Won Easily

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 505, 7 November 1928, Page 12

Won Easily

Yesterday’s Melbourne Cup

Statesman, Son of Demosthenes

WHAT a good horse Statesman must be! Nearly last in the early stages of yesterday’s Melbourne Cup, he had forged up into third place at the entrance to the straight, collared the leaders in quick time, and then went on to win easily from the favourite, the Derby winner Strephon. That was how that great race, the Melbourne Cup, was won and lost. Accounts of the race, both by cable and by radio, make interesting reading.

MELBOURNE, Tuesday. Melbourne Cup Day at PTgmington was favoured with beautiful weather, and there was an enormous attendance. The Governor-General, Lord Stonehaven, and the respective State Governors were present. The field for the Melbourne Cup was the smallest for 50 years. J. Munro, who steered the winner, Statesman, previously scored on Windbag. He was given a great ovation on returning to scale. Statesman was one of the first horses backed for the race, and he was a bad horse for the bookmakers. He was extensively coupled with Maple for the double. Statesman is owned and was trained by Mr. W. Kelso. He ran sixth in the Melbourne Cup last year. After the race Munro stated that he had a clear run on the inside and went outside only two horses during the race. Howes, who rode Strephon. stated that the Derby winner pulled hard early in the race. The winner was far too good. Medhurst, rider of Demost, stated that his horse was a long way back early. lie suffered no interference and came home strongly. The full value of the prize money attached to this year’s Melbourne Cup amounted to £12,563. of which £9,563 goes to the owner of the winner, -£2,000 to the owner of the second horse, and £I.OOO to the owner of the third horse. The results of the day’s events are: THE MELBOURNE CJJP A sweepstakes of £75 each, with £IO,OOO added; second £2,000; third £1,000; 2 miles. STATESMAN (W. Kelso), ch h, 4yrs, By Demosthenes—Marcelle, 8.0, J. Munro 1 STREPHON (S. G*een), ch c, 3yrs, by Saltash—Soldier’s Love, 7.6, R. Howes 2 DEMOST (J. Nettef), b g, 4yrs, by Demosthenes—Torquay, 6.12, R. Medhurst 3 Seventeen started. When the field settled down The Happy Warrior led, and he showed the way past the stand from jDion, Strephon, Balmerino, Epilogue. Alfred the Great, Oatendale, Allecret and Statesman, with Canning Queen and Demost last. At the mile Strephon was only a length behind The Happy Warrior, the others prominent being Dion, Balmerino, Oatendale, Modiaga and Epilogue, while Statesman was moving up. Strephon took the lead six furlongs from home, and at the half-mile post he was just in front of Balmerino, followed by Alfred the Great, Attaman and Statesman, with Demost still a long way back. Strephon led round the turn, and was first into the straight from Statesman and Balmerino.

Statesman took charge below the distance and, ridden right out, won by four lengths from Strephon, who was three lengths in front of Demost, after whom

came Balmerino, Winalot, Canning Queen, Epilogue, Oatendale, Allecret, Dion and Modiaga. The last two were The Happy Warrior and The Banker. Time, 3.23?;. Sectional times: First four furlongs, 53, next four furlongs 505, succeeding four furlongs 49f, final four furlongs 50S, the last six furlongs 1.15 g, and the final mile 1.40. The time for the full two miles is only three-quarters of a second outside the race record. CUP HURDLE RACE A sweepstakes of £2 each, with £6OO , added: 2 miles. MIGRANT (H. E. Connolly), b m, 6 yrs, 10.9 1 FRED BROWN, 10.5 2 IDLE TIME, 9.12 . 3 Nine started. Migrant took command at the last hurdle and won by half-a-length: a like distance between second and third. Blast was fourth. Time, 3.435RAILWAY HANDICAP A swbepstakes of £6 each, with £6OO added; G furlongs. SWITZERLAND (H. B. Thompson), blk h, syrs, 9.6 1 COROMANDEL, 8.2 2 SOUTH AUSTRA, 9.3 3 Twenty-six started. Switzerland, who was prominent throughout, won by threequarters of a length; a neck between second and thii’d. Red Sea was fourth. Reonui was unplaced. Time, 1.131. NOVEMBER NURSERY A sweepstakes of £6 each, with £6OO added; 5 furlongs. MOIRAWA, 8.0 1 GLAIVE (Spearhead—Eudoxine), 7.3 2 ELLESDEE (by Paper Money), S.O .. 3 Nineteen started. Moirawa, who finished fast, won by half-a-length; threequarters of a length between second and third. Time, 1.31. CUP STEEPLECHASE A sweepstakes of £2 each, with £6OO added; about 2 miles and half a furlong. EXTORTION (A. Currie), b g, syrs. 10.5 3 ORAL TREATY, 9.7 2 ORANGE PARK, 9.2 3 Eight started. Won by four lengths. Valbroy was fourth. Ancient Mariner fell, and Bushlaw and Sir Frewin were pulled up. Time, 4.7. YAN YEAN STAKES A sweepstakes of £6 each, with £6OO 1 mile. NEW HOPE (E. Eccles), b g, aged, 7.10, J. O’Brien i. PRINCE VIOL. 4yrs, 6.7 2 CAIRNCROSS, syrs, 7.5 3 Fourteen started. New Hope led into the straight, and won by a neck from Prince Viol, who beat Cairnc-ross by half a length for second place. Durability was fourth. Time, 1.405. The winner was trained by S. Reid, formerly of New Zealand.