N.Z. Trainer’s Win With Taboo

Press, Volume C, Issue 29702, 21 December 1961, Page 4

N.Z. Trainer’s Win With Taboo

[From the Australian Correspondent of "The Press”!

SYDNEY, December 19. The trainer, J. L. McDonald, who prepared Mainbrace, can scarcely regret his decision to give Australian racing a try-out. Although his horses have not been spectacular, the team has maintained steady success. On Saturday at Cau’field. Taboo won the Heath Handicap in the remarkably fast time of 2min 2 4-seec. Taboo ran away from his opponents, beating Havelock by five lengths with Mollendo third, four lengths further away. Taboo is by Khorassan and is raced bv Mr C. H. R.-Jep-son, and Havelock is by Targui and his owner is Mr W. R. Kemball. Heavy backing for Taboo brought his price down, but for all that Mollendc started favourite with a slight call over Havelock At the other end of the line the trainer C. Ryan, won with another New Zealand horse in Sydney and surprised even himself. The horse'is Revel Victory, which won the Christmas Cup. the feature event at the Sydney Turf Club's meeting at Rosehill. Ryan bought Revel Victory as a tried horse and has had great success with him. However. in the field of 13. Revel Victory was one of the rank outsiders.

Advantage Ridden into the lead by an apprentice. D. Osborne, who is one of the most improved of the young jockeys. Revel Victory set up a commanding advantage by the time the turn into the straight was reached. At that stage the consistent galloper. Dual Copy, the New Zealand-owned Harrier, and the favourite. King of the Castle, seemed to have excellent chances of pegging back the leader. However, Revel Victory, hard-ridden by his young jdckey, stretched but in a fighting finish and won by a length. from King of the Castle with Harrier third a similar distance away. Harrier has not had a great deal of work since he was’ brought back to training. His trainer. F. Dalton, finds difficulty in keeping the gelding sound for hard training.’Saturday’s run Was promising because Harrier appeared to pull up sound and probably he will derive great benefit from the run. : Bad Day It was rather a bad day for Dalton, who, produced Cobbler’s Wax for the two-year-old handicap. This highly tried son of The Cobbler was beaten into fourth place after having had every chance of winning. This race was won by Arizona the two-year-old which

was favourite for the Breeders ’Plate, the opening race ot the two-year-old season in Sydney. Arizona is by Rego (imp.) and was thought to be the outstanding two-year-old of the season. However, he missed the start in the Breeders’ Plate and ran poorly. For Saturday’s race it was thought by the stable that Arizona was a “little too new." but he jumped cleanly, raced through into the lead, and was always in command erf the situation. Arizona beat an interesting two-year-old having his first run. This was the brown colt, Walton, which has the distinction of being full brother to Todman and Noholme, being by Star Kingdom from Oceana (imp.). Todman is a chestnut. Noholme a bay, and this colt is a brown, yet a majority of the sons and daughters of Star Kingdom follow his own chestnut colour.