N.Z. Mare Surprises In Sydney Race

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32217, 9 February 1970, Page 5

N.Z. Mare Surprises In Sydney Race

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent) SYDNEY. The New Zealand-bred mare, Mona’s Joy, stunned punters with a last-to-first form reversal to defeat a classy field of sprinters in the Henry Kendall Handicap (6f.) at Warwick Farm on Saturday. Mona's Joy, which eased from 15/1 to start at 33/1, dashed home from ninth at the turn to score brilliantly in the last few strides.

The former top sprinter. Cabochon. having his first start since a bleeding attack in September, was second, threequarters of a length away, with Brother Smoke third. A week ago Mona's Joy (Gold Sovereign—Sinoala) ran a very disappointing last over the same distance at Canterbury. The big disappointments in the race were the three-year-old fillies Gaelic Spirit and Sylvan Ridge which started equal favourites.

Gaelic Spirit (Bourbon Prince —Jumble) plodded home a wellbeaten fifth. Syvan Ridge led to the turn but gave in and finished well back.

G. Moore celebrated his return to the saddle after an injury by riding two winners from as many mounts. He rode a great race to land Great Exploits in the Banjo Patterson Handicap and two races later dashed General, a promising young stayer by Pharmond. to victory in the Q.J.C. Dennis Novice.

General, trained by T. Smith, cost only $2200 at Trentham in 1968 and now has won $4200 with two successive victories. Big Philou showed he will be a big threat to his rivals this autumn with a slashing firstup second in the Weight-for-age C. F. Orr Stakes (7f.) at Sandown on Saturday. Big Philou, a four-year-old son of Le Filou, came home solidly three lengths behind Crewman, the favourite.

The Sydney galloper, Cyron, like Big Philou raised in New Zealand, was half a length away third.

Big Philou’s trainer J. B. Cummings said the gelding would start next in the St George Stakes (Of.) on February 21 and then the Queen’s Plate (lOf) at Flemington on March 7 before the Australian Cup on March 9.

Connections of the brilliant speedster. Crewman, have not yet decided whether to race the Todman entire in the Newmarket Handicap (7f) or the Australian Cup two days later. The Summertime seven-year-old, Tobermory, made light of his crushing 10.2 with a convincing win in the mile Tecom Welter.

It was his second successive win.

The three-year-old Le Filou filly. Gay Poss, brilliantly won

the Doveton Handicap (6f.) and will try to emulate the feats of her former stablemates, Light Fingers and Lowland. Both won the A.J.C. Oaks in Sydney and her trainer, J. B. Cummings, has that race as Gay Poss's main mission at Easter.