Mullala Lame After Stradbroke Win

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30153, 10 June 1963, Page 4

Mullala Lame After Stradbroke Win

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

BRISBANE. June 9.

Mullala. a 20/1 longshot which as late as last Thursday was considered a doubtful starter because of a leg injury, scored a surprise win yesterday in the £lO.OOO Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm. A stride after passing the post he broke down again.

Mullala won the big sevenfurlong handicap by a halflength from 66/1 chance Prunda with the well-backed Samson (13/2) a nose away third. In a thrilling finish, there was only two lengths between firs' and twelfth horses in the 24horse field The 9/2 favourite Kilshery. was sixth, and the New Zealand hope Plantation 17/1) seventh. Rochdale (8/11 was eleveth. Mullala has always been a top-class sprinter. He badly sprained his off-fore fetlock joint when checked a furlong from the post in the Lightning Stakes on May 18. The trainer A. B Sinclair, has been un-

able to work Mullala on a training track since then. AU Mullala's work in preparation for yesterday's sprint was on a strip of beach sand at Cribb Island, 10 miles from Brisbane The aboriginal jockey, "Daby” McCarthy, said Mullala dipped a stride past the post and "I knew he was gone agaln.' f Mullala was obviosuly favouring his off-side leg when he returned to scale and when he ftot to the winner's circle was ame. The off-fetlock was so swollen it was twice the size of the near joint. Two central western Queensland graziers. S. L. Henderson and G Reid race Mullala in partnership. McCarthy, aged 20. is Queens-land-born, although he has been riding in Sydney recently. Mullala got a good run near the rails and burst right through the centre to win in the lasi few strides, equalling the track record of imin 23sec. The record was set by Kllshery in the same race last year Yesterday, Kilshery ran well under his big weight of 9st 81b. but could not match the winner’s late sprint under 8s» 101 b. Sydney punters plunged on Kilsherry which firmed from ’3/2 to 7/2 before starting al 9/2.

Fine and Dandy, the dual Doncaster winner, also had heavy course backing, firming from 25/1 to 10/1. He finished twentieth. Rochdale came in from 10/1 to 8/1, while Plantation firmed from 8/1 to 7/1. Samson, starting at 13/2, also had heavv support. Details STRADBROKE HANDICAP. £10.000; It. MULLALA (Sun Storm— Comtesse) 8-10 R. McCarthy 1 PRUNDA (Pan II—Boxilia) 7-5 .. J. Baker 2 SAMSON (Nilo—Horai 8-9 I. Coles 3 Twenty-four started. Halflength; nose. Time: 1:23.0 (eouals track record) Betting: 20/1. 68/1. 13/2 The 9/2 favourite was Kilshery.

Manchester Cup To Espresso (N Z.P A -Reuter— Copyright) LONDON. June 8 Lester Piggott today rode the 3/1 favourite Espresso to victory in- the Manchester Cup over 12 furlongs . Details:— MANCHESTER CUP. £4866: l|m ESPRESSO G A Oldham's by Acropolis—Babylon syrs 8-12 .. L. Piggott 1 SOVRANGO G. A. Oldham s syrs 9-4 W Williamson 2 ZUCHET J. H. Wyllle’s 4yrs 7-7 .. D. Greening 3 Nine ran. Length: same Time: 2:35 7-8 Trainer: H Wragg, Newmarket. Betting: 3/1 favourite, 6/1. 100/7.