How the Favourite Failed in Caulfield Cup

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 500, 1 November 1928, Page 10

How the Favourite Failed in Caulfield Cup

OWNER’S HEAVY LOSSES WILL STREPHON MAKE AMENDS? Gothics inexplicable failure in the Caulfield Cup was the subject of a good deal of talk during the weekend, telegraphed the Melbourne correspondent of the Sydney “Sun.” What was the contributing cause of it? ‘ Why was the horse unable to show the brilliance which had marked his efforts in other races? The thing which puzzled everybody was Gothic’s lack of speed in the run

to the home-turn, for there is not a faster horse in Melbourne. Pike never had Gothic nearer the front than fifth. Everybody who gave the matter any thought considered that Gothic would be given most assistance bv being allowed to take up a position behind the pacemaker, where he would escape trouble, and be able to stride along easily until called upon for a final effort somewhere about the turn. Worrying the Favourite As far as the three-furlong post. Pike was hugging the rail, but he was never alone. There was always at least one horse on the outside of him. sometimes two or three, and it appeared as if Gothic was never galloping freely, possibly because he was hampered for room. Had Pike pulled out and gone round horses near him he might have done better. Gothic did not stand out as any better than others in the race, and yet he is known to be vastly superior to every one of them. In explanation of his defeat, it was said that he could not stay, but the horse improved from fifth at the turn, to third at the finish. The weight and soft track might have been the cause, and yet English horses are supposed to be partial to such going. Mr. Green’s Loss Mr. Green was a heavy loser. On top of the early investments, he put close on £I,OOO on the horse after the

black showed him and his trainer that wonderful trial on Thursday at Aspendale. Mr. Green has missed the Caulfield Cup, but there are still the Derby and Melbourne Cup ahead. He has a great colt, Strephon, to run for him in those events, and victory in either or both would perhaps console him for the Caulfield Cup debacle. Mr. E. Lee Steere, who races Maple, is a very lucky man. He has given Holt only two horses to train for him, and he has won a Caulfield Cup with each of them. Maple is not a second Eurythmie in point of quality, but she is a very useful .iare, and is certain to win more races before she leaves Holt’s charge. Textile’s Bleeding Attack Textile’s poor form in the Cup astonished those people who had seen him win the Coongy Handicap brilliantly. The cause of his indifferent showing was a bleeding attack which came on him early in the race. It was nearing the home turn that his jockey, Scanlon, awakened to the fact that there was something radically wrong, and from there he did not persevere. Dr. Kenneth McLean, a part-owner of Textile, said it had been intended to run the horse in the Moonee Valley Cup next Saturday, and if things were more satisfactory he would be held to his Melbourne Cup engagement. This is not the first time Textile has bled. While the field was at the post awaiting the signal, another runner kicked Black Duchess. Then during the race one of her fore legs came in

contact with the flying hoofs of another horse, and a nasty cut was inflicted. The mare received more than her share of troubles, and did well to run second.

False Favourites Those turfites who maintaine that Gothic was a false favourite for the Caulfield Cup came out on top, comments the “Australasian.” They contended that no horse that had not been well tried over a mile and a-half in public or in “private,” was entitled to be at such a ridiculously shore price as was offered against the imported horse in the few weeks preceding the race, more particularly as he had a weight that has never yet been carried to victory in the Caulfield Cup. Everybody knew that Gothic is an exceptionally brilliant horse up to a mile and a quarter, but the all-important question was, could he carry 9.7 over a mile and a-half? An old-time trainer —and there are one or two of the old school still turning out winners—would not have hesitated a moment to put the question to Gothic with the assistance of several horses, but Mr. Green and L. Robertson were so confident that Gothic would stay that thev did not gallop him farther than a mile and a quarter at any time. His greatlv boomed trial against the watch at Aspendale on the Thursday preceding the race was over only nine furlongs, and although Gothic made exceptionally fast time for the distance, the gallop did not tell them anything about his stamina; merely that the horse was very fit. Pike had to check Gothic two or three times during the race—apparently to avoid getting on to the heels of the horses in front—but he said afterwards that the slight interference made no difference, Gothic failed because he could not stay. Judging by the way Maple cleared out from the field in the straight, there were precious few real stayers in the race.

Hastings Jottings Word has been received from Sydney that the Hastings mare Kaahumanu, sister to Gasbag, has produced a fine colt foal to Magpie and visits the same horse again, says the “Tribune” writer. The foal will remain in New South Wales until weaned and then will be brought over here. Mountain Peer who, a few years back, after winning four hurdle races unfortunately met with an accident, is at present being hacked about before going into work for another trial. Mr. H. Tupaea has disposed of Break o’ Day, but the Finland gelding, who is about to be placed into work again, will be trained locally. Mr. G. D. Beatson has a useful cut of a gelding halfbrother to Locarno by Kilboy ready to go into active work This three-year-old is the last of Kilboy’s New Zealand stock. Good Cheer, a filly not a few local track watchers have been anxiously awaiting to see started, is supposed to be going to Sydney in the near future to join up with another of Mr. D. H. McLeod’s team. Clarendon, under Geo. Price. The writer is unable to confirm Good Cheer’s trip across the Tasman.