“WIDE-OPEN” EPSOM

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30562, 3 October 1964, Page 6

“WIDE-OPEN” EPSOM

Rashlore May Be Favourite (N.Z. Press Assn.— Copyright) SYDNEY October 2. Sydney bookmakers could not make up their minds todav which of six horses—Rashlore. Game Prince. Castanea. Persian Puxile. Toi Port or Heirloom—will start favourite in tomorrow’s £lO.OOO Epsom Handicap <lm) at Randwick Veteran racing men said they couldn’t recall such an open Epsom Handicap. Most bookmakers now have the Victorian Rashlore and the lightly-weighted Game Princo sharing favouritism. Toi Port is on the second line, with Persian Puixle and Castanea sharing the next and Heirloom on the fourth rung of the betting ladder. In the last 24 hours there has been a big change In the betting with Game Prince being the biggest "shortener.” He has firmed three points in the betting mainly because he has drawn so well at the barrier— No. 8. Rashlore has not shifted much although he has No. 18 at the barrier, which is considered a disadvantage. He is well supported by Melbourne bookmakers. Toi Pon is owned by the Queenslander, Mr J. J. Parr, and trained by W. Stripe, and this stable Is not frightened to support its horses. The former Melbourne jockey, D. Lake, has a big following. Heirloom is solid and her place has been firm in the betting since her jockey, G. Moore, was announced. Eskimo Prince Is still odds-on for the £16.000 Derby, also to be run tomorrow, but there has been a slight tendency for him to drift in the betting. His big-betting owner, Mr P Galea said today that he would support his colt heavily tomorrow only If the price was right. ‘‘l want to win this Derbv more than anything in my life and I really don't care if 1 don’t have a bet,’’ Mr Galea said. "But if the bookmakers lay what I think is the right price theh I might put as much as £25,000 on him. 1 think Eskimo Prince will win, and win easily." The jockey, A. Mulley, is just as confident of success as the owner. But Park Lane’s trainer, J. Smith, ahd jockey, G. Moore, were quietly confident that Park Lane will win the Derby. "Eskimo Prince will know he has been galloping all right,'' Smith said today.