SYDNEY CUP ON

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27628, 7 April 1955, Page 5

SYDNEY CUP ON

MQNDAY N. SELLWOOD TO RIDE FINITO (From the Australian Correspondent of “The Press”) SYDNEY, April 5. N. Sellwood has chosen the New Zealand stayer Finito as his mount in the Sydney Cup (two miles), to be run next Monday. Sellwood made this decision after he had ridden Finito at Warwick Farm on Saturday. Giving a polished exhibition of galloping, Finito was second to Carioca in the Chipping Norton Stakes (one mile and a quarter), a weight-for-age race. Sellwood had the choice of- Rising Fast, Prince Delville, and Finito. His decision to ride Finito hardened the horse’s price for the cup. Carioca had his first run in Sydney since his return to racing. In Brisbane, he had won a sprint race, but had been beaten at his next appearance. On' Saturday he looked a good deal finer than is usual, but he raced well, although his jockey, W. Cook, doubts very much whether he is the Carioca of old. Against this opinion, however, is Sellwood’s version of the running of the race. Sellwood said it would have taken a very good horse indeed to beat Carioca over the mile and a quarter. Therefore he was impressed with the way Finito fought on to keep within three lengths of Carioca when the pressure was put on in the straight. Finito, not proved as a weight-for-age galloper, had made the pace from the start, and therefore had run a race to suit Carioca.

Sellwood holds the opinion that Rising Fast cannot concede Finito 201 b and beat him over two miles. Sellwood saw Rising Fast in most of his races in Melbourne and had a particularly good chance to judge him when Sellwood’s mount. Prince Cortauld, beat Rising Fast in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington. N.Z. Stayers Favoured The New Zealand stayers dominate the cup betting 'market. Of the five top-line fancies, four are from the Dominion. They are Rising Fast (still favourite). Finito, Earldom, and the three-year-old Eight Bells, who was bought at the New Zealand sales as a yearling. Next Saturday’s racing should give a reliable pointer to Rising Fast's chance. Rising Fast will contest the Autumn Stakes (one mile and a half weight-for-age) against Prince Cortauld and Carioca. Probabilities are that another New Zealand horse will run against these entrants. The Wellington Cup winner. Golden Galleion, which has been a week or so in Sydney, is to have' his first race here. Golden Galleon won the cup with 7-9, and may not be up- to weight-for-age standard Wt- But hTJ made an easy trip across to Australia, and is ready to be given a race to bring him forward. Pride of Egypt will run in the St. Leger on Saturday, and it then will be

decided whether he will race against the older horses in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes a week later. The Queen Elizabeth Stakes carries £BOOO added money, and will be run over a mile and a half at weight-for-age. . Pride of Egypt was never in better racing condition, and although he was beaten by the older horses in Melbourne, his owner, Mr E. R. Williams, may decide to try him once more against them. On Saturday Mr Williams had a mammoth bet on Pride of Egypt. He laid £5OOO to £4OOO on with a bookmaker. Mr K. Ranger. Inglewood Successes New Zealand’s Inglewood Stud was well represented at the recent VJLC. meeting held at Flemington. Chetnik, which won the first two-year-old race, and was run-ner-up to Mr T. Lowry’s good colt Knave in the Sires’ Produce Stakes, is out of a mare bred at Inglewood. Knave’s dam, the Defaulter mare Trick, was also bred there. Prince Cortauld, which by his win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes stamped himself as the best horse racing in Australia, was bred and broken in at the stud. The three-year-old filly Orbona, won the A. V. Kenny Stakes of £2OOO-in a canter on the last day of the meeting. Orbona had previously won over a mile and five furlongs at Caulfield, and is a good advertisement for the young sire Lucky Bag. The South Island had another win at Flemington when the Defaulter gelding Roue won the Bourke Handicap. Roue was bred by B. G. Rutherford, now in Australia with the New Zealand jumping 1 team, and was foaled at Inglewood.