STRAIGHT DRAW BEATS CARANNA IN RICH CUP

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28555, 8 April 1958, Page 5

STRAIGHT DRAW BEATS CARANNA IN RICH CUP

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright)

SYDNEY. April 7 The New Zealand-bred stayer. Straight Draw, convincingly won the £12.500 Sydney Cup at Randwick today. He is the first horse ever a.o have won the three premier staying events—the Metropolitan. Melbourne Cup and Sydney Cup—in one season. In winning. Straight Draw landed a fortune in bets, both straight out and in doubles. It was the worst result doubles bookmakers have had since Bernbrook and Carbon Copy won the Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Cup in 1949. It is estimated that Straignt Draw’s win today cost doubles bookmakers £250.000 and straight-out bookmakers on the course another £ 100.000. Straight Draw was backed from even money to 5 to 4 on and he started at 10 to 9 on. Melbourne’s leading bookmaker, Albert Smith, laid an even £5OOO against Straight Draw. When betting opened on tne course and bookmakers put up even money on Straight Draw, big betters bet as though he was the only horse in the race. But the backers of Straight Draw had plenty of thrills before he lushed to the front one and a half furlongs from home to go on and win really well from Granna and the Victorian mare Pushover. The winner was ridden by Noel McGrowdie. who today scored his third Sydney Cup victory. McGrowdie’s previous wins were on Bankstream in 1951 and Opulent in 1952. Extra Ground Today, McGrowdie would have been severely criticised had he been beaten as he covered a tremendous amount of extra ground throughout I the two miles. Going down the straight the first time, McGrowdie was five horse.wide, but gradually worked his way over to be three wide as they went out of the straight. At that stage he was in the middle of the field, but approaching the six furlongs he lost his position and dropped back to fourth last when the field packed up round him. At the half-mile Straight Draw’s supporters were becoming verv anxious as the favourite was still ■ well back and it was obvious at that I point he would have to take a I chance and wait to get through the I field or go around the outside McGrowdie decided to go around Ihe field, and when he did move he was five wide as a horse on the m.ls was inclined to drift away. Strata it Draw made his run wide out under punishment, and three horses were locked together a furlong and a half from home. Caranna and Straight Draw gradually drew clear of Pushover, whion fought back tenaciously, but the two Sydney stayers were too good for her.

Results:— WENTWORTH HANDICAP, Of £lOOO. Six furlongs. EASTERN SON (Marco Polo II Sona) 8-0 .. .. G. Moore 1 Oleandra 7-9 .. .. G. Podmore 2 1 King Lazar 8-8 J. O'Sullivan 3 Twenty-three started. 'Ehree ’ lengths; half. Time. Imin 12.3 sec. Betting: 4 to 1 Eastern Son, 9 to 2 ! Oleandra, 5 to 1 King Lazar. SYDNEY CUP. Of £12,000. Two miles. ’ STRAIGHT DRAW (Faux Tirage —Sunbride 8-13 N. McGrowdie 1 Caranna-9-1 .. J. Thompson 2 : Pushover 8-9 .. J. Gilmore 3 Ten started. Half a length; one and a quarter. Time, 3m in 22sec. Betting: 10 to 9 on Straight Draw, 9 to 1 against Caranna. 7 to 1 Pushover. BIRAG ANBIL HANDICAP. ) Of £lOOO. One mile. TE RANGI Khorassan (imp.)—Te ■ Reo Maori 7-8 .. W. Camcr 1 1 Grand Magic 7-9 (less 3) R. Williams t Dowling 7-13 .. N. McGrowdie t >Dead-heat for second. ' Eight started. Two and a half • lengths; dead-heat. Time, Imin 37sec. Betting: 12 to 1 Te. Rangi, 33 to j 1 Grand Magic. 9 to 4 Dowling. P. H. OSBORNE HANDICAP, i Of £ 1000. Seven furlongs. • FRENCH FABLE Emperor Fr— Pantomine .. R. Greenwood 1 1 Flag Top 3-3 .. A. Mu Iley 2 i Idyllic 7-9 . . .. B. Howlett 3 Thirteen started. Short head; one land a quarter lengths. Time. Imin I 24.8 sec. Betting: 9 to 2 French Fable. 3 «o 1 Flag Top. 25 to 1 Idyllic.