Big Tree returns to winning form

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32779, 2 December 1971, Page 8

Big Tree returns to winning form

(From the Australian racing correspondent of "The Press") The New Zealand-bred Big Tree is to be set for the Summer Cup, to be run over one mile and a half at the Christmas meeting of the Australian Jockey Club at Randwick. He returned to form on Saturday at Warwick Farm where he won the November Handicap (Ilf) most impressively. His rider was S. Spinks, who returned from Ireland last week

and celebrated by riding two winners in the last few days. Spinks will have first refusal of the mount on Big Tree, and the owner, Mr J. Keele, and trainer, A. Mulley, are hopeful that he will not turn it down. Big Tree was racing for the third time since he was brought back to training. In his previous campaign he wound up by surprisingly winning the S.T.C. Gold Cup, run over two miles at RosehilL When he raced in New Zealand, Big Tree was confined to short races. In Australia, however, he developed the stamina for a lOf contest. Nevertheless, two miles was not considered within his compass by a majority of racegoers. It is now a different picture and this son of Gigantic (Imp.) and Femtree will be heavily backed if he holds his form. But while Big Tree has paid nis way handsomely in Australian racing there was a winner at Warwick Farm which, until Saturday, had been a complete disappointment. This is the seven-year-old gelding, Royal Patrol, which won his first race, the Farm Stakes, run over one mile arid a half.

Needless to say he was an outsider, and he upset a plunge on the four-year-old, Dalvere, which is a son of Dalray. Royal Patrol is by Alcimedes (imp.) from Happy Step and the third horse in the race, Maheno, a four-year-old, also is by Alcimedes.

Royal Patrol was originally trained by J. Green, who suggested that the gelding be sold to go to Singapore. Instead the horse was bought about 18 months ago for $l5OO and, although tried in all sorts of races this day was his first day of triumph.

Brown plans Aust, stable (N.Z. Press Association! SYDNEY. The New Zealand trainer, S. Brown, conferred with officials of the Australian Jockey Club here on Tuesday about his plans to set up a stable in Sydney. Brown had a long conference with Mr D. Ryan, the A.J.C.’s supervisor of licensed persons. After the conference, Brown said he would be able to set up training at Warwick Farm. He said that on his return to New Zealand he hoped to have shipping space booked to send at least 10 horses to Sydney latex this month.

The star of the team will be the unbeaten Triton, which has won his seven starts and was one of the favourites for the Epsom Handicap in the spring but injured himself and was a late withdrawal from Brown’s team.

Motor racing.—The 1972 10event Canadian-American Challenge Cup series of sports car races will be worth slm. The minimum purse will be $75,000 in drivers’ awards for each race.