HANDICAPS AT PERTH

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26970, 20 February 1953, Page 4

HANDICAPS AT PERTH

COMPLAINT . ABOUT BEAU DON’S MARK

Eastern States trotting men who have brought horses to Perth for the InterDominion Championship are grousing among themselves at which they consider the lenient mark of the favourite, Beau Don, wrote a Perth correspondent of the "Sydney Morning Herald" last Monday. Beau Don, who had won 14 races, including the Sires’ Produce Stakes and Western Australian Derby when handicaps were declared, is on the scratch mark. A Western Australian horse has never won an Infer-Dominion Championship, but the handicappers have given Beau Don every chance to be the first. Sydney men who contend Beau Don has been "pitchforked” into the championships compare him with their own four-year-old Ribands. Beau Don has a much better record than Ribands, they are both the same age, yet Ribands has to give him 12 yards. Beau Don, which set a new track record for Gloucester Park on Saturday night, when he rated 2min BJsec for one mile and three-quprters, has paralysed betting on the championships. He is at a very short price and no one wants to back anything to beat him. Failure of Canterbury Team Seldom has a team of trotters and pacers from the South Island had such a lean time at an Auckland meeting as had the nine horses at the fixture which was held this month, writes an Auckland correspondent. Not a win was recorded, and the only place-getters were Indomitable (2), Forward, and Lahore, and the place dividends would nbt add much to the exchequer. Horses which failed to earn place money were Sandyshore (three starts), Temple Star, El Supremo, Springsten’s Pride (two each), Moray, and Lucky Spot. The last two are two-year-olds, and both were heavily supported in the stakes, but they lack experience, and barrier shyness put them out of court. It would not be wise to condemn these well-bred and classy-looking juveniles on their Epsom failure, as they had a long trip north and only reached Auckland two days before they raced. Moray and Lucky Spot may not take long to wipe off their initial failure. Out of Luck

F. G. Holmes, who left Auckland on Monday for the championships at Perth, has had some exasperating luck in recent visits to Epsom. In July he took Morano north, and* the first day was second to Soangetaha, and the final day second to Billy Boy, in the two main races. Returning in September Morano, after doing 3min 9 l-ssec, was beaten by Mighty Song in the big heat on the first day, and the second day, improving to 3min 8 4-ssec, just failed to give Margaret's Own 24 yards. He scored a popular win in the Papatoetoe Handicap, in 2min 36 3-ssec. Holmes then tried his luck with Adorian in October, with similar results."He was second off 12 yards to Lady Joss in the F. J. Smith Memorial, both going 3min Bsec. Pleasant Smile gave him 36 yards in the Labour Day Handicap and beat him, after making a record of 4min 11 2-ssec. Adorian had his turn to win the Electric Sprint in 2min 37 l-ssec. Back for the big December carnival, Adorian was again consistent, without winning. He was third to Soangetaha and Laureldale in the Auckland Cup, second to Margaret’s Own in the Champion Handicap, and runner-up to Lady Rowan in the President’s Handicap. Answer to Correspondent Highland Fling Admirer, Picton: Moray is registered as a brown colt.