CARDIGAN IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28321, 5 July 1957, Page 4

CARDIGAN IN AUSTRALIA

First Race In August

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) .SYDNEY, July 2. Cardigan, latest addition to T. J. Smith’s string, is getting into shape for racing. In the next three weeks, the stayer will be sharpened up for his first race towards the end of the month, or early in August. . Smith is very confident that Cardigan will strike his top New Zealand form this spring. Cardigan was bought by the owner of Redcraze, Mrs Bradley, to take over the mantle from the champion when his time comes for retirement.

Cardigan has a better record in New Zealand than did Redcraze, and it remains to be seen whether he will improve as much in Australia as most of the horses who come under Smith’s care.

One thing in Cardigan’s favour is that he came across fresh from a spell, and had time to acclimatise before being raced. Not all New Zealand horses settle in when they come to Australia, but Cardigan, seems to have had no worries with the change in climate, feed, and water. Smith says that this probably Is because Cardigan is such an eventempered horse. Who is never upset in his stable routine.

Erratic Llanisfalr Nevertheless, Smith will not be satisfied until Cardigan has shown form in racing. He had one recent experience that was puzzling, and it concerned a horse very easy to handle in the stables. The horse was Llanisfair, who quickly showed race-winning track form, but who let the stable down with several bad bumps before really settling down to actual racing. However, Smith believes that Cardigan was such a consistent galloper in New Zealand when he was in form that there will not -be any disappointment with him when he is wound up for races. Smith is handling the 12 horses he bought at the New Zealand yearling sales. So far, none has shown anything outstanding, but there is time yet.

Smith said: “I certainly have not got a yearling from New Zealand who is showing the same promise as Tulloch did at this time last year. My most promising yearlings at this stage this year are the colts by Newtown Wonder, bred here. It looks as though they are going to be my best this year, certainly in the early two-year-old racing.” At Doomben According to the betting lists. New Zealand will have little interest in the Doomben Ten Thousand on Saturday, final acceptances for which will be declared two days before the King’s Fair, Supreme Court, and Kingship are likely starters, but their form has not been particularly good, and they are well down in the betting order. The Doomben Cup, run a week later, may be different because there are several likely starters well up in the betting. Form on Saturday caused Shahwan to be deposed from favouritism, leaving Fire Flash and Baystone at the head of the quotations. Shahwan is on the next line, with Mac’s Amber and Hot Spell, the last two being New Zealand bred. Fair Chance, Baron Boissier, Decisive, and Brisbane Cup winner, Cambridge, also are well up in the list, and attract backing from people taking doubles with fancied Ten Thousand candidates.