Samson’s Stamina In Doomben Cup

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29878, 19 July 1962, Page 4

Samson’s Stamina In Doomben Cup

(From the Sydney Correspondent of "The Press'!

As surprising as the Australian defeat in Sydney of the British Rugby League team was the eclipsing of the New Zealand horses by the outsider, Samson, in the Doomben Cup in Brisbane. Samson is of all-imported blood nevertheless, being by Nile (imp.)—son of Nearco — from Hora (imp), by Big Game from the Son-In-Law mare, Coppelia. Hora was imported to Victoria by Dr. H. L. Catchlove, but has been for years sent to New South Wales to be mated. Her present foal is by Rego (imp.) Samson had not won at more then nine furlongs previously and was regarded as a sprinter with many wins to his name, mostly in Victoria. However, he has taken minor prize-money fairly • regularly in big sprints in Brisbane this year.

The Big Game and Son-in-Law blood in his veins helped him to stay brilliantly the 11 furlongs and 65 yards of the Doomben Cup. Samson is raced by Mr L G. MacLeod, trained by N Creighton, and was ridden by A. Ward. A New Zealand-bred horse, Dalriada, was second. He is a grey five-year-old gelding raced by Mr E. C. Miller. QC„ of Sydney. . The ..elding is by Kurd Man (imp.) from Aganev. Dalriada showed his prospects when he finished on brilliantly in the June Handicap at Doomben on June 30. Third in the cup was Mr W. Bradley’s River Seine (Tsaoko (imp.)—Mississippi), bred in Australia by a stallion neglected here very largely, but now standing in New Zealand. River Seine is one of the most improved stayers in Australia. A 10-furlong ‘‘novice’” last January, he won a novice, a graduation stakes at Rosehill, and then the Rosehill Cup, of 12 furlongs, in March, beating Dual Copy and Alpensea into minor places in a solid field

PROMOTED FAVOURITE River Seine is now favourite for the A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap, of 13 furlongs, this spring. Moviegoer and Summer Fair are at present within half a point of him with the Sydney books, but there i® a doubt whether Summer Fair (New Zealand), winner of the Caulfield Cup, 1961, will run. He was hurt in Melbourne in the spring and did not appear last autumn. The spell might have done him

good, for he seemed to need time to build up. A tip for the Metropolitan is Navarro (New Zealand' in F. Dalton’s stable. He is a born stayer and finished on recently in a mile at Warwick Farm in such a fashion to suggest that he will be realty ready for the spring. Some bookmakers have not waited for legalised offcourse betting to get out spring doubles sheets. For the first leg of the EpsomMetropolitan double they have Kilshery and Summer Fair joint favourites. They are followed by King Brian, Prince Regoli and Sky High. On the next line are the two smdrt New Zealandbred sprinters. Oakland and Ketchup. Samson, strange to say, is well down the list of favouritism. Iman (N.Z.), which won a seven and a half-furlong Rosehill Welter on June 23 won the Canterbury Handicap, the distance event of the day, at Canterbury Park on Saturday. This was a ninefurlong event in which Iman had top weight against such open distance performers as Edspell, and Melglo. Iman won brilliantly and could be a factor in the spring racing Bred In Wairarapa Bred by Mrs H. Ridgway, of Featherston, who is doing a capable job as a studmaster. Iman, is by the Blue Peter horse Sabaean (imp.)— sire of Yeman. Young Idealist, Emphatic and other stayers in New Zealand, but best known in Australia through Illumqh (Caulfield Cup and Williamstown Cup), Gay Saba and many other winners from sprinters to stayers.

The dam of Iman, Hurricane Lamp, is by Balloch (imp ), sire of the Melbourne cup winner and now successful sire of Refulgent and others in Australia. Vagabond and other winners from Sydney to Perth. Iman should find the big handicaps and cups to his liking. He is trained by T. J Smith. Another interesting winner in. Sydney on Saturday was the three-year-old gelding Golden Romance, by Knight’s Romance from Golden Faun. Second was Count Return, another three-year-old gelding. and New Zealand-bred, being by Count Return (imp.) from Charites. Both ran on well but the winner won with ease..