SYNTAX ACCLIMATISED TO AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28371, 2 September 1957, Page 12

SYNTAX ACCLIMATISED TO AUSTRALIA

[From the Australian Correspondent of "The Press”!

SYDNEY, August 27. Syntax, obviously is ready to show his best form in Australia. His win in Melbourne on Saturday wa% accomplished like the champion Syntax showed himself in his racing in New Zealand. Syntax is thoroughly acclimatised, and with some New Zealand horses this means , a great deal. Rising Fast improved greatly after he had been left in Australia to spell. The New Zealand horses sent to T. J. Smith invariably improve as their stay lengthens. In the old days, trainers such as R. J. Mason, Fred Jones, Jefierd. Jamieson and the others, brought their horses across in the late winter to “settle them in” before opening their racing about, this time of the season. Last spring, Syntax was in Australia for a very short time before he was matched with El Khobar

in the nine-furlong run at Canterbury Park. El Khobar was at the peak of his form, fresh from wins in Brisbane, and Syntax had a hopeless and energy-sapping task of running him down. Syntax did not recover from the effort, and wisely was withdrawn from training. On Saturday, Syntax, gave punters something of a shock because he was so far back in the seven-furlong Liston Stakes, run at standard weight-for-age, but he ran his opponents in the straight to beat two other New Zealand-bred horses —Wales And Sir William—into the minor places. Other N.Z. Winners Two other New Zealand-bred horses won. They were Dark Spot (by Summertime), which won the mile Montrose Handicap, and Bauer’s Bay (by Timanova). which won the first High-weight Handicap.

At Warwick Farm. Todman, as was expected, returned to racing by winning the Hobartville Stakes, but behind him was one of the most im» nroved three-year-olds in training, the New Zealand colt. Young Idealist, which came home like a firstclass Derby colt. Whereas at Rosehill, Young Idealist fought for his head, and ran about when under pressure in the straight, on Saturday there could not have been a better dispositioned colt, nor- could any horse have run straighter in a finishing effort. Young Idealist could not beat Todman\ at seven furlongs, but he dimmed the glow that has surrounded Prince Darius in recent weeks.

Prince Darius, a winner in open company, was regarded as the most likely challenger for Todman, but Young Idealist raced with Prince Darius for half the journey, then left him behind and was lengths in front of him at the finish. The trainer of Young Idealist. Frank Dalton, was delighted with the run, and the day was further brightened for the trainer when he won the last race of the day with Go Lightly, a filly by Gabador (imp.) from Sagati (imp.), which he trains for Sir James Fletcher and Mr J. C. Fletcher.

Go Lightly was sent to Dalton as a two-year-old with an idea that she might develop and win the Adrian Knox Stakes as a three-year-old. , . The filly gave trouble in training, and It was not until recently that she began to show her form. Now there are prospects for her at the spring meeting!, especially in races confined to AUiea and marea.