LISTON STAKES

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28051, 20 August 1956, Page 4

LISTON STAKES

CYKLON KING BEATS SIR WILLIAM

RISING FAST SIXTH, TWO LENGTHS FROM WINNER (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Aug. 19. A 50 to 1 outsider stole the race, but a half-fit Rising Fast stole the show yesterday in the J. J. Liston Stakes at Flemington, first weight-for-age test of the season. Rising Fast, returning after an enforced spell, ran a brilliant race considering his backward condition. Starting at 25 to 1. he finished sixth, within a couple of lengths of the winner, Cyklon King, which beat the former New Zealander, Sir William, narrowly. Watch Out, the New Zealand-bred compatriot of Rising Fast and Sir William, gave a fair performance to finish eighth of the 15 runners. Rising Fast might have finished closer to the winner but for being impeded between the turn into the straight and the furlong post. The champion was remarkably fast away and was striding out well in third place at the half-mile, in the seven-furlong race, with W. Williamson holding him on a tight rein. When the field packed up coming to the turn, Rising Fast was forced back into seventh position, being hampered for a run until the field fanned out a furlong from home. He made a determined challenge and was running on strongly until 20 yards from the post, when his condition gave out. Sir William, favourite at 3 to 1. was unluckv to be caught in the last stride by Cyklon King. Sir William was forced four horses wide at the vital moment when making his run between the halfmile and two-furlong posts. The form of Rising Fast and Sir William forced the two New Zealanders into consideration for this year’s cup races. Rising Fast won the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups in 1954, and the Caulfield Cup again last year. Sir William was third to Toparoa and Rising Fast in last year's Melbourne Cup. Rising Fast this year has 10-3 in the Caulfield Cup and 10-2 in the Melbourne Cup. Sir William has 8-13 and 8-10 respectively. Connexions Pleased That Rising Fast's performance pleased his connexions was reflected in the broad smile of his trainer, Fred Hoysted, as the champion returned, steaming, to the paddock.

Hoysted has forecast Rising Fast will be back at his best this spring, and after yesterday, he has any amount of seconders among Victorian racing fans. Also satisfactory were the showings of Centreway arid Hot Spell, both top home contenders for the A.J.C. and Victoria Derbies. A heavy betting plunge on the New Zealander, Emphatic, failed in the Chesterfield Handicap, when he ran dismally, finishing tenth of the 17 runners. Dark Silk (11 to 2) won. Emphatic, which recently returned to Australia from New Zealand for the cups —he has 9-0 in the Caulfield and 8-13 in the Melbourne—had not raced since finishing third in Auckland on January 3, when he carried 9-9 over one mile and a quarter, in the weight-for-age Clifford Plate. Yesterday he was backed from 15 to 1 to 5 to 1. Emphatic began well, but his jockey, George Nichols, could get no response with the whip when under pressure in the last two furlongs of the sixfurlong race. The New Zealander. Royal Ascot, unconsidered at 66 to 1, ran a far better race to finish fourth. The New Zealand jockey, Noel Eastwood, had a rough ride on Omar II in the 10-furlong Anniversary Handicap. The New Zealander was slow away and was checked several times in the straight. He flew from the distance, but the effort was too late to get him nearer than seventh behind the winner. Saintly Fire. Principal results:— CHESTERFIELD HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. Six furlongs. DARK SILK 8-6 .. W. Williamson 1 Serene Peak 8-7 S. Martin 2 Golden Doubles 8-11 .. R. Hutchinson 3 Seventeen started. Three lengths; length and a half. Time, Imin 13 2-ssec. Betting: 11 to 2. 25 to 1, 9 to 4. J. J. LISTON STAKES. Of £l5OO. Weight-for-age. Seven furlongs. CYKLON KING 9-0 .. G. Nichols 1 Sir William 9-0 .. .. R. Heather 2 Centreway 7-11 .. R. Hutchinson 3 Fifteen started. Half a head; three-quarters of a length. Time, Imin 29Jsec. Betting: 50 to 1, 3 to 1, 7 to 2.

PROSPECTS OF DALSTAR METROPOLITAN HOPE (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 19. A year's enforced absence from racing might now be working out to the advantage of the New Zealand hope for the Metropolitan, Dalstar, the racing w-riter of the “Sun-Herald’’ said today. He said Dalstar wY>uld be attempting to emulate the feat of his famous halfbrother, Dalray. “His record tn date bears no comparison with the spectacular deeds of Dalray, but Dalstar. a five-year-old. has done very little racing,” the writer said. "Dalstar had to be spelled for a year to recover from a back injury, and has not yet won out of restricted company Now he looks and gallops like a promising stayer, and the lenient programme of his earlier career should pay dividends. "Racing men are divided ‘in their opinions whether he should be given a strong Metropolitan chance at this stage. Some say he has had no wins beyond a mile, and no form in top class. "Others consider he is favourably handicapped with 7-7. But a lot of New Zealanders will be surprised if Dalstar does not prove to be a really good horse this season,” said the writer. GOLD QUALITY WINS AT WARWICK FARM (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 19. At Warwick Farm. Sydney, the New Zealand horse Gold Quality. 5 to 2 favourite, fought out a desperate finish with the former New Zealand horse Livorno, to w'in the ten furlongs and a half August Handicap. J. O’Sullivan rode Gold Quality all-out from the turn, with W. Cook on Livorno using hands and heels. The two horses sw'ept to the~line almost abreast, but Gold Quality managed to get his head out, and won the race by a short half-head. Golden Figure finished a length and a half away third. Result:— AUGUST HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. One mile and a quarter and 110 yards. GOLD QUALITY 8-4 .. J. O’Sullivan 1 Livorno 8-1 .. .. W. Cook 2 Golden Figure 7-7 .. J. Thompson 3 Six started. Short half-head: length and a half. Betting: 5 to 2, 3 to 1, 11 to 2. INVITATION STAKES AT CAULFIELD PHILIPPINES JOCKEY INVITED (N.Z Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. .8 p.m.) MELBOURNE, August 19. The Philippines jockey, E. Ordiales, has been invited by the Melbourne Racing Club to ride in its £2500 Invitation Stakes, to be run at Caulfield on Thursday, September 27. This is the first time that a rider from the Philippines has been invited to ride in the rich sprint, which is held on a show-day holiday. The only other jockey invited from outside Australia is R. J. Skelton, of New Zealand. SUNISH DESTROYED AFTER FALL AUSTRALIAN CUP WINNER I DURING ROYAL TOUR (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) ’ (Rec. 8 p.m.) ADELAIDE, August 19. The Victorian stayer, Sunish, winner of the Duke of Edinburgh Australian Cup, at the time of the Royal tour of Australia by the and the Duke of Edinburgh, broke his shoulder in a heavy

fall in the Grand National Hurdles here yesterday, and was destroyed. Sunish. a tall chestnut, won the twomile Australian Cup on the day the Queen arid Duke attended a race meeting at Flemington. He was turned to jumping late last season. after failing in distance flat races. Co Star, ridden by F. Dean, and favourite at 11 to 4. won the two-mile £2OOO Hurdle, with Felcatch. at 5 to 1, second, and Sentry Duty, 25 to 1, third.