WELLINGTON STAKES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 61, 9 September 1937, Page 13

WELLINGTON STAKES

THREE-YEAR-OLD CHAMPIONS

SANDUSKY AND TWOS LOOSE TO MEET AGAIN

(By "'Ribbonwood.")

Previously regarded as a race dominated by Twos Loose, Sandusky, and Horsepower, the Wellington Stakes is now given added "interest through the finished performance of Refund in downing a field of three-year-olds in the Seaview Stakes at New Brighton last Saturday. Although Francisco looked unlucky in the running in that race, Refund won with .something in hand. By Great Binfen —Nyallo, he is a brother to Taxpayer, who won the Sapling takes and New Zealand Derby, defeating Indianapolis in both. Refund is owned by his breeder, Mr. J. R. McKenzie.

Twos Loose had an unbeaten record as a two-year-old. He won the Nurscry Stakes at Timaru from Jackaranda after breaking near -the finish, and in the Sapling Stakes he went to the front a long way from home and stayed there. Sandusky, who ran Twos Loose to a neck in the Sapling Stakes, was challenging hotly, and many thought he was unlucky to be beaten. * Edwards naturally will not concede as much.' He expressed the opinion to the writer not long ago that a two-year-old capable of leading all the way down the long Ashburton straight is a !real racehorse and wins on its merits, What might have happened if San- ; dusky had got clear sooner is the big (question punters will have to decide on Saturday. Both are model pacers, ahd the confidence of both stables re- ! mains unshaken. , • . Horsepower was one of the early : two-year-old stars, and for this reason I

he may have been a bit stale for the Sapling Stakes, in which he finished third. He is bred to be high class, and may have improved as much as any of them. The other three acceptors are all bred to be good over the Derby distance. Stamboul and Bayard were not in at the finish of the Seaview Stakes, but should show up better if they strike a firm track on Saturday. Blaydon is a gelding by Jack Potts from Ablaze, and is trained by C. S. Donald, His ability has not been disclosed in public. Two-year-old form is usually a reliable guide to three-year-old prospects, but on this occasion the promise of Refund, who did not race as a two-year-old, provides a most interesting development. It is probable, however, that favouritism will be disputed by Sandusky and Twos Loose. Reports about the condition of both are reassuring.