Straight Irish May Race At Randwick

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30562, 3 October 1964, Page 7

Straight Irish May Race At Randwick

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

MELBOURNE, October 1. The New Zealand stayer. Straight Irish, which arrived in Melbourne recently to prepare for the spring cups, may be a surprise visitor to Sydney for the A.J.C. £lO,OOO Metropolitan (13f.) at Randwick next Monday, the "Age” racing writer, Lindsay Mudge, said today. The Sydney light-weight jockey, J. Thompson, had been offered the mount on Straight Irish, he said. Straight Irish Is well down In the latest lists on the Metropolitan. The gelding has 7-12 and will carry the same weight In the Caulfield Cup on October 17. His owner-trainer, Mr J. Coffey, has withdrawn Straight Irish from the V.R.C. weight-for-age mile and a half Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. At Moonee Valley last Satur-

day, Straight Irish ran on well to finish fifth to Cilldara and Red William in the 10-furlong Glenara Handicap. Doubles bookmakers were kept busy yesterday on the cups. Heroic Stone, Royal Duty, and Sir Dane were the most popular first "legs.” Punters backed the New Zealand-bred Sir Dane for £20,000 with Polo Prince. The horse was also coupled with the Sydney three-year-old, Park Lane, for £25,000. Plans Undecided Sir Dane continued to firm for the Caulfield Cup, but his trainer, R. Shaw, "warned that plans were still undecided. “A decision on a Caulfield Cup start will not be made until after Sir Dane runs in the Turnbull Stakes,” Shaw added. The Turnbull Stakes should prove the best measuring stick so far for the cups. On present indications it will see a clash between Sir Dane, Royal Duty, Polo Prince, Sometimes, Gatum Gatum. and possibly Havelock. Solid backing continues for Royal. Duty in both cups. Latest betting order on the cups Is:— CAULFIELD CUP, IJm; run October 17:— Royal Duty, Eskimo Prince, Contempler. Red William', Sir Dane. Heroic Stone. Elkayel, Park Lane. Captain Blue, Cilldara. Gold Chick, Summer Regent, Sometime. Delville, Hunting Horn, Thunderhead. Strauss. MELBOURNE CUP, 2m; run November 3:— Sir Dane. Royal Duty. . Piper’s Son. Polo Prince, Resolution. Striking Force, Elkayel,' Gold Chick, Hunting Horn, Contempler, Park Lane. Craftsman, Bon Filou.