PRINCE CORTAULD IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28002, 23 June 1956, Page 6

PRINCE CORTAULD IN AUSTRALIA

Critics Silent After Doomben Win (From the Australian correspondent ot “The Press’’) ■ SYDNEY, June 20. Criticism levelled at the New Zealand owner, Mr M. J. Moodabe, and the Sydney trainer, M. McCarten, over the further racing of Prince Cortauld was quitened when the horse won in Brisbane on Saturday One pf Sydney’s week-end newspapers had attacked the decision to send Prince Cortauld to Brisbane to race at the winter meetings The newspaper suggested Prince Cortauld was due for retirement and that further racing would bring about his breakdown. On Saturday, Prince Cortauld recorded one of the most remarkable performances of his career. Nearing the post in the June Handicap at Doomben, Prince Cortauld’s rider, N. Sellwood, swung his legs vigorously at the same time throwing forward his hands. A spur caught the reins and for the last 20 yards Sellwood had no reins in his hand. Prince Cortauld now may tackle the Doomben Cup to be run over a mile and three furlongs on July 14. The weakness in a fetlock joint which troubled him some time ago seems thoroughly caloused, and now seldom gives rise for care. During training for the autumn events. Prince Cortauld bled slightly from the nostril. It was not a haemorrhage from internal sources, but one of those slight trickles from a blood vessel, which frequently occur when a horse is in hard training. If Prince Cortauld were not the glamour horse in Australian racing the happenings scarcely would have been noticed, instead of receiving, as they did, headline prominence. Doomben Prospects Racing in Sydney and in Brisbane on Saturday gave strong pointers to the Doomben Ten Thousand on July 7, and the cup a week later. In Sydney, Criollo beat Cragsley in the G. F. Wilson Handicap, the principal sprint of the day, and each firmed for the Ten Thousand. Kingster came home strongly in the same race, and now is certain to go to Brisbane for the Ten Thousand, where he will test the New Zealanders. The co-favourite for the Ten Thousand. Star Realm, failed in the Wilson Handicap after showing remarkable speed for the first half-mile. He is a doubtful opponent for New Zealander, El Khobar, who is still on the top line in spite of being awarded 8-4—generally regarded as a harsh weight. Apparently, Decisive is going to strike form for A. D. Webster, and in anticipation of this bookmakers now have the horse equal favourite with Landy for the Doomben Cup. Decisive disappointed at the Queensland Turf Club meeting when heavily backed for the Brisbane Cup of two miles.

On Saturday, Decisive ran against Prince Cortauld. and after being ninth to turn for home in the comparatively short Doomben straight, finished with astounding dash in third place. Webster is now hopeful that Decisive will settle down to reproduce in races the form he has shown on the track. Probably he is the only New Zealand horse who has not quite run up to expectations. Perhaps it is that he is taking a little longer than the others to acclimatisePerhaps it is. too, that the stable is timing his training for the Doomben Cup.