SPRING RACING

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

SPRING RACING

CAESAR AND ALLUNGA

(From "Vedette.") SYDNEY, September 3. At Warwick Farm on Saturday the first round of the spring campaign was disposed of, Caesar in the absence 01 Ajax and Lynch Law being the dominating three-year-old, and Allunga making Talking and Mala look rather cheap in the Warwick Stakes. The course was in perfect order and the public turned out in force to show thenappreciation of the improved class. The attendanc was one of the best at the Farm for years. 'Caesar was having his first race of the season in the Hobartville Stakes whereas some of his rivals had had a race or races, but Caesar dominated at the finish. He had a perfect run in behind the pacemakers, Brazandt, and Welcome, to the turn. At this point Brazandt streaked away and momentarily. Caesar just hung fire. However, when D. Munro drew the whip, Caesar responded well and caught Brazandt half-way up the straight. Caesar was backed, as a certainty, despite his lack of a run, and his success would be a tonic for his owner, the A.J.C. chairman, Sir Colin Stephen, who has been indisposed for some time. The Silvius colt shaped like a prospective stayer although the distance was only seven furlongs, and he may be quite equal to the Derby course. Brazandt, on the other hand, is not likely to be anything more than -a miler at his very best. Only One, the solidly-built colt by Limond from My Own, finished on strongly for third place, an encouraging effort. His trainer, F. Musgrave, brought him over from Caulfield well forward after a race behind Valiant Chief and Aurie's Star at Caulneld. Musgrave should now have a good line through Caesar for his main, Derby hope, Ajax, who looks a picture. The Heroic 'colt has not entered for the Hobartville Stakes. He is brilliant, but whether he will stay has still to be decided. He looks more the sprinter than the stayer, but appearances can be deceptive. , Outside of the place-fillers useful races in the Hobartville Stakes were credited to the Veilmftnd colt Perimond, Cathartes, and the New Zealand' bred pair Aero King and Birthday Boy. All were going on at the finish with Perimond the most impressive, although Birthday Boy had an indifferent run over the last three furlongs. Mr. A. E. Cooper was considered to have a mortgage on the Warwick Stakes with his £26,000 pair Talking and Mala, but they were beaten by the £120 five-year-old Allunga, and well beaten into the bargain. Excuses were made that Talking and Mala beat each other, and, further, that had Talking been hard ridden from the turn ire would have won, but the fact remains that Allunga gave them ten lengths start from the turn and be"at them pointless. Curator made the running to the two furlongs and then the Cooper pair moved up. Mala on the inside was being, held by Talking when once they landed into the straight and then Allunga unwound his run. Munro rode him hard and the horse responded nobly. Unless Allunga has improved a good deal the form of Mala was not good and that of Talking little better. Against that, Talking had only one race last autumn, and it was his first since: the last Melbourne Cup. His effort impressed some good judges who proceeded to back him for the Epsom Handicap, for which race he is now just as good a favourite as Gold Rod. Curator faded out into fifth place, but his was a fair effort. Gay Blonde, who, had been dodging along in fourth place for most of the way, finished up in that position, and the race should improve her. ■ The Spring Handicap brought a remarkable result in a dead heat between Silver Standard and Fireman and a protest against Fireman. The grounds were not very obvious to onlookers, for although it was a hard finish, there appeared little sign of interference. The stewards apparently were of the same mind, for the objection was speedily dismissed. Fireman made all the running and yet actually made the dead heat, for Silver Standard, desperately ridden, headed Fireman nearing the post, yet the latter came again and many thought he had won. DISAPPOINTING SHOWING. Silver Standard, in effect, was a little disappointing, but there was one extenuating circumstance, for the saddle shifted and Munro had an uncomfortable last half-mile ride. Outside of the dead-heaters the best form was that of Old Rowley, who was not suited by the way the race was run and also was checked about the half-mile post Latharna and' ■Viceroy, two sons of Limond, ran poor races. The Campbelltown Handicap, run over six furlongs and generally regarded as an Epsom trial, was won narrowly by Gay Chou, who had failed dismally a week earlier in a much weaker field at Ascot. The stewards expressed their dissatisfaction in a retrospective inquiry, but Gay Chou's connections were able to prove that the gelding had been backed at Ascot. Moonray had Gay Chou doing his best and The Marne, who had 9.3, was not far away third. The Marne and Gay Chou had the leading positions most of the way. Prittle Prattle was a fast-finish-ing and very impressive fifth considering his stablemate Gay Chou was the winner. Silver Rose, one of the Epsom favourites, shaped poo.rly and slipped down the list on the betting charts. The improving Herarde, an Epsom Handicap lightweight, won the mile welter. He has won at his last two starts and might have an outside chance at Randwick. He forced the pace with Heroic Faith and beat a very tired field. The weight-for-age race in Melbourne, the Underwood Stakes at Williamstown, saw Young Idea score J. Holt's seventh win in that race since its inception thirteen years ago. Young Idea was capably ridden by T. Webster. The three-yeav-old Damalis was a very creditable second after meeting with a good deri of interference. He is to go on for the two Cups in which he will be ric-ien by the Sydney lightweight A. Knox. Knox went to Melbourne to ride Damalis on Saturday. Young Idea completed a double for the New South Wales studmaster, Mr. Percy Miller, who won earlier in the day with his three-year-old Avenger, also trained by Holt.

LOST FORM RECOVERED.

Qold Rod and Lynch Law, two of the outstanding horses of the moment, were tried out at Rosebery on Tuesday over five furlongs. ' Gold Rod had his first real gallop since his fall last.week and Lynch Law his first as a three-year-old. M. McCarten rode Gold Rod and E. Bartle was on Lynch Law who had the inside running. Going away smartly they ran their first two furlongs in 24sec and the next three in 39sec. Over the last bit Lynch Law was going better than Gold Rod. Whereas J. T. Jamieson was pleased by the recovery of form of his charge, Gold Rod's display disappointed G. Price. As Gold Rod will not race until the Tramway Handicap at Tattersall's Meeting, his Epsom backers are not likely to have many opportunities of seeing him in action prior to Derby Day. Kow Tow. the disappointing son of Limond and Homage reappeared at Kensington. He is no reformed character and is one of the many New Zealand-bred horses in Australia who are unlikely to call for much favourable comment from the enthusiastic boosters of Dominion bloodstock.

Mr. A. E. Cooper simply cannot keep out of the news. On Monday he was so disgusted with the showing of St. Constant in the Hobartville Stakes, that he sold the colt for £1 to trainer J. W. Cook. At least that is his story and he sticks to it. When challenged subsequently he said that the colt, who cost 500 guineas as a yearling and is still a maiden, was not worth two bob to him. Cook formerly trained St. Constant for Mr. Cooper, who has of late trained him himself. St. Constant reverts to Mr. Cooper when his racing career is over, probably for £1.

According to the Melbourne "Age"' Flood Tide is a big, strong-looking horse and bears a striking resemblance to Home Rule, a champion steeplechaser who raced Jn Melbourne soms jrear« ago.