RACING Australians Puzzled By Lack Of N.Z. Interest

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29742, 8 February 1962, Page 4

RACING Australians Puzzled By Lack Of N.Z. Interest

[From the Australian Correspondent of "The Press”} SYDNEY. What’s the matter with New Zealand owners of the many stayers that seem to be good enough to win spring cups and big handicaps in Australia, but are not snapping up invitations to compete in the AJ.C. “Invitation” Stakes of £10,600 to be run on April 14 next? Surely they are not afraid of the better showing being put up by potential stayers of Australian breeding nowadays.

It is understood that 28 invitations have been extended to what the AJ.C. considers worthy contenders—mostly New Zealanders. So far the number of acceptances from New Zealand would not be enough for a match at Randwick's great Autumn meeting. The Invitation Stakes, sponsored generously by the Sydney "Daily Telegraph” should be proving a magnet that could be drawing a cavalry brigade as desperately eager as the Spring invaders.

The only news of “prospects” so far has been of “unlikely" acceptors. “It is unlikely Picaroon. Nerula, Quite Able, Moy, Fair Filou. or Desert Chief will go,” says one correspondent in New Zealand. “Auckland’s outstanding weight-for-age horse Lord Sasanof, will not be able to make the trip. "It is very likely that the good three-year-old filly Catania will be unable to make the trip.” It is always—“can't” or "unlikely ”

Australians are most anxious to see the grand old campaigner Great Sensation, which this year did a "Peter Pan of the Melbourne Cup,” by winning the Wellington Cup for the second time. It is said here that Great Sensation is a nine-year-old, but as he did not race till he was four and a half years old, Australians are not surprised that he is showing such remarkable endurance and has lived to win an all-time high aggregate of prizemoney in New Zealand, about £30,000. “Racing Machine”

Many breeders would like to see this racing machine. They know little about his sire. Cassock, but many of them know the family from which he derives—the LadyWayward II family, one of the best established in New Zealand since the turn of the tentury. One of its products is Prince Cortauld, which was trained by the champion Jockey and trainer, Maurice McCarten, Prince Cortauld which carried the colours of Mr M. J. Moodabe was by Sun King (imp.) from Capricious. He won £51,215 in prize money in Australia with 25 wins, eight seconds and three thirds in 52 starts. That aggregate a few years ago was second only to Phar Lap's winnings by any horse in Australia. At the week-end Aus-tralian-bred horses in all

eastern States, including some “country” invaders, had a march of progress, but, mostly by default. Very few New Zealand-bred horses participated in the Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane events.

(imp.). Devant was bred in New South Wales by Maurice Grogan, now of New Zealand. Also Imported Alpensea is also of all imported blood, but was bred by the late Mr W. V. Shannon. of Flaxbourne stud. Palmerston North. Alpenhorn (imp.) is the successful sire-son of Alycidon, which stood for some time at Lord Derby's stud, Stanley House, Newmarket, England. Sea Anemone (imp.) is by Blue Peter from Royal Bouquet, by Royal Dancer from Roseagain by Gainsborough. Alphensea, as a yearling, was knocked down to the Sydney trainer, T. J. Smith, at 3000gns, and the golding had his first half dozen runs in Brisbane for a second only This was his fourth run in Sydney for a third at Canterbury over seven furlongs plus this minor placing. Better things, however, could be in store for this half brother to Tirage, a smart winner over short distances in Melbourne.