THE FILLIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 205, 18 November 1927, Page 7

THE FILLIES

FEW GOOD ONES DOREE AND WILD PIGEON (From Our Own Correspondent) WELLINGTON, Thursday. So far as the present season has gone, the fillies we have seen out are an extremely poor lot, taking them on the whole, comments our Wellington correspondent. The first test they were put to was in the N£w Zealand Oaks at the recent spring fixture of the Canterbury Jockey Club. Backing Doree as unbeatable, the great army of punters have hardly got over the shock of the result yet. Her defeat by Wild Pigeon was unpalatable in every way; it reflected on their judgment and considerably reduced their banking accounts. The trouble did not stop there, as on the last day of the meeting Wild Pigeon, having won the Oaks, was backed as a good thing in the Stonyhurst Handicap, in which she had only three moderate opponents. She was decisively beaten, so that those who switched on to her to retrieve the losses she let them in for when she defeated Doree were still deeper in the mire. The Riddiford stable appears to have held a good opinion of Wild Pigeon for some time, and that they were nearer the mark respecting her merits than the average run of racing “expert” was borne out by the running in the New Zealand Oaks. It is said they are confident she will go on to further successes in her class, but followers of the sport should be a little bit wary. She might not beat Doree next time they meet. If they clash again at the

Auckland summer meeting the race will be very interesting, and there is a fair chance of Doree turning the tables. However, the main fact is that we are going through a very lean year so far as three-year-old fillies are concerned, and if there is anyone who has a good one coming on he will be able to win a lot of money with her before the present season draws to a close.