TODMAN SETS RECORD

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28159, 24 December 1956, Page 12

TODMAN SETS RECORD

(Rec. 8 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 23 Todman, a two-year-old colt, makine his racing debut, smashed a national time, record when winning the December .Juvenile, over five furlongs, at Randwick yesterday.

Todman, ridden by Neville Sellwood won effortlessly by 10 lengths in 57 4-ssec. The previous record was set by All Love in 1940, when she covered the Randwick five in 58Jsec. The time was equalled later by All Love at Flemington. Melbourne, and by New Slipper at Randwick a year ago.

Todman is by the imported sire. Star Kingdom. from the imported mare. Oceana. He is owned by Mr S. T. Woot-

The chief event of the day. the Villiers Stakes, of one mile, went to Empire Link in a hectic finish with Compound, which was four lengths clear at the turn and looked to have the race won. Empire Link caught him on the post to score by a short neck. The New Zealand-bred Aboukir finished fourteenth in the field of 17. On Parade Beaten At Moonee Valley. Melbourne, the New Zealand horse, On Parade, finished a well-beaten third behind Lady Chloe and Kosciusko in the Fitzroy Handicap, of one mile. There was a betting shake-up just before the start of this event, when Golden Doubles, up to then a 2-1 favourite, was found to have picked up a nail in a hind

foot, and was withdrawn by order of the stewards. There was a sensation in the main race at Cheltenham, Adelaide, the Challenge Stakes, in which the favourite, Ralkon, passed the post first —but without his jockey, B. Wilson, who was unseated at the start. The race was won by the 40 to 1 shot Meract.