Oreka Strong Fancy For Doomben Cup

Press, Volume C, Issue 29557, 5 July 1961, Page 4

Oreka Strong Fancy For Doomben Cup

[From the Australian Correspondent of "The Press"]

BRISBANE, July 2. Oreka is the favourite to complete the Doomben double by winning the Doomben Cup next Saturday. The first leg of the double, the Ten Thousand, was won on Saturday by the West Australian Aquanita, which rah from last to first in the last three furlongs. Aquanita will now be set to win the double, achieved by Bernborough in 1946. On Saturday, Oreka contested the Carnival Handicap and was beaten by the well - performed Morning Breeze, which was racing for the first time in first-class company. Savage, the conqueror of Tulloch in the autumn in the Caltex Invitation Stakes in Sydney, was favourite for the Carnival Handicap, which is a noted guide to the cup. Savage was not in the hunt in the last furlong and greatly disappointed his trainer, T. Lewis, who had said before the race that Savage would win. Oreka was made favourite in spite of his two-lengths defeat by Morning Breeze. He was forced to race three and four wide all the way and carried 41b more than his cup weight. Oreka’s trainer, T. J. Smith, was more than satisfied with the horse's performance. Before he was taken to Brisbane, Oreka won at ’Rosehill, making a long run to snatch a narrow win on the post. He showed his ability to finish again on Saturday, but this time the extra ground told its tale. The win was Morning Breeze's fifth in succession, and was easily his best performance because he ran the : mile and a quarter in 2min 2 4-ssec. I Morning Breeze is one of I the very few horses sired' Iby Morning Wings Very' : few persons know of Mom-; ing Wings. He is a horse of; (noble lineage, being by Hel-' lies (imp) from the famous! I racing mare Flight. RICHLY RELATED He is the full brother to Flight’s Daughter, which produced the two Derby-winning brothers. Skyline and SkyHigh. Morning Glory could not be trained, just as Flight’s Daughter had to be withdrawn early in her educational period. Mr Crowley has kept Morn-

witbin a fortnight of the Auckland Racing Club’s cup meeting was not in the inter-! est either club. Both clubs featured their i ;cup meeting programmes and? catered for the best class ofi : horses and each was likely to 1 suffer under the amended! schedule of dates.

ing Wings at his station property and mated him with a few mares of his own. Now that Morning Breeze has come along there will be no doubt some inquiry from owners of mares to see whether the greatness of Flight, which came out in her daughter, Flight’s Daughter, will carry through to her son. Flight is the descendant of the famous mare Simperowned by the Hazlett family and now acknowledged as one of the greatest brood mares of the century. STRONG TIP One of the disappointments of the Ten Thousand was the New Zealander. Dusky Oman, which was a strong tip for the race. Dusky Oman found the speed too much and never appeared to have a winning chance. Auriette had her first run in Australia when she contested the Leppington Handicap at Warwick Farm on Saturday, a race reserved for fillies and mares. Auriette received much attention because of her excellent record in hack events in New Zealand. She looked above herself in condition, although showing evidence of much long track work. Auriette was nowhere near the leaders on Saturday but the race will do wonders for her and next time it may be a different story Auriette is one of the best looking mares seen out for some time and there will be plenty of opportunities for her. Higgins To Ride Oreka i (N Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) ' BRISBANE. July 4 ' The Victorian jockey, R Higgins, has accepted the mount on the New Zealand galloper Oreka for the Doomben Cup on Saturday Oreka's trainer T. J. Smith, had intended report-i ing G. Moore to the stewards todag for breaking his engagement for Oreka, but the horse’s owner, Mr H. S. Sherbourne, persuaded Smith against it Higgins will probably ride at Moonee Valley, Melbourne, on Wednesday and will then come to Brisbane and ride Oreka in his final gallop on Thursday. Moore said today that his decision to ride Persian Lyric was in no way connected with his view of the chances of the two horses.

The Queensland galloper New Zealand will be ridden in the cup by the top local light-weight rider, N. Birrer. New Zealand has firmed in the betting since he ran well in the Doomben Ten Thousand last Saturday.