BIG AUSTRALIAN RACES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27097, 21 July 1953, Page 4

BIG AUSTRALIAN RACES

HANDICAPS ISSUED (N.Z.P.A. —Reuter—Copyright) MELBOURNE. July 20. The Victorian Racing Club handicapper has rated Australia’s new glamour hoise, Carioca, inferior to the former champion, Dalray, in the big spring races. Carioca was awarded 9-8 in the Melbourne Cup Dalray carried 9-8 to victory last year, but Dalray was only a four-kyear-old. His weight, which included a 21b penalty for having won the Metropolitan at Randwick, was 81b over weight-for-age. Carioca will be six years old at Cup time this year. His weight represents 21b over weight-for-age. Carioca proved himself one of the best horses in Australia during the last Australian Jockey Club autumn carnival, when he won the Sydney Cup with 8-9. Hydrogen,, the greatest stake-winning horse racing in Australia, has been given second, top-weight in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Hydrogen carried 9-0 and finished twenty-first in last year’s Melbourne Cup. Since then he has shown improved staying form .and won the Brisbane Cup of two miles on April 4 'with 8-9. The second place-getter of last year’s Melbourne Cup Welkin Sun, has been handicapped 111 b more, but the third place-getter, the New Zealand horse Reformed. is unchanged at 8-5.

Racing men say that of the Melbourne Cup entrants from New Zealand, Windsor, on 8-7, is the most attractive proposition.

The Epsom Handicap will be run at Randwick.on October 3, and the Metropolitan on the same course on October 5. The Caulfield Cup will be run at Caulfield on October 17, and the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 3. The top-weights and New Zealand horses weighted for the big races are: CAULFIELD CUP, of £10,000; one mile and a half.—Carioca 9-8; Hydrogen 9-5: Morse Code 9-4; Arbroath 9-1; Advocate, French Echo 9-0; Gallant Archer, Peshawar, Raconteur 8-13; Silver King 8-12; Basha Felika, Grey Boots, Tarien 8-11; Pure Fire. Welkin Sun 8-10; Durham, Arabist, Sweet William 8-9; Aidershot. Oversight 8-8; My Hero 8-7; Windsor 8-6; Reformed 8-5; Earldom 8-2; Fortnight 7-11; Royal Tower 7-10; Lancaster, Nickola 7-7; Cortauld 7-4; Countenance, Levorno 6-12.

MELBOURNE CUP; two miles.—Carioca 9-8; Hydrogen 9-4: Morse Code 9-3; Arbroath 9-0: Advocate 8-13: Peshawar. Silver King 8-12; Basha Felika. Gallant Archer 8-11; Grey Boots 8-10; Aidershot. Durham. Sea Sovereign, Tarien. Welkin Sun 8-9; Quiet Talk 8-8; Windsor 8-7; Clutha, Laurie Hussar, My Hero 8-6; Reformed 8-5; Earldom 8-1; Fortnight 7-11; Nickola 7-9; Lancaster 7-7; Milford 7-6; Cortauld 7-5.

METROPOLITAN HANDICAP; one mile and five furlongs.—Carioca 9-7; Hydrogen 9-3; Advocate 8-11;. Gallant 8-10; Tarien 8- Basha Felika 8-9; Grey Boots 8-8; Aidershot, Iroquois. Oversight 8-7; Aristocrat 8-5; Sea Sovereign 8-5; Windsor, High Law, Reformed 8-4; Sweet William 8-3; Sir Pilot, Suncup. Earldom 8-2; Royal Tower 7-8; Nickola 7-6; Countenance 7-0. EPSOM HANDICAP; one mile.—Carioca 9- Hydrogen 9-3; Raconteur 9-0; Tarien, True Leader, French Echo 8-12; Regoli, Pure Fire, Iroquois 8-11; Gallan. Archer 8-10; Off Hand 8-9; Grey Boots 8-8; High Law 8-6; Blond Vai, Suncup 8-4; Fetlar 8-3; Sir Pilot, Grand Monarch, Sweet William, Tossing, Rio Janeiro 8-2; Nickola .7-6. Transfer of Hotel The well-known Wingatui trainer, Arthur Didham, and Mr C. M. Walker will take over the Henley Hotel at the end of the month from Mr and Mrs J. M. Wilson, now of Dunedin, who race Balveine, a brother to Dalray. Didham intends to carry on training. Last season he was the South Island leading trainer; and with 26 winners this season, he is fourth on the list for New Zealand. Mr Walker races Command, which is in Didham’s team. He also owns the brood mare. Decline, by Royal Chief from the Paper Money mare. Withdrawal.—(P.S.S.).