Spring Carnival Opens Today At Caulfield

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29330, 8 October 1960, Page 6

Spring Carnival Opens Today At Caulfield

(N.z. Press' Association—Copyright)

MELBOURNE, October 7. Melbourne’s richest spring racing carnival will begin tomorow with 21 visiting horses, including eight from New Zealand, engaged at Caulfield. •After 2in of rain in a week, the track will be heavy and more' showers are forecast for tomorrow. Most of the potential stars of the carnival will start tomorrow, though the three Caulfield Cup favourites from New Zealand, Waipari, Ma Cherie and Sparkler, will be missing. The Melbourne Cup favourite, Valerius, will be at Randwick racing against Tulloch in the Craven Plate. The New Zealand stayer, Ilumquh, could easily challenge for Caulfiedd Cup favouritism if he wins the 1010 Welter tomorrow.

He won the Desborough Welter last start on this course on a heavy track so the conditions will not worry him tomorrow. The way Ilumquh finished over the mile of the Desborough suggests that he is going to be much better suited at the nine furlongs of tomorrow’s race. W. Williamson, who recently returned from overseas, had the mount when Ilumquh won last start and he will ride the gelding again tomorrow. Ilumquh sprinted two furlongs in 27sec on the sand at Flemington today in preparation for 1010 Welter. He looked well and went along smoothly. The Sydney jockey, W. Camer. will be offered the mount on the New Zealand stayer. Olive Branch, if he starts in the Toorak Handican tomorrow, the horse’s owner. Mr E. C. Dunn, said today. "Camer will be offered the mount on the understanding that if the track is very heavy then Olive Branch will not start,” Mr Dunn said. Olive Branch has failed In heavy going and the trainer, C. Cerchi, has been hoping that the weather would clear. He is one of the best backed horses for the Caulfield Cun and is now second favourite behind Webster and Dhaulagiri in the Toorak. The New Zealand-bred Sir Blink, ton-weight on 9-3 in the Herbert Power Handicap, already

has a Caulfield Cup to his credit. He won two years ago as a three-year-old, and was second to Regal Wench in the race last year.

Sir Blink, which has 9-4 in the cup, will be ridden by G. Lane. The New Zealand representatives. Melody Man and Henry Higgins, have been doing well here, and they are expected to make a forward showing in the Herbert Power Handicap. Melody Man, an outstanding galloper in heavy going, won the 13-furlong Stand Handicap at Flemington last Saturday. , Henry Higgins, a five-year-old gelding, came from last to run third behind Jack’s Count and Westdale in the 12-furlong Metropolitan Handicap at Caulfield on September 29. The New Zealand stayers. My Hero (1953) and Rising Fast (1955) both won the Herbert Power Handicap and then went on to take the. Caulfield Cup. Guineas Favourite The heavy track has caused bookmakers to make the New Zealand-bred filly, Lady Sybil, a short-priced favourite for the Caulfield Guineas tomorrow. Lady Sybil, which has won at her last four starts, mav beat the colts tomorrow. Only two fillies—Wiggle and Midilli—have won this race in the last 40 years. Barrier positions >will plav a large part in the Caulfield Gulnees. Fortunately, Lady Sybil is well drawn with No. 8 and she may do the same as last week when she won the Manifold Stakes—lead all the way. Sky High and Egoline may be Ladv Sybil's most dangerous opponents. Sky High has not started since he finished third in the AJ.C. Derby to Persian Lyric and Le Storm. The New Zeeland filly. Miriam, and Wise Reign may provide the toughest opposition for Lady Regal in the second division of the Maroona Handicap tomorrow. Miriam impressed with a firstuo Melbourne second to Lady Major at the Valley on September 24. She was not disgraced when sixth to Lady Sybil over a mile at Flemington last Saturday.