Of £6,000; 1 mile and 5 furlongs st. lb. Kt lb. Pantheon 9 11 Tibbie . . . 13 Limerick . . 9 5 Clarinda . . 11 Amounis . . 9 3 Horton Gag 7 10 Bacchus . Beedos 7 Valamita . . S 7 Dartmoor . . 7 Strongbow . . 8 4 Rawhetu . . Donald . . 8 2 Octember . Star d’Or . . 8 2 Don Panther Mullabawn 8 2 Valparaiso Royal Sun . 8 0 Bonaventure 6 7 Murillo _* . 8 0 Drawbridge „ 6 l