RACING N.Z. Stayers Picked In Melbourne Cup Today

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30588, 3 November 1964, Page 4

RACING N.Z. Stayers Picked In Melbourne Cup Today

[From J. J. BOYLE, racing reporter of "The Press.” who is in Melbourne for the V.R C. Cup carnival at Flemington.] The combined efforts of Bon Filou and Sir Dane should make today’s £25,000 Melbourne Cup safe for New Zealand.

Both Melbourne-trained, but both New Zealand-owned, and, of course, New Zealand-bred, Bon Filou and Sir Dane will dominate betting on the race. Sir Dane was the 3 1 favourite for the race after his slashing win in the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday.

He was assured of first favouritism after Bon Filou failed to win the Hotham Handicap.

But it could be costly not to regard Bon Filou as the improver in the field.

Bon Filou came back blowing hard after his run in the Hotham Handicap. Missing that race at Moonee Valley a week earlier cost him an easy win in the Hotham Handicap, but it might not have placed a Melbourhe Cup victory out of his reach. Bon Filou is the horse the famous Australian jockey, A. “Scobie” Breasley would like to ride in the Melbourne Cup. Breasley, who has made a rushed trip from England to ride at the colourful V.R.C carnival, was impressed by Bo.t Filou’s run in the Hothim Handicap last Saturday. Breasley thought Bon Filou should have won. So did hundreds, perhaps thousands, of others, but anyone in a position to have a close look at the big Le Filou gelding after the race might have felt differently. Blowing Hard Bon Filou came back blowing hard. “He nearly blew me over after the race,” his trainer, Ivor McClure, told me on Saturday evening. But McClure had one more cheering item of information later that night. Bon Filou, he said, went home and “ate up.”

Obviously the race' took no toll of his vitality, and he will go into the cup field today at least half a stone better. He carried 9-5 in the Hotham Handicap and drops to 8-13 in the Cup. Also encouraging was the I No. 6 barrier position. “I i couldn't wish for anything better,” said his rider, R. J. Skelton, on Saturday evening. Bon Filou should be able to get a position on the inside straight away. He is a brilliant type of stayer one that can run close to the pace, and unless luck goes all against him in the running he will have a big early advantage over Sir Dane, which drew No. 25. Well Seasoned Sir Dane, in his present form, is good enough to overcome big handicaps. He is well seasoned, and his winning run in the Mackinnon Stakes was considered by some Australians to be better than Rising Fast’s run in that race in 1954, the year he also won the Cup. Sir Dane is 51b below Bon Filou. and none between holds better than fair prospects. Gatum Gatum, the surprise Melbourne Cup winner last year, was placed behind Sybeau at the Caulfield Cup meeting, but showed nothing encouraging in stiffer company in the Caulfield Cup. Piper’s Son will be attempting to beat Sir Dane at level weights, and that seems a very tall order, but there was promise of a placed run at least in the cup in the performance of this Sydney stayer to get up for third in the

Hotham Handicap on Saturday. There might not be much support for Piper’s Son until today. He is of little account unless the ground is dry and there’s no telling a day in advance what the Melbourne weather will be like.

Elkayel, the Caulfield Cup third, has not raced in the meantime, and has not been asked for anything strenuous in training either. There is one very good and important reason for this light programme. He has not thrived since his Caulfield Cup placing and only in the last few days has he started to eat as well as he does at home. Drawn Well It is doubtful if Elkayel will be able to give Polo Prince weight and it should be next to impossible for Gold Chick to do so. Polo Prince has 8-3, and has drawn well. Nearly everything suggests that this proved stayer will be one of the hardest to beat. But John Carter, the Awapuni trainer of the gelding would dearly like to see the race put back a week. Carter has found that Polo Prince has been "coming right” only in the last week or so, and thinks another week would work wonders. He was heartened greatly by Polo Prince s fourth at weight-for-age in the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday, and now feels his horse will beat most, if not all his rivals. Algaldn, the 1962 New Zealand Derby winner, has pleased his connexions since his win in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, and W. A. Smith, who had been offered three rides, has had no hesitation in plumping for this Alonzo gelding. Sybeau is a plodding type of stayer with place form at the distance, and he might stay in contention long enough to allow R. Hutchinson to show much of the skill and artistry that have taken him to the top in England. Noranda showed she was no weight-for-age performer when she ran last in the Mackinnon Stakes. Lord Fury But a handicap race is another thing altogether. This close relation of the two-mile winner Swanee drops to 7-7 in the Cup and she will only be following a lead set by Lord Fury if she brings off a surprise win. Three years ago Lord Fury ran last in the Mackinnon Stakes before his runaway win in the Cup. He was ridden in both races by R. Selkrig, who has the ride on Noranda today. Royal Sovereign, the Victoria Derby winner, was foaled in Australia but is by Chatsworth 11. which was at stud in New Zealand. This heightens New Zealand interest in his chances, but interest will certainly be much greater if New Zealandowned stayers dominate the finish, which seems pretty likely. The New Zealand-owned HiJinx, Howsie, and Ilumquh gave the Kiwis one of the greatest results ever on an Australian course when they battled out the finish of the Centenary Melbourne Cup four years ago. We might see Bon Filou, Sir Dane, and Polo Prince repeating that feat today.