DALRAY’S RACE A “FARCE”

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26986, 11 March 1953, Page 4

DALRAY’S RACE A “FARCE”

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY’S TACTICS (From the Australian Correspondent of ‘‘The Press”) SYDNEY, March 8. The much-advertised contest between Dalray and Hydrogen in the Frcildoune Stakes at Flemington last Saturday became a farce. The South Australian jockey, Pat Glennon, rider of Aidershot, stole the race, just as in 1950 he stole the Melbourne Cup on Comic Court. Dalray was second, 10 lengths back and three lengths behind him came Hydrogen. Free Kick, the only other runner, was tailed off and finished half a furlong behind Hydrogen. Racegoers who had assisted the Zealand owner, Mr Cyril Neville, to back Dalray to favourtism at 10-9 on. and those who had backed Hydrogen at 10-9, criticised the tactics of W. Williamson and D. Munro. Williamson rode Dalray and Munro Hydrogen. Dalray was beaten because he was by no means ready for the race. Perhaps Munro was guilty of misjudgment on Hydrogen, but a more charitable thought is that the Sydney horse was in. one of his worst moods, and at such a time, he refuses to do anything like his best.

Unquestionably there is no horse in Australia with the capacity to concede 10 lengths to Aidershot at the half-mile and beat him.

Aidershot is a true stayer and, as his record shows, a capable one. He is the winner of the Adelaide Cup, a two mile race which attracted a stout field. Also, at Flemington in the spring, he won the Turnbull Stakes (one and a half miles, w.f.a.) and he pressed Hydrogen to a very tight decision in the C. B. Fisher Plate (one mile and a half, w.f.a.) on the same course. Dalray was lame on his return to the enclosure —so much so that Williamson pulled him up and dismounted from him soon after passing the post. There was a mark on the lower part of the bandage of his near foreleg, and just above the fetlock joint, where he had struck himself, apparently when he was overreaching in the straight.

Williamson’s Fears Williamson told Dalray’s trainer, C..C. McCarthy: “I felt him ‘go’ over a furlong from home, but he ran along all right until nearing the finish, when he rolled in toward the running rail. I was frightened then that he had broken down completely, so I pulled up as soon as I could and dismounted." i It will be several days before McCarthy is able to determine just how serious is the injury to Dalray, but, serious or not, it is certain to interrupt his preparation, which has as its ultimate goal the winning of the Sydney Cup. Dalray is far from ready. He did not walk as well at Werribee, where he figured in an exhibition gallop during the week, as at Mornington a week earlier. He appeared to be favouring his near foreleg, the one which he struck yesterday, in a way that suggested he might have developed some fundamental joint weakness.

That Mr Neville entertained no fears about the fitness of his horse was manifest in his betting operations. In five wagers he backed the horse to win £4900, but, as he laid odds on in one instance. Dalray’s defeat cost him £5OOO. Mr Neville’s other horse, Grand Boy, also failed. He finished fourth in the Brunswick Stakes (one mile and a half). He appeared to have every chance, but he was unable to take advantage of an opening in the straight. However, as it was his first test in Australia, improvement may be expected of him. Carioca Succeeds The result of the Denham Court Handicap (seven furlongs) at Sydfltey’s Warwick Farm suggests that Dalray will- have to be at his very best to beat Carioca in the Sydney Cup. Carioca’s performance stamped him as one of the greatest gallopers produced for many years. In a field of 17 he was third last on settling down, but at the halfmile, although under restraint, he had pulled his way to ninth place, and' was eager to go faster. ->

However, W. Cook held him so that he was sixth, six lengths behind imported Tesmic, as the field swung into the short straight.

Carioca finished with Cook sitting against him and ran the seven furlongs in Imin 25sec, thus equalling his own course record.

His owner-trainer, P. C. Hoysted, is still undecided whether to set Carioca for the Doncaster Handicap (one mile), .the Sydney Cup (two miles), or both. But bookmakers are on guard, and have now made him outright favourite for each race. He has even caused the deposing of Dalray in the Sydney Cup market.