RACING Redcraze’s Fine Win In W. S. Cox Plate

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28419, 28 October 1957, Page 6

RACING Redcraze’s Fine Win In W. S. Cox Plate

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 9 p.m.) MELBOURNE. October 27.

The champion stake-winner. Redcraze gained one of the finest wins of his career yesterday when he got up in the last stride to win the £5500 W. S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. With his share of the Cox Plate prize money, Redcraze became the first horse in Australia and New Zealand to win more than £70,000 in stakes. His total is now £71.481.

His performance in defeating the three-year-old Prince Darius yesterday won a tremendous ovation from crowd which has a special affection for Redcraze.

Immediately after the race, bookmakers cut his price for the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday week. Splendidly ridden by George Moore—his first race on the champion—Redcraze, which started

4 to 1, beat the favourite Prince Darius by half a head, with the heavily-backed South Australian stayer. Pandie Sun, two lengths away third. Moore replaced Arthur Ward, the usual rider of Redcraze. Ward chose Prince Darius because he wanted to give the colt a hard race before next Saturday’s V.R.C. Derby. Ward will be back on Redcraze in the Melbourne Cup. Ray Ribbon, which came back to form with a splendid win in the Caulfield Stakes last week, tired badly and finished second last in a field of nine yesterday. The New Zealand-bied winner of the AJ.C. Metropolitan, Straight Draw, ran a good race to finish fifth, ahead oi Sir William and Gay Saba. Pandie Sun ran an impressive cup trial. He came from third last at the half-mile to beat Timor for third money. Lord Gavin Wins Cup Lord Gavin, which has been announced as a non-runner in the Melbourne Cup, scored a brilliant victory in the Moonce Valley Gold Cup. Ridden perfectly by cup "specialist” Ron Hutchinson, Lord Gavin, the 2-1 favourite, beat Fighting Force by half a length, with the South Australian horse. Newstone, a head away third. Hutchinson has won more than 40

cup races. He won the Moonee Valley Cup last year on Pandie Sun. Lord Gavin was heavily backed because of hi; fast-finishing fourth in the Caulfield Cup. The New Zealand stayer, Baron Boissier, led into the straight, but finished fourth.

Cardigan, regarded earlier as a strong Melbourne Cup prospect, finished last in a field of 15. and is now an unlikely cup starter. Lord Gavin had the run of the race all the way, and reached the lead soon after turning for home, to win in a thrilling finish. Baron Boissier, carrying his Melbourne Cup weight of 9-2, ran a great race after being unluckily forced three wide early in the race. His jockey, W. Williamson, had him in the front two furlongs from home For a stride or two in the straight it looked as though Baron Boissier would win. but the big weight told against him.

The New* Zealand-bred favourite. Gabonia (Gabador—Lavonia) won the first division of the St. Albans Stakes, for two-year-olds, very easily. Gabonia raced away to an effortless five-lengths win. At Doomben, Queensland, yesterday, the New Zealand horse. On Parade, finished third in the Doomben Stakes, narrowly beaten by Thurlow and New Joy. Results:— W. S. COX PLATE, Of £5250 and £250 trophy. Weight-for-age. One mile and a quarter. REDCRAZE by Red Mars—Myarion 9-4 G. Moore .. .. 1 Prince Darius 7-1 .. A. Ward 2 Pandie Sun 9-4 .; R. Hutchinson 3 Nine started. Half a head; two lengths. Time, 2m in 6sec. Betting: 4 to 1 (Redcraze), 10 to 9 (Prince Darius), 7 to 1 (Pandie Sun). MOONEE VALLEY GOLD CUP, Of £4250. One mile and five furlongs. LORD GAVIN by Black Pampas— Winnie Gavin 8-7 R. Hutchinson 1 Fighting Force 8-0 .. N. Sellwood 2 Newstone 7-8 .. .. G. Aistrope 3 Fifteen started. Half a length: head. Time. 2min 48sec. Betting: 2 to 1 (Lord Gavin). 7 to 1 < Fighting Force), 14 to 1 (Newstone). Rehandicaps For Waikato (New Zeaiana Press Association) AUCKLAND. October 27. The following rehandicans have been declared for the Waikato Hunt meeting: —

Waikato Hunt Cup: Gay Student. 9-10. Bollard Handicap: Spiborough, 7-11. Ladies’ Bracelet: MephistoDheles, 11-1. Bruntwood Handicap: Ho Choy, 8-12; Ipscript. 8-0.