PALE BLUE IN FORM

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28447, 29 November 1957, Page 4

PALE BLUE IN FORM

Runaway Win At Warwick Farm [From the Australian Correspondent ot “The Press’’] SYDNEY, November 26. A “no risk” coup was brought off at Warwick Farm on Saturday through the agency of Pale Blue, trained by A. Didham and ridden by the trainer’s son, J. Didham. Sydney racing people know Pale Blue; they had seen her in one previous win since Didham brought her here for Mr Duncan McFarlane. They also know that Didham has difficulty in getting the filly properly fit. Pale Blue is particularly well named being by Gabador (imp.) from Pastel. She is a grey—“blue” would be her colour among bushmen—her owner’s colours are pale blue. But there is nothing “blue” in the firmament when she is in galloping mood, as she undoubtedly was in the Birrong Stakes on Saturday. Among bets taken about Pale Blue was £4500 to £2OOO, and the punter who took it hastened off to secure more at the prime. It was a good betting market and it took a lot of money to bring from 9 to 4, to 5 to 4, the price offering against Pale Blue, but at the close of betting there were some bookmakers who did not want to bet further against the filly so heavy was the backing for her.

Young Didham took no risk with Pale Blue once he reached the front at the top of the straight. He rode her right out to the post, even though there was not a chance of her defeat in the last furlong—a fact patently obvious to the people on the stand, but. perhaps, noK quite so certain to Didham as he drove the filly to the post. Didham has hopes now that Pale Blue will go on to prove herself top class, in spite of her lack of inches. Didham said that although Pale Blue was never really lame she showed “stiffness” in her action at times. Swimming Best Exercise Didham said: “I’ve found out that swimming and plenty of it has improved things considerably. Until recently I could not risk giving her more than an occasional sprint, but this time she was able to work much more seriously on the track, and her improved racing condition followed this.” Didham has every reason to believe that Pale Blue will make top grade before she is finished racing. Her dam. Pastel is one of the record holders at five furlongs in New Zealand. Pastel is credited with running the distance in 57 4-ssec, which is the same time as that recorded by Todman when he set the Australian record for the distance. Pale Blue is not of the tearaway type of galloper; in fact on Saturday she raced in the middle of the field to the half-mile, then moved up smartly to be second on the turn into the straight, and. continuing the sprint, she ran right away from her opponents in the finish. Pale Blue was one of four New Zealand bred /iorses to win the eight-event programme on Saturday. The others were Aboukir (by Gold Nib), Gold Trek (by Marco Polo II) and Top Ruler (by Ruthless). At Caulfield, Magic Nib (by Gold Nib) also won for New Zealand. Also at Caulfield, however, Zariba, the grey Pherozshah horse, again let backers down, finishing third in the Eclipse Stakes, the feature race on the programme, for which Ray Ribbon was favourite. The way he is going along Zariba will have to win three or four races in succession to square accounts for those who have followed his disanpointing runs since he came to Australia.

Elimination Heats Postponed

Elimination heats for the Maiden Event at the New Brighton meeting tomorrow week will be held today if weather conditions are favourable. If conditions are again unsuitable they will be held tomorrow afternoon. The five heats for the Maiden Event were to have been held vesterday, but thev were postponed because of rain. Two trial heats for New Zealand Oaks candidates will also be run. New Role.—A big dark-brown gelding got a highly commended award in the ring at the Auckland show yesterday. Few of the spectators recognised him as Arawa, winner of the Auckland Cup in 1953 in course record time. His owner. Sir Ernest Davis, has made him available to Mr and Mrs W. T. Ayres and he will replace their New Zealand champion hack Chips, who has been retired.—(P A.)