SEA WOLF’S WIN AT RANDWICK

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26651, 9 February 1952, Page 4

SEA WOLF’S WIN AT RANDWICK

DEMONSTRATION SAID TO BE UNJUSTIFIED (From the Sutney Correspondent of ‘T le Press”) SYDNEY. February 4. The demonstration against the horse and the rider and trainer of the Nev/ Zealand-owned Sea Wolf when ne won the Anniversary Handicap last week was a wild affair, one of the worst a Randwick mob has been guilty of tor many a year The outburst was quite without justification, and the irony of it was that something of the sort happaned when Davey Jones won the Epsom last October, Maurice McCarten and Neville Sellwood being the trainer and rider of both horses.

It is understandable that people, having seen Sea Wolf run a shockingly poor race over a mile and a quarter on the Saturday and then see him winning two days later, might feer a little angry—if they had lost their money. But beyond that there was no excuse for the abusive demonstrations.

Sea Wolf is not a good staying horse. He is just a moderate plodder. In the Anniversary Handicap he had nothing of any consequence to beat, and as it was he reached the front because the horse which should have been the winner ranks only as a third or fourth rater.

When the field turned : nto the straight Texas had a clear lead, with Sea Wolf seven horses back, in 'he run to the post Texas appeared to have the race in his keeping, and .it was not until the last furlong that Sea Wolf came into the picture. At that stage Texas was beginning to tire and in the last 50 yards began to stop badly. Sea Wolf just managed to catch him and win by a short neck. It was a finish in which the winner seemed to be doing much better than he really was, his effort being accentuated by the failure of his opponent. Sea Wolf really has not a finishing run, and would not have won this race if Texas had.been of any class at all. More was seen of Texas on Saturday, when the Sydney Turf Club ran a programme of eight races at Canterbury Park. With only 7-6 to carry and a furlong less to go than in the Anniversary Handicap, he was never better than evens for the Frank Underwood Cup. In the opinion of the public he was a good thing at last. There were only fave other runners, and Sellwood had the ride. Among the bets about him at odds on were £lOOO to £BOO (six times). £l5OO to £l2OO (three times), £5OO to £4OO (four times), and, of course, many at a lower scale. He never seemed likely to win and finished an indifferent fourth. The winner was Gay Theo, owned by Mr R. S. Burnstein, who won the race two years ago with the New Zealand-bred Thimble. Among the yearlings brought from New Zealand to Sydney last year by Mr E. R. Williams, who races Hydrogen, was one by Pherozshah from La Plata. He has been named Argentina, and a fine, handsome youngster he is. On Saturday he made his debut in a five-furlong maiden event for two-year-old colts and geldings, and the plunge on him was on the best Randwick pattern. There were 15 starters, and as seven of these were at from 100 and 250 to 1 it may be gathered that they were not supported very seriously. The opening favourite was Coulper, a Newtown Wonder colt which had shown fine galloping ability in a previous race when second to French Echo. He was backed for thousands at 6 to 4. but eased when money poured in for the New Zealandgbred colt. It was not much of a race until the final furlong, where Argentina and Royal Signal were out by themselves, close together. Stride by stride, and desperately ridden, they fought out a thrilling finish. Roval Signal winning by a nose. Royal Signal (by Confessor—Bright Art) is trained by McCarten. He had foui previous starts and was in much the better racing condition. He may be heard of again

Argentina, trained by T. J. Smith, certainly will be. He has conformation, speed, and courage. He suffered from having to be ridden hard over the first furlong after a slow start.

A welter seven and a half furlongs was chosen by McCarten for the New Zealand horse Aden this time, and it at least meant a win. Aden was fairly supported and won well from a rather moderate lot. He will soon go to the property of his owner. Mr T. C. Lowry, near Longreach, Queensland, as station sire.

The McCarten stable had its third success' of the day when Tillbridge won the Burwood Mixed Stakes. Tillbridge is a three-year-cld gelding by Foxbridge from Until, purchased for 1500gns at the Trentham sales in 1960. He races in the colours of Messrs H. E. Tancred and Wr Longworth, active buyers at the sales last month.