AUSTRALIAN RACING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 October 1939, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN RACING

RANDWICK MEETING

DERBY WON BY READING.

DAY OF THRILLING FINISHES,

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.

SYDNEY, October 1. The weather for the opening, day. of the Australian Jockey Club’s spring meeting at Randwick on Saturday was overcast and cool, with a south-easter-ly wind. The course was in fair order, but slightly dead. The attendance totalled 51,400, compared with 63,900 for the first day last year. A day of thrilling finishes wound up with a dead-heat in the Colin Stephen Stakes, in which Royal Chief and Mosaic fought every inch of ground from the distance to the post. The former Queenslander Seven Fifty ran a splendid race and finished strongly. The stewards considered recommending the refusal of Te Hero’s nomination in future, but withheld action on trainer J. Lewis's promising to withdraw Te Hero from further Randwick engagements and attempting to correct his barrier behaviour. Te Hero took no part in the Epsom Handicap today after swinging round at the barrier.

New Zealand and New Zealand-bred horses, who seemed to predominate in the A.J.C. Derby, failed to uphold the Dominion’s prestige in the Randwick classic, which was won narrowly by the good-looking local Marconigram colt, Reading, after a gruelling battle up the straight with the former New Zealander High Caste. High Caste was unfortunate to lose. He ran wide almost through >ut and covered much unnecessary ground. Beau Vite occupied a handy position on the rails all through, but was beaten at the home turn.

Gold Salute, who was purchased after hurried negotiations before. the Derby by Mr Alan Cooper for £lO,OOO showed up in the lead for over a mile, but failed at the finish and never threatened danger. Wilson plugged away in the rear, and displayed no dash.

The Epsom Handicap was just pulled out of the fire by the speedy Geebung, who was so closely pressed by the outsiders, Tuhitarata and Delmester, that a blanket could have covered the placed horses. Interference in this race ruined the chances of Mildura and Sedunum.

Trainer T. R. George was surprised at Beau Vite’s defeat in the Derby, but is satisfied the colt could have done better on a firmer track, on which all his previous good work has been achieved. Jockey M. McCarten said Beau Vite was going comfortably in the early stages, but when he called on him for a finishing effort, there was simply no response.

The Sunday papers pay a tribute to Reading’s game, grim finish with High Caste. Reading’s next engagement will be the Caulfield Guineas next Saturday.

Despite Gold Salute’s defeat in the Derby, Mr Cooper is convinced that he is one of the best three-year-olds in Australia and intends to prepare him for the Melbourne Cup, in which he has only 7.0. Mr G. Paul, the former owner of Gold Salute, confirmed the purchase price, £lO,OOO. The part-owner of the Derby winner Mr Gordon S. Luscombe, suddenly lost his eyesight on Friday night and. therefore, was unable to witness Reading's magnificent victory yesterday.

Results: — ■ First hurdle face, about two miles. Kcewong (Hood), 1; Exiling (Ellis), 2; Mag Mort (Pearce), 3. Eight started. Legionilla and First Son fell. One length and a half; three-quarters of a length. Time 3.51. Trial Slakes, one mile and a quarter. Katanga, 7.9 (W. Cook), 1; Buckshee, 8.8 (Bartie), 2; Gronus, 7.6 (Hughes), 3. Seventeen started. Head; three lengths. Cape Morelon was fourth. Time, 2.8. A.J.C. Derby. For three-year-old colts and fillies. One mile and a half. Reading. 8.10 (Munro), 1; High Caste, 8.10 (Bartie), 2; Wilson (Badger). 3.. Also started: Bonny Loch, Dashing Cavalier, Gold Salute, Beau Vite. A dazzling struggle ended in Reading winning! by half a neck from High Caste, with Wilson a length and a half away third. Beau Vite was fourth, Gold Salute fifth, and Bonny Loch tailed the field the whole way. Time, 2.34.

Epsom Handicap. One mile. Geebung, 7.10 (Badger), 1; Tuhitarata, 7.7 (Harvey), 2; Delmestor (Davidson). 3. Also started: St Constant, Sedunum. Speardale, Adios, Te Hero, Mildura, Micawber, Bradford, Gilltown, Grand Boy, Red Thespian, Astounding, Pen Name. Te Hero swung round at the barrier rise and took no part in the race. In another fighting finish Geebung stalled off Tuhitarata, who came from behind, the former winning by only half a neck, with Delmestor half a head away third. Speardale was close up fourth. Time. 1.37.7. Colin Stephen Stakes. W.f.a. One mile and a half. Royal Chief, 9.5 (Bartie), r; Mosaic, 9.0 (Munro), f; Seven Fifty, 9.0 (McCarten), 3. i'Dead heat for first. Also started: L’Aiglon. Time, 2.42 j. Kensington Handicap. 7 furlongs. Bramol, 9.9 (McMenamin), 1; Denis. 9.6 (K. Cook). 2; Rex, 8.11 (W. Cook), 3. Twenty-one started, including Moorsotis. Two lengths; neck. Time 1.261.