LIMERICK WELL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 748, 22 August 1929, Page 13

LIMERICK WELL

PLENTY OF OPPOSITION Limerick did not suffer any ill ! effects from his fall on the wharf on i the day he arrived in Sydney. At Randwick the following morning he moved in a fashion that went to- ; ward endorsing F. D. Jones’s j ment that “he hasn’t been sounder at j any time during the past two years.*' j comments a Sydney critic. There is occasionally a little heat in the joint of his off foreleg, but that does no.t worry his trainer. It is the result of the black “saving” his near foreleg when his foot was giving so much trouble. Even a year will do a lot for a horse’s appearance, but at six Limerick is very different from the lightquartered leggy customer he was at three. He was then one of those horses that could pass without anyone bothering to ask, “What’s that 7" Now he is strongly quartered and big barrelled, and would attract attention anywhere from racing men who were unaware of his identity. Just Behind Gloaming In winnings he is a little over £ 5,000 behind Gloaming’s total of £43,100, and if he lasts as long as the latter, who was rising ten when he retired, Limerick should beat those figures. Gloaming did not start racing until three, and commencing his sixth year his winnings were £22,613, while Limerick, et the same age, is approaching £38,000. There will, however, be no easy money for Limerick in this seasons w.f.a. races in Sydney. From his owu land he will have such opponents as Aussie, Nightmarch and Concentrate, and from Melbourne there will he Mollison, who beat him easily in the A.J.C. All Aged Stakes. In the A.J.C. Derby a mile and a-ha If proved too far for Mollison, but this season he should do well up to a mile and aquarter. The Sydney-owned w.f.a. horses include Amounis, Ramulus and Winalot; while though Fuji San is not as good as when he downed Valicare in the All Aged Stakes, his condition may give him a pull over some of those mentioned in the Hill Stakes at Rosehill. On form Amonuis is the best of the Sydney lot up to a mile and a-quarter. He has not done any fast galloping since he resumed work, but comes on very rapidly. “Couldn’t be pleasing me better,” was F. McGrath’s reply to a query as to the brown gelding’s progress. Amounis has not raced for many months, but, as bearing on his spring prospects, it might be as well to

remember that it was at his first appearance after an absence of nearly live months that he won the Tramway Handicap with 9.4 at Tatt’s meeting last spring. Amounis has twice beaten Limerick at a mile and a-quarter—once at Warwick Farm, and the other time in the Craven Plate at Randwick. Ail going well, he will again be one of the New Zealander's toughest w.f.a. opponents. Thickened Out “Why, he’s as broad us he is long.” 1 remarked a spectator when Ramulus came out to work at Randwick the other morning. He has not grown to any extent since last spring, but has thickened in a fashion that suggests he will not be troubled by any weight in reason. Winalot, who is particularly bright, and never looked stronger, found 9.4 too much in the last Melbourne Cup. This year, with an additional year on his age, and an extra pound on his back, he is going to get closer. His form in the w.f.a. races at Randwick will give a fair idea of whether his chance is actually a winning one, but. of the heavy-weights, he may best bo worth taking at this stage as the second leg of a two cups double. The Moorefield Mile Although Staroff led ull the way and ran home an easy winner in the Moorefield Mile last Saturday week. Headlight's form in running second was not displeasing to his admirers for the A.J.C. Metropolitan. Staroff, who is a member of G. Price’s team, was solidly backed on the strength of his fast gallop at Randwick two days earlier and he started equal favourite with Stormy, who was sold for £ 600 after his recent success in a division of the Canterbury Cup. While Staroff acted up to expectations. Stormy finished out of a place after having every chance, and if the following bets laid against him are any criterion, his new owner has not made a happy beginning with the former New Zealander: £I,OOO from J. T. Hackett: £3OO from A. J. Matthews; £3OO from A. J. Matthews; £3OO from J. A. Shaw: £4OO from S. Baker; £250 from S. Baker; £2OO from E. Forsvt’v