GOLD ROD’S DEFEAT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 299, 14 September 1937, Page 17

GOLD ROD’S DEFEAT

Epsom Calculations Upset

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Sydney, September. 13. Gold Rod’s complete defeat in the Tramway Handicap at Tatt's Club’s meeting on Saturday has so disorganised the Epsom position that even this morning it has not settled down and no excuse is possible for Gold Rod. He was in perfect order, but was probably disinclined to race in the field. Brittle Prattle, ou account of his Tramway second, has come right into Epsom calculations. The Chanter, who finished well in the Chelmsford Stakes,, is also more in demand. Talking is being kept safe until he runs at Rosehill next Saturday.

The Aletropolitan horses, Mala, Silver Standard, OIJ Rowley, Sir Hegeut, and Gay Knight, all impressed. The big handicap is regarded as more open than usual. Lynch Law will not rim in the A.J.C. Derby, which will nevertheless be one of the best fields, with the Victorians Ajax, Hua, and Avenger dominating, and the New Zealander Courtcraft creating a favourable impression on tjie tracks. J. Fryer’s Alusketoon gelding Pantoon won the Maiden Handicap at the Moonee Valley meeting on Saturday.

Success for New Zealanders. The Chelmsford Stakes, won by Alula on Saturday, is the race in which Gloaming, then a three-year-old, made his debut as a racehorse and which he won by half a dozen lengths. On two subsequent occasions, however, as an aged gelding, he was beaten in this weight-for-age event, his conquerors being Beauford and Heroic respectively. Heroic was then a three-year-old and Gloaming was aged nine. The records of the Chelmsford Stakes are studded with New Zealand-bred horses’ names, the most notable achievement in this connection being that of Limerick, who was successful in 1926 as a three-year-old and in the two following seasons. Prior to that Rapine beat David in 1932 and another winning s’eries for the Dominion was begun in 1930 by Phar Lap, who has Nightmarch as runner-up, and was succeeded on, the honours list by Ammon Ra and Gaine Carrington, both being three-year-olds. Last year’s winner was Gold Rod, with Alala and Gustos iu the minor places.