DALRAY EASILY WINS METROPOLITAN

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26855, 7 October 1952, Page 4

DALRAY EASILY WINS METROPOLITAN

RACING

Brilliant Victory On Heavy Track

YN.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, October. 6. The New Zealand* stayer, Dalray, brilliantly won the Metropolitan Handicap at Randwick .today on a track made very heavy by three days’ rain. ' Starting favourite at 6-4, DalraJP beat Jan by one length, with Britavah a length and a quarter away in third place.

Long before Dalray had pulled up the crowd began to cheer and clap, and the horse and the jockey, K. Nuttall-, were’ given a rousing reception when they returned to the enclosure. Dalray’s win would be one of the worst results on record for doubles bookmakers, as the New Zealander had been coupled with the Epsom Handicap winner, High Law, and also backed straight out for approximately £500,000.

Dalray was brilliantly ridden by Nuttall, who stuck to the rails all the way, while other jockeys were intent on taking their mounts wide to avoid the heavy going on the inside. Backers of Dalray were a little upset when the favourite made a slow beginning, he did not lose much ground, and although last passing the winning pcsl for the first time, was no* too far from the leader, Britavah. However, Dalray appeared to be handling the heavy going well, and, although last at the mile, was travelling smoothlv. At this point, the order was Britavah, Biford, Hoise, Moamac, Grand Monarch. Texas, Jan. Yeoval, Gay Felt, Opulent, Aristocrat, and Dalray. At the six furlongs Dalray was third last, and started to make up ground along the rails in great style. i At the turn Dalray was running sixth behind Britavah, Jan, Opulent Yeoval, and Gay Felt. Half way down the straight Dalray, running on the rails, had the race in his keeping. Nuttall said after the race: “What a good horse he is. He couldn’t handle the going early, and yet from the home turn he seemed to settle down quite well.” Scraped the Rails When Dalray returned to scale he was streaked with white on his flanks which showed he had scraped along the running rails at some part of the race. Dalray is handicapped at 9-6 in the Melbourne Cup and can get a penalty for today’s race. His owner, Mr C. Neville, said after the race that whether Dalray would start in the Melbourne Cup still is problematical. When Hydrogen was withdrawn from today’s race Dalray opened in

course betting at 6 to 4, the shortestpriced Metropolitan favourite on record. The outstanding filly Love to All. which had run brilliantly in the barrier trials, easily won the Gimrack Stakes. She beat Blue Glare by four lengths and Reflected Glory by six and a half lengths. On the heavy track Love to All took Im in ssec to run five furlongs compared with All Love’s Australian and race record of 581 sec. Win for Montana Revelling in the conditions, the New Zealander, Montana, ridden by the champion jockey N. Sellwood, won the George Main,Stakes by half a length from Grey Boots. Idle Wild was four lengths back in third place. Scratchings due to the heavy track reduced the field from nine to four. Desert Warrior led for most of the ' journey, but Montana ran to the front entering the straight. Grey Boots made a gallant effort over the last half furlong, but Montana held off the challenge. Details were:— GIM CRACK STAKES, Of £lO5O. Two-year-old fillies. Five furlongs. LOVE TO ALL 8-5 .. .. Moore 1 Blue Glare 8-5 .. .. Ward 2 Reflected Glory 8-5 .. .. Sellwood 3 Seven started. Four lengths: two and a half lengths. Time, Imin ssec. Betting: 4 to 7, 9 to 1, 9 to 1. KIA ORA HANDICAP, Of £l6OO. One mile. TARIEN 8-7 .. .. .. Moore 1 Brown Trout 7-6 .. .. Reed 2 Lady Pickwick 8-9 .. .. Buckley 3 Twelve started. Four lengths; six lengths. Time, Imin 48isec. Betting: 7 to 4, 12 to 1, 9 to 2. GEORGE MAIN STAKES, Of £2OOO. One mile. MONTANA 9-0 .. .. Sellwood 1 Grey Boots .. .. .. Ward 2 Idlewild 8»0 .. .. Moore 3 Four started. Half a length; four lengths. Time, Imin 482 sec. Betting: 2 to 1,2 to 1, 9 to 4. METROPOLITAN HANDICAP, Of £6OOO. One mile and five furlongs. DALRAY 9-1 .. .. .. Nuttall 1

Jan 8-2 .. .. .. Moore 2 Britavah 6-9 .. .. .. Taylor 3 Twelve started. Scratched: Hydrogen, Spellman, Rumyle, Top Level, Great i World. i Length; one and a quarter lengths. Time. 3min 2jsec. Betting: 6 to 4, 8 to 1, 20 to 1. Dalray’s - time- was the slowest ever recorded for. _tixe race. THE SHORTS, Of. £lOOO. Six furlongs. BURNCOURT 7-2 .. McGrow lie 1 Joy Lad 8-2 .. .. . Mulley 2 Cultured 7-9 .. .. Sellwood 3 Eight started. Long head; three-quarters of a length. Time. Imin 19sec. Betting: 3 'to 1, 4 to 1, 4 to 1. REGINALD ALLEN HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. Seven furlongs. ROYAL CAVALIER 7-3 .. Faux 1 Bassano 7-4 .. .. .. Selkrig 2 Karendi 8-8 .. .. Sellwood 3 Eleven started. Five lengths: two and a half lengths. Time, Imin 31isec. Betting: 7 to i. 33 to 1,2 to 1. GRANTHAM HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. One mile. ROYAL PARADE 8-3 .. J. Thompson 1 ’ Golden Radiance 8-0 .. Reed 2 .Damascene 8-13 .. Moore 3 Ten started. Two and a half length*; two lengths. Time, Imin 481 sec. Betting: 13 to 2. 9 to 1, 11 to 2.