ALL QUALITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 611, 13 March 1929, Page 12

ALL QUALITY

AUSTRALIAN CUP VICTOR BIG WAGERS LANDED When settling took place on the Australian Cup in Melbourne last Wednesday it was estimated that more than £20,000 was paid out over the success of Some Quality, and probably another £20,000 was disbursed on the winning double of St. Ardent and Some Quality. The Australian Cup is never a big pre-post betting medium. This year the straight-out discussions were tically lifeless until a few days before the race. In one or two of the early lists before the weights appeared Some Quality was quoted at fourte*ns. The early fancies then were Statesman, Demost, Strephon and Winalot, all of which failed to see the post. Headed the List When it was seen that Some Quality was nicely weighted the South Australian mare headed the quotes at less than double figures. One early double of St. Ardent and Some Quality paid out was £I,OOO, and there were other doubles of £I,OOO. Doubles taken the previous week about the winning pair were at thousands to thirty.

The best bet about Some Quality, straight out, was to £1,050, taken the day before the race. Nearly £7,000 was laid about Some Quality after the Newmarket Handicap and before the day. The best price was just short of double figures, and four wagers of £4OO were accepted at that figure. The owner of a wellknown performer secured £750 twice. Other winners included several South Australians and a Melbourne city business man. For Mondiaga Mondiaga was backed for the best part of £50.000, both straight out and in the double. On the course one wager, probably for covering purposes, taken about Mondiaga was to win £4,500. One operator laid three bets, totalling £3.500, on the course against Some Quality. Two other large course wagers were £2,000 twice about Octember. The Banker was very heavily supported at good prices, and over £ 20,000 was secured on the course. The Banker was at fifties overnight, and finished up at less than twenties. Leadlight was backed tor over £14.000 in the closing stages of the discussions and probably £17.000 was taken before the day about the same horse. Late backing for Finsbury is said to have totalled over £15.000. Some Quality was v~ry firm in the market since the preceding Saturday, and her price only varied one point. Winner’s Good Record Some Quality has won £8.453 in stakes as the result of six wins, 14 seconds and eight thirds. She a halfsister to Caserta. which ran second in Murray King’s Sydney Cup. Some Quality comes from South Australia and is trained by W. J. Nolan, who has received numerous congratulations from Adelaide on the victory of the mare.

Opening of English Season Interest in flat racing will now be much in evidence in England, for the season will be opened on the Carholme on Wednesday. March 20. The American colt Reigh Count was awarded equal top-weight in the Lincolnshire Handicap with 9.2. Mr. Sol Joel’s horse Fohanaun also having that weight. In the Grand National Steeplechase. to be decided on March 22. the crack hurdler Easter Hero is top-weight with 12.7. then conies the two Aintree stalwarts, Spring 12.5 and Bright's Boy 12.4.