AUSTRALIAN RACING

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26262, 6 November 1950, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN RACING

ALISTER WINS VICTORIA DERBY (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 5. Comic Court showed that he is in top form by easily winning the L. K_ S. Mackinnon Stakes, a standard weigfit-for-age race run over a mile and a quarter. In the centre of the field for seven furlongs, he moved up smartly at the home turn to take charge with a furlong to go. From that stage he never looked like being caught. Chicquita finished strongly to run second, but was giving the winner too great a start. Beau Gem made all the early running, and hung on well to finish third.

Comic Court is engaged in the Melbourne Cup with 9-5, but the extra distance is likely to find him out. Chicquita has one pound more in the cup, but judging by her finishing effort yesterday and in the Caulfield Cup, in which she finished second after meeting with interference, she should not be troubled by the extra distance. She has been well backed for the cup, and after her latest performance will firm for the cup. She should be very hard to beat on Tuesday. Playboy, favourite for the cup, did not run up to expectations in the Mackinnon Stakes, but should do better on Tuesday, when the distance and conditions will be more in his favour. The New Zealand hoise, Bhutan, finished sixth, and is not likely to lose any friends for the cup. Although he has yet to run over two miles, he has indicated by his finishing efforts in his Melbourne races that he should run out the two miles. Alister, a very firm favourite, easily won the Victoria Derby from Midway and Londonderry. Alister will be ridden in the Melbourne Cup by J. Purtell. who will have to declare a few pounds overweight. Although Alister won very impressively, he is pot likely to firm lor the cup, as the field he beat was not high class, in addition, racegoers do not fancy three-year-olds carrying more than weight-for-age in the cup. Lucky Mascot, Rumyle, Matterhorn, Prince Hussar, Glen lan, and Midway, other starters in the Derby, are also engaged in the cup. but their prospects on Tuesday appear on yesterday’s form to be very remote. Thracian Lad, by his win in the Hotham Handicap, will now firm for the Melbourne Cup. He finished on well and held off the fast-finishing Hoyle. Thracian Lad has one pound more in the cup than he carried yesterday. Hoyle finished well, and will be suited by the extra distance of the cup. Saxony was a disappointment, .and will have to improve to have a chance in the cup. Results:— MARIBYRNONG PLATE, Of £2OOO. For two-year-olds. Five longs. JARA 8-10 .. .. J. Purtell 1 Fengare 8-10 .. .. D. Munro 2 Diplomacy 3-10 .. .. G. Bougoure 3 There were 11 starters. Neck: length. Time, Imin. Betting; 12-1 Jara. 14-1 Fengare, 6-4 Diplomacy, the favourite. L. K. S. MACKINNON STAKES, Of £2OOO. Weight-for-age. One mile and a quarter. COMIC COURT 9-3 J. Purtell 1 Chicquita 8-9 .. .. W. Williamson 2 Beau Gem 9-3 .. .. S. Dodd 3 There were hine starters. Length: head. Time. 2min ssec. Betting: 7-2 Comic Court, 3-1 Chicquita, the favourite; 40-1 Beau Gem. VICTORIA DERBY, ~ O* £soo °- One mile and a half. ALISTER 8-10 .. R. Heather 1 Midway 8-10 .. N. Sellwood 2 Londonderry 8-10 .. ..J. Gilmore 3 Three lengths; half-length. Time, 2min 35sec. Betting: 7-4 on Alister, the favourite; 25-1 Midway, 16-1 Londonderry. THE CANTALA STAKES, Of £2OOO. One mile. ELLERSLIE 8-11 .. .. S. Ralph 1 Spitfire 7-7 .. N. Sellwood 2 Gallant Rob 6-13 H. McKenzie 3 There were 10 starters. Neck; head. Time. Imin 36Jsec. Betting: 5-2 Ellerslie, the favourite; 10-1 Spitfire and Gallant Rob. HOTHAM HANDICAP, Of £l5OO. One mile and five furlongs. THRACIAN LAD 8-5 .. A. Ward 1 Hoyle 8-3 s, Ralph 2 Brum 7-8 .. H. McCloud 3 There were 14 starters. Length; half-length. Time, 2inin 45sec. Betting: 6-1 Thracian Lad and Hoyle, 25-1 Bruin, 16-1 Saxony, the favourite. NITROGEN WINS MAIDEN STAKES The New Zealand bred colt, Nitrogen, scored an easy win in the Two-year-old Maiden Stakes for colts and geldings at Canterbury Park. He raced with Bon Rouge to the turn, then moved away to win. Result:— TWO-YEAR-OLD MAIDEN STAKES, Five furlongs. .

NITROGEN 8-5 .. .. Moore 1 Bon' Rouge 8-5 .. .. Hudson 2 Stromlo 8-5 .. .. Podmore 3 There were 14 starters. Three lengths; long neck. Time, Imin ssec.