American challengers Cups favourites

Press, 29 September 1988, Page 51

American challengers Cups favourites

Two American-bred horses being close to favouritism for both the Caulfield .and?,Melbourne Cups is hafdlyra surprising development in Australian spring staying features. While Comedy King, the first imported horse to win the Cup, was victorious back in 1910 it is in recent years, through the deeds of Beldale Ball and At Talaq, that competition for Southern Hemispherebred stayers has in-

creased. Now Kudz is pressing Kensei for Melbourne Cup favouritism and Authaal is $e Caulfield Cup favourite at 6-1. Both Were ’ bred in the United States. Kudz is one of 40 Northern Hemispherebred horses nominated for Flemington, one of which, Royal Gait, is topweight. Kudz had two starts from the Colin Hayes stable in Adelaide last season for one second and ond’ unplaced run. His

European record was rather more impressive consisting of four wins, four seconds!-and four thirds from 15 starts; The shortest distance he won over in England was 2400 m at which he posted his maiden victory, at Beverly, in 2.37.4 and a handicap at Thirsk in 2.33.1. He won a handicap at Warwick under 61.5 kg over 2950 m and in September 1986 gained his last success before going to Australia winning over

3600 m under 54kg. He did, however, place in several important races as a four-year-old including a third in the Sagaro Stakes (Group Three) over 3200 m at Ascot, and a third in the Doncaster Cup (Group Three) at 3600 m. He was trained by Henry Cecil. Kudz, owned by the Sheik Mohammed, was bred in America. His sire, Master Willie, stood at the Maryland branch of Wind-

fields Farm for a modest SUSSOOO in 1987. Master Willie, by High Hat’s sire, High Line, - and that horse’s best winner, won seven races worth SUSBOO,OOO in England including the Benson and Hedges Gold Cup (Group One) in 1980, defeating Cairn Rouge and Mrs Penny. Kudz is from Lucky Ole Me, an American mare bred on a similar cross to Half Iced.

Lucky Ole Me won six races and is from the family of In Reality, sire of Known Fact,..which was weighted 1.5 kg above Master Willie as a three-year-old in England. Authaal, by the ill-fated Shergar from a Nijinsky mare is already well performed in Australia having won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes last autumn and the Underwood Stakes this season.