HAMUA IS SURPRISE WINNER IN STAKES

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32117, 13 October 1969, Page 5

HAMUA IS SURPRISE WINNER IN STAKES

fN-Z.Pjl. Staff Correspondent/ MELBOURNE. The New Zealand stayer Hamua caused the first big surprise of the Melbourne spring racing season when he upset a class field in the $BOOO, weight-for-age Caulfield Stakes (l)m) at Caulfield on Saturday. Splendidly ridden by the New Zealand jockey, W. D. Skelton, Hamua was always among the leaders. He went to the front at the top of the straight and hung on gamely to win by a short half-head from the New Zealand-bred Big Philou, with the New Zealand champion, Ben Lomond, three-quarters of a length away third.

The Australian star, Rain Lover, was beaten into fourth. The result was a “dream” ■ for bookmakers as punters ne--1 glected Hamua and he went I to the post at 33-1. Big Philou ■ started at 12-1, and Ben Lo- , rnond at 7-2. Rain Lover was ’ a 10-9 favourite. ! Hamua, much improved by ! three earlier runs in Austra- > lia, struck form and was too ' good for the others on the day. “WORLD CLASS” ! The Woodville trainer, S. . A. Brown, said Skelton's i riding performance was t “world class” in a tight finish. ; Skelton did not hesitate to ■ take Hamua up to the leader, I Wings Of The Morning, soon I after the three-furlong peg, ■ and led into the straight from , Big Philou and Ben Lomond, i Rain Lover was wide out on the trade, having to cover

a lot of ground coming from second last to run up to the leaders at the turn. The race developed into a four-way tussle, Hamua on the inside, Ben Lomond behind him, and Big Philou and Run Lover further out. The four horses flashed over the line bunched together with only a length between Hamua and Rain Lover. Hamua earned an automatic start in next Saturday's rich Caulfield Cup with his stakes victory. He firmed sharply In cups markets after his win, coming in from 25-1 to 7-1, behind Fileur (7-2) and Big Philou (6-1). Ben Lomond ran an eyecatching race in his first start since January, and will be improved by the hard race. R. Lang had Ben Lomond under the whip at least half a furlong before the home bend. Lang rode hard with the whip all the way down the straight and “Big Ben” responded gamely. Ben Lomond’s effort was a first-class Melboure Cup trial, and bookmakers responded by promoting him to share favouritism at 5-1 with Rain Lover. Ben Lomond's 84-year-old owner, Mr Ernest Montgomery, made the trip from New Zealand to see his bone run. He was thrilled with the horse’s performance, declaring that Ben Lomond had run better than he thought he would. The unplaced performances of Rain Lover and Shorengro (4-1) provided real shocks and they lost caste for their future engagements. After the race stewards held an inquiry into toe improved run of Big Philou, a three-quarter brother to toe Melbourne Cup winner, Light Fingers. Big Philou failed badly at bis last run, but Higgins said toe stakes going was more suitable to toe gelding and the pace was more to his liking. No action was taken. Big Pbilou’s trainer, J. BCummings, was involved in a second stakes inquiry when stewards inquired into the run of the former champion, General Commond. The stewards closely questioned the gelding’s rider, G. Lane, and later quisled Cummings. The inquiry has been adjourned until Wednesday. General Command ran an improving third at his last start, but on Saturday finished eighth, with only three behind him. Lane aaid toe stayer was “crying out for a longer distance."