AUSTRALIAN TWO-YEAROLDS.

Auckland Star, Issue 154, 2 July 1934, Page 12

AUSTRALIAN TWO-YEAR-OLDS.

Since it is not the practice for the Australian handicappers to issue a free-for-all assessment of the two-year-olds, it is customary to turn to the Melbourne Cup in Eearch of the handicappers' opinions of the rising three-year-olds (says a Sydney writer). Concerning the claims to superiority, there has been a diversity of opinion among sporting men, but the opinion or the Y.R.C. handicapper is that Dark Sky Las earned the honour by lib from bir John and Aztec. He has 7.8 and the others 7.7. It is just a matter of opinion as to whether Sir John is better than or inferior to Dark Sky. In Melbourne Sir John won the V.R.C. Sires Produce Stakes, and Dark Sky won the corresponding race in Sydney. Aztec was among the early two-year-old winners, and showed plenty of pace and lameness in a finish. Pasha, who appeals more as the sprinting type, is placed with 7.5, and on that mark are Theo and Sylvandale. Both Iheo and Sylvandale have pretentions to staying. Sylvandale won his races at Randwick "in particularly good style, and, although he missed the better class events, there was something about his at one milo that called attention to his Derby ' chance. Winner of the Champagne Stakes in good style, Great Legend has 7.4, but it would seem that the handicapper has not been impressed with the displays of Duke Caledon and Watson, for each has 7 2 Duke Caledon's stock slumped towards the end of his two-year-old career, but he was probably not himself, forhis preceding'runs made it very clear that he was thoroughly at home m a close finish. Watson has struck form more recently. He is by Constant Son (imp.), and represents the first crop by that sire. Moreover, on form that has been disclosed, he appeals as the most likely stayer.