RACING OWNER WANTS COLOURS THAT HIT THE EYE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 29, 3 February 1945, Page 3 (Supplement)

RACING OWNER WANTS COLOURS THAT HIT THE EYE

The famous Vanderbilts of U.S.A., and one o"f trie most eminent maharajah patrons of the Indian turf, seem happy to deck their jockeys out in "brown, light blue spots, sleeves and cap." Until recently Dr. Cecil Raphael, well-known Melbourne sportsman, was equally happy about those colours, which were registered as his. Now those colours are in vast favour with the" sporting medico. "Never again, as long as I am racing horses, will one represent me with that combination atop," he said, determinedly. "I've ditched them for good and will' immediately apply to the V.R.C. for a new combination."

This distaste for the brown and blue spots developed from a hectic finish in the last race at Men tone, when the judge placed Dominate first, half a neck ahead of Lord Enfield, with Spanish Legend a head away third. The sporting writers had Punctilia half a head away from the place-getters, fourth, with Dr. Raphael's Duntroon neck and neck with her. "I don't blame anyone, but I do blame th'e colours," said Dr. Raphael. "Although they were perched up there on one of the tallest horses in training (he is 17.2 hands), they just did not stand out, and were missed, and both the trainer and the jockey feel as certain on the point."