FROM STUD AND STABLE Higher Minimum Not Far Distant In Australia

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31017, 24 March 1966, Page 4

FROM STUD AND STABLE Higher Minimum Not Far Distant In Australia

New Zealand’s minimum weight of 7-0 surprised Australians at a conference of handicappers held in Melbourne last week.

The conference was attended by Mr H. V. Spicer, the Canterbury Jockey Club’s handi* capper, who found much of value in the conference itself, and in other aspects of Australian racing, but also one or two disquieting trends.

Mr Spicer, whose trip to Melbourne was sponsored by the Canterbury Jockey Club, said he was disturbed to find

that there would be a mile and a quarter race for two-year-olds in the autumnMr Spicer feels that the heavy demands made on many of the Australian two-year-olds must affect the chances of these horses developing into good stayers later. “Pitched In”

Mr Spicer found that the Australian clubs were anxious to attract the good horses from New Zealand for their big carnivals, but that many Australians still felt that New Zealand stayers were being “pitched in” at the weights. Mr Spicer took out an experimental set of weights on the Sydney Cup soon after nominations closed. In every case the A.J.C. handicapper, Mr Ken Goodwin. weighted the New ealand stayers higher—Apa, Golden Defoe, and Sail Away with 41b more and the Wellington Cup winner. Red Crest with 21b more.

Australian handicappers believe the 7.7 minimum is not far distant. Its arrival will, it

is believed, be hastened by the shortage of light boys. In Victoria the top-weight in handicaps is 9.0 or more with a 7.5 minimum except in the Melbourne Cup with its 6.7 minimum, used for maiden three-year-olds. In all other centres the topweight is 8.7 or higher and the minimum 7.4. When acceptances are 1 taken and the horses left as topweights have less than

8-7 the weights of all horses are automatically lifted to bring the top-weight up to 8-7.

This is done by the clerk attending to the acceptances. Mr Spicer believes there is much to commend a weight range from 8-7 to 74. Mr Spicer saw racing in Melbourne and Sydney. He saw a skilful performance by George Moore to win the

VJt.C. St Leger on the New Zealand-bred Prince Grant On Moore’s Terms “Moore dictated the terms from the start of the race,” Mr Spicer told "Hie Press.” “He took Prince Grant to the front and never allowed the others to get into a steady, even gallop behind him. He would go out to a good lead, then slow down and unsettle the others, then go away from them again.” Moore’s exhibition impressed good judges just as much as the colt's winning performance. But the Sydney jockey said after the race: “Wouldn’t they have roasted me if I had been beaten!”