MELBOURNE CUP

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 19, 2 November 1938, Page 2

MELBOURNE CUP

CATALOGUE’S SURPRISE WJN. OWNED BY NEW ZEALAND WOMAN. (United Press Association—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 1. After leading nearly ,all the way, the New Zealand horse, Catalogue, owned by Mrs A. Jameson, had an easy win in the Melbourne Cup to-day. The weather had made the going heavy, and the time was a full live seconds slower than the record time set by Wotan, the last New Zealand horse to win, the race, in 193 d. Catalogue, however, was never seriously challenged. The weather was showery, but there was an excellent attendance.

The racing opened sensationally with liye falls in the Cup Hurdle Race, which was won easily by the Adelaide representative, Dominor, who registered his fifth successive hurdle success. ♦

Manrico spreadeagled the field in the High-weight Handicap, scoring the easiest win seen for some time. Top Row, improving, ran fifth. Raeburn went a fair race to finish sixth.

Zonda led always for a comfortable win in the Mimosa Stakes. Trained by the former New Zealander, Lou Robertson, Zonda has had two wins and two thirds in four starts. Benzonia made a fair effort. Folk Song was never dangerous.

Catalogue was always well placed, and led over the last seven furlongs in the cup to win easily. He is eight years old, and one of the oldest horses to win this race.

The victory caused a surprise, but it was a clear-cut win. Bourbon finished well, but never looked like troubling the winner. Ortelle’s Star ran an excellent race and just beat Allunga for third place. Royal'Chief was running on at the finish without looking' dangerous.

The going was slightly holding, which militated against fast time. Queen of Song, St. Constant, and PAiglon were never dangerous. Nuffield was well placed after a. mile and a half had been covered, but he knocked up in the later stages. Catalogue has brought the cup to a woman owner for the first time since Patrobas won in 1915. The rider, F. Shean, has had remarkable success this spring. He rode King’s Head, the winner of the Epsom Handicap, and Buzalong, winner of the Caulfield Cup. Results:—

Cup Hurdle Race, of £700; two miles.—Dominor 10.2 (A. Fullarton) 1, Bridge of Mar 11.9 2, St. Fox 10.0 3. Eleven starters. Won by five lengths. Time, 3.42. Railway High-weight Handicap, of £700; six furlongs.—Manrico, 10.0 (D. Munro) 1, Aurie’s Star 10.11 2, Pine Peak 8.7 3. Won by six lengths. Time 1.13,1. ' ■ Mimosa Stakes, of £700; for two-year-old fillies; about two furlongs and a half.—Zonda, 8.10 (A. Breasley) 1, Free Leg, 8.0 2, Manja 8.5 3. Won by three lengths. Time, 553 sec.

MELBOURNE: CUP, Of £IO,OOO and, trophy value £200; second horse £2OOO, and third horse £IOOO from stake. Two miles. Mrs A. Jameson’s Catalogue (N.Z.) 1 by Lord Quex —Catalini, aged • 8.4 (F. Shean) 1 Freedman and MeLachlan’s Bourbon by Tipler—Spearfoot, 4yrs 7.12 (R. Parsons) 4 R. Hedge’s eh m Ortelle’s Star by. Great Star —Ortelle’s March 4yrs (A. Breasley) 3

Respirator was the only, scratching. Bachelor King 'was th|e early pacemaker from Catalogue, Sir Regent, Son of Aurous, and Silenus, with Royal Chief, Bourbon, St. Constant, Kingdom, and Aitchengee in the rear. Catalogue took charge seven furlongs from home and led at the turn from Silenus, Young Crusader, Allunga, Gay Knight, Ortelle’s Star, and Bourbon. Catalogue cleared away in the straight to win by three lengths frgm the fast-finishing Bourbon. Opr telle’s Star was two and a half lengths further back, then came Allunga, Royal Chief, Sir Regent', Aitchengee, Gay Knight, and, Silenus, with Nuffield, Young Crusader, and The Trump the last three. Time, 3.26 J.

Cup Steeplechase, of £700; about two miles and half a furlong. —Scomius 9.8 (R. Sweetnam) 1, Wakerife 10.2 2, Green Cape 11.4 3. Won by five lengths. Time3.o2:l —a course recoord. Yan Yean Stakes of £700; one mile. — l Uudean, 8.9 (W. Elliott) 1, Othello 84 2, Pibroch 6.12 3. Won by two lengths. Time, 1.38 J. “OLDEST WINNER OF RACE.” SYDNEY, Nov. 1. The special correspondent of the “Sun,” Mr H. Wnrhurton, telegraphs: “Catalogue was the oldest and plainest horse to win the cup. He gave his New Zealand owner, Mrs Tui Jameson, the greatest racing thrill of her career when he ran away with the big event to-day. “Catalogue was always in a winning position, and took charge after entering the straight. He stalled off a fast-finishing run bv Bourbon. The outcome of the race recalls Wotan’s surprise. victory two years ago.

“Catalogue’s rider, E. Shean, completed the great treble, having already won the Epsom Handicap and Caulfield Cup.”