AUSTRALIAN RACING

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25610, 27 September 1948, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN RACING

COLUMNIST BEATEN SURPRISE WIN BY RIO FE (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) SYDNEY. Sept. 26. Rio Fe caused the greatest surprise of this racing season by beating Dutchman and the heavily favoured Columnist in the James Gosper Quality Handicap at Rosehill. When he left Sydney for Brisbane last Easter Rio Fe was rated in novice company. On a heavy track Columnist could not match the speed of the lightweights over the short distance of seven furlongs. Rio Fe was up with the leaders all the way and staved off Dutchman’s challenge to record his fourth win in the last five starts. In the Hawkesbury Grand Handicap, Cape Neddick finished brilliantly to beat the Derby colt Bold Duke in the last stride, with the New Zealander, Kerry Lad, close up third. Cape Neddick’s run is considered an excellent pointer for Metropolitan Handicap prospects. With two and a half furlongs to go Cape Neddick was hemmed in on the rails, but the Chinese jockey, E. Doon, who had four wins at the meeting, pulled him to the outside. Kerry Lad’s performance, when he moved from seventh to third at the finish, is also considered promising. Results:— GOSPER QUALITY HANDICAP Of £BOO. Seven furlongs. RIO FE 7-3 ' .. .. Robinson 1 Dutchman 6-13 .. .. Selkrig 2 Columnist 9-5 .. .. Thompson 3 There were 11 starters. Half length; three-quarters of a length Time, Imin 25sec. HAWKESBURY GRAND HANDICAP Of £lOOO. One mile and a quarter. GAPE NEDDICK 7-8 .. .. Doon 1 B<ld Duke 7-6 .. .. Thompson 2 Kerry Lad 8-6 .. .. Moore 3 There were 19 starters. Nose; long neck. Time, 2min 6sec. MOONEE VALLEY R.C. VICTORIA DERBY PROSPECTS (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Sept. 26. By outclassing a smart field of three-year-olds in the Moonee Valley Stakes of one mile, Phoibcs became one of the favourites for the Victoria Derby. . He ran the mile in only three-quarters of a second outside the course record, and would have won by a greater margin had he been ridden out. Results:— MOONEE VALLEY STAKES Of £2OOO. One mile. PHOIBOS 8-9 .. . • Breasley 1 Derrymore 8-9 .. .. Heather 2 Gay Saint 8-9 .. • • Badger 3 There were eight starters. Four lengths; two lengths. Time, Imin QUALITY HANDICAP Of £lOOO. One mile and a quarter. HORARATA 8-4 .. .. Heather 1 Crown Gem 8-5 .. .. Breasley 2 Sanctus 8-0 .. .. .. Badger t Saxony 7-7 .. .. Tully ? Length and a half; three-quarters of a length. Dead-heat for third. Time, 2min 4sec. Favourite for A.J.C. Derby Royal Andrew advanced to favouritism for the A.J.C. Derby when he won the Rosehill Guineas in Sydney last Saturday. After having been run over nine furlongs sinep its inception, .this year the distance was' increased to one mile and a quarter. Previously the race had proved anything but a reliable guide for the A.J.C. Derby. With the increased distance the race may now prove a more reliable guide. Royal Andrew’s performances in Sydney this spring have stamped him as one of the most promising staying three-year-olds of the season. He put in a phenomenal run from the home turn when he ran San Dominico to a neck in the Hobartville Stakes and he failed by a neck to catch the brilliant Riptide in the Canterbury Guineas, which is run on a turning course, which favoured the latter. Royal Andrew is by St. Andrew from Aldabra by Madagascar (by Blandford) from Gloriole, a brilliant filly in her time by Heroic from Gloaming’s Sister, which was bred as her name implies. St. Andrew is an Australian-bred horSe by Gay Lothario (by Gay Crusader), from Andromeda by Great Star (by Sunstar) from Mauve, a mare sired in England by Mauvezin, a French-bred sire, from Fallingbrook by Bridge of Canny. During his racing career, St. Andrew won eight races including the • Queensland Metropolitan Handicap of one mile and a half-, in 2min 30-3-ssec. He comes- from the same family as Polycle- • tan, which won the-A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap, and the Sydney Cup winner, Akuna.