Big Fields Problem In Major Handicap

Press, Volume C, Issue 29421, 25 January 1961, Page 4

Big Fields Problem In Major Handicap

(From the Australian correspondent of The Press'!

SYDNEY. Next year’s Melbourne Cup will have a maximum field of 26 instead of 30 permitted for the Centenary Cup last November. This decision was announced during the week by the Victoria Racing Club and met with commendation. Last year’s cup was won by Hi-Jinx from Howsie and the Caulfield Cup winner Ilumquh. It was agreed afterwards that luck in running had had too much influence on the race. Jockeys said they were forced to ‘follow where their horses could go.” They said it was a case of being taken along by their mounts instead of them taking their mounts through the field. Ilumquh was one of the greatest sufferers In the packed field on the turn. Had he got a normal run he would, no doubt, have completed the cups double. The Australian Jockey Club has not had problems over big fields in long distance handicaps for many years. Seldom is there a large field for a Sydney Cup, but it may be different this time. With £15,000 added for next Easters race there may be an influx of inter-State horses. This used to be so until the Brisbane winter carnival became so attractive, and stables by-passed Sydney in April to have their horses fresh for the campaign in Brisbane in June and July. This time the A.J.C. programme has an Invitation Stakes run over one mile and a half with £lO.OOO added. The Doncaster Handicap (one mile) has £10;000 added, the Sydney Cup (two miles) £ 15.000 added, and the weight-for-age races carry stake money up to £4OOO. The A.J.C. Is confident that such a bill of fare will restore the Easter meeting to its position in Australian racing, second only to the Melbourne Cup carnival. The trainer. T. Kennedy, who went to New Zealand to try to buy several yearlings and came back beaten for each of his selections, said that indications were that there would be a very strong New Zealand contingent across for the meeting. Kennedy was making his second trip to the national sales and this time travelled round a good deal before the auctions came on.

Kennedy said he was impressed with the horses he saw. particularly some of the younger performers. He said that his impression was that there were dozens of young horses ready to come along and develop as stayers.