EPSOM HANDICAP BETTING

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26514, 31 August 1951, Page 4

EPSOM HANDICAP BETTING

FIVE HORSES EQUAL FAVOURITES (From the Sydney Correspondent of "The Press.”) SYDNEY, August 27. Five horses are now equal favourites for the Epsom Handicap (one mile), to be run at Randwick on September 29. They are Davey Jones, Oversight, Humming Top, Achilles, and French Cavalier, none of which was a winner on Saturday. Previously Davey Jones alone was first favourite on many lists, and the elevation of the others to join him is an indication of the indecision of bookmakers and bettors in assessing recent form.

Davey Jones was given his first race after a spell when he contested the Warwick Stakes of seven furlongs weight-for-age, at Randwick on Saturday. He was third to San Domenico and Oversight at intervals of a length and a half.

He looked in need of a race, and his trainer, Maurice McCarten, was satisfied with his showing. Seven furlongs is not Davey Jones's best distance, and it was encouraging to his Epsom Handicap backers that he was able to hold a place in Saturday’s finish.

Not Certain Starter San Domenico is not a certain starter in the Epsom Handicap, mainly because the distance is regarded as a little beyond him. He looked in excellent trim for Saturday's engagement, and had no trouble to run to the front in the straight and stall off challenges. The trainer, Frank Dalton, is well satisfied with Oversight's performance, and intends to produce him for the race without any further racing. Grey Boots was given his first run after a spell, and came home strongly. He is being prepared for the Melbourne Cup. Saturday was not a lucky day for McCarten, but at least it did provide pointers to prospects for a little later on. In addition to the promising display by Davey JoneS, the three-year-old Montana (Foxbridge—Bland song) made a bold showing in the Hobartville Stakes to take second place to Hydrogen, a colt by Delville Wood (imp.)-. Raced by Mr M. J. Moodabe, Montana has shown that he is best served by distance racing. Therefore the seven furlongs of the Hobartville was not considered to be in his favour. Yet he finished full of running. When next he is produced he will not be one of the rank outsiders in the field as he was on Saturday.

Quest for Derby Winner Hydrogen is one of three colts started by Mr E. R. Williams, a prominent owner, who spends a small fortune each year in an attempt to buy a Derby winner. The others were Forest Beau, which comfortably won the Three-Year-Old Handicap (one mile), and Nitrogen, which disappointed by finishing ninth in the Warwick Stakes.

On Saturday’s form Hydrogen looks Mr Williams's best Derby prospect, because the Hobartville Stakes field was strong. It included the winter Derby favourite, Ocean Bound, and the outstanding filly. Golden Chariot.

Ocean Bound, stablemate of Montana, was a hot favourite, but although he was checked in the straight when going for a run near the rails, he could not be altogether excused for his failure. The New Zealand-bred horse Free Rule was prevented from starting by the A.J.C. committee because of a Court move by Mr George Francis, who claims ownership of the colt which races in F. Shean’i name. Peter Robinson is back in Sydney after an unsuccessful trip to Brisbane. He was started at Randwick on Saturday in the Campbelltown Handicap. The old horse surprised some time ago by winning at Rosehlll. but the company on that occasion was weaker than the fields he is now meeting. On Saturday he could not Be X * n ywhere near the leaders. _ The winner of the Campbelltown was True Leader, which has won four races ln and Mw becomes an Epsom po^.ib Jl ity ** Jt ls dee *ded to starthim w JP,! he Mac , edon High weight ,rom G 1 Archer F?vinT r *vi^« e '» The *? n of Nlzaml and S ran ln th « straight to brine off a coup for bettors.