Great Interest In Flemington Clash

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31784, 14 September 1968, Page 7

Great Interest In Flemington Clash

(N.Z.P.A. Correspondent) SYDNEY. The 1968 spring racing season will blossom Into life today when the ruling favourites for the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup, Epsom Handicap and Metropolitan Handicap race at Flemington and Randwick. The centre of attraction will be the weight-for-age Craiglee Stakes (one mile) at Flemington. which will see Galilee, Winfreux, and the New Zealandbreds. Lowland and Fileur clash. Galileo heads current Melbourne Cup markets, while Lowland in the Caulfield Cup favourite and Fileur is joint favourite for the Epsom Handicap. Winfreux ie the Caulfield Cup top-weight. In Sydney, the New Zealandbred Roman Consul and the A.J.C. Derby winner, Swift Peter, which are sharing favouritism for the Metropolitan Handicap. wHI meet in what seems certain to be a two-horse duel in the weight-for-age Chelmsford Stakes.

There will also be great interest in the Lord Mayor's Plate at Flemington which will see the New Zealand-bred stablemates, Swift General and Fulmen, clash with another big cup hope. Future, over a mile and a quarter.

Gallle. and Winfreux will meet in what haa been called the weight-for-age elash of the deeade. They are the two leading stake winner, racing tn Australia and only Tulloch has won more .take money In Australia.

Also tn the raea will be Fileur, Lowland, and the Adelaida Cup winner, Rain Lover. Galilee. Lowland and Fileur were bred in New Zealand.

A crowd of more than 36.000 la expected at Flemington. Last year's Craiglee Stakes wa, won by Star Belle. Winfreux, which ba, won nine of bi, last 12 races in Victoria I, a 5 to 4 on favourite, with Galilee a 9 to 4 chance. When the two met last month, Winfreux was an easy winner but Galilee, which wa, third, was having bis first start of the Mason.