DOMINION WINNERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 89, 12 October 1937, Page 13

DOMINION WINNERS

EPSOM AND METROPOLITAN

(From "Vedette."')

SYDNEY, October 5. New Zealand-bred bloodstock re ceived a wonderful boost over the firs' two days of the A.J.C. Spring Meet ing, when Gold Rod won the Epsoir Handicap and Sir Regent the Metropolitan. Mr. J. Donald would be de lighted by the posthumous success oi his imported sire. Chief Ruler, whose sons scored such meritorious victories Gold Rod's win in the Epsom was £ triumph for expatriated New Zealanders, for he is owned by Mr. E. J Watt, is trained by George Price, and was ridden by M. McCarten. All oi these men began their racing career ir the Dominion, and are now completelj entrenched in New South Wales. Mr Watt is still abroad, and did not see his horse win at Randwick, but G Price had the happy task of sending him a cable. NO DOUBT NOW. Before the race there was some doubl about Gold Rod's ability in a big field but in the running everything came his way. He jumped out clear of the field at the start, settled down in a handy position, and McCarten brought hint outside two horses turning for home He was then steered down the centre of the course well clear of his opponents, and a furlong from home it was a matter of by how much he would win. He was followed home by the lightweight Mohican, who would have won nine Epsom Handicaps out of ten. The Melbourne mare Evening Mist, whe was unlucky in the early part of the race, struggled on into third place. Outside of. Gold Rod the feature oi the race was the silencing of Talking, For no apparent excuse, about three furlongs from home, he faded right out, finishing up in the middle of the field. His rider, D. Munro, stated after the race that he met with no interfer ence, and failed simply because he had had enough and could not go on. The best performance of the others was that of Tuckiar, who, from a bad last at the five furlongs, was a fastfinishing fifth. A KEEN TUSSLE. The finish of the Metropolitan, aparl from the-big monetary value, had racegoers right on their toes. About a furlong from home Sir Regent and the hot favourite, Silver Standard, drew clear of the field. With 100 yards to go Silver Standard had a slight advantage, but Sir Regent was challenging strongly. With O'Sullivan on Sir Regent and D. Munro riding their hardest the two horses went neck and neck to the winning post, Sir Regent scoring victory by inches. The races was cleanly run, with both horses in favourable positions from the start to finish. Two lengths away there was an almost as equally stern contest for third place between Vaalmore and Old Rowley. Old Rowley had come from practically last at the turn, and was finishing in a most spectacular fashion. Hie effort was so good that he was immediately seized on as one of the most likely lightweights for the Melbourne C The settling over the Epsom Handicap and Metropolitan was all against the bookmakers, who reported a payout of round about £50,000, The connections of Sir Regent were good winners, for they supported the double early at long odds. Individually there were no very big winners, but several parcels of £5000 were reported. Silver Standard would have been a worse result for the bookmakers, but not to a very great degree,; for during the last few weeks they have been covering their liabilities by supporting Silver Standard in the Metropolitan. THOUSAND GUINEAS COLT Colfort, who figures in the field for the Nursery Handicap at Masterton 3ii Thursday, will be the first horse to aarry the colours of Mr. W. Devon, of Masterton. Mr. Devon will be well known to many for a piece of good fortune he had last year, and he is showing his practical interest m. racehorses by venturing out as an owner. Colfort is a bay colt by Melfort (son of the Fhalaris horse Colorado)- from the imported Spearmint—Colonia mare Columbia, the dam previously _of the New Zealand performers British Columbia and Barbacan, and of Barbette, winner of the V.R.C. Oaks, Abbots Lad, winner of numerous events on the flat and over hurdles in New South Wales, and Record, winner of the A.J.C. Gimcrack Stakes last year. At the Sydney sales last Easter Mr. Devon paid 1000 guineas for this youngster, the highest price that a New Zealander has given for a youngster m Australia for many a long year. TURF NEWS IN BRIEF Entries for the Rangitikei Racing Dlub's Spring Meeting, to be held on Dctober 30, are due at 9 o clock this evening. Acceptances for the first day of the Wellington Racing Club's Spring Meeting close at 5 p.m. on Friday. Nominations for the Auckland Cup, Railway Handicap, Summer. Cup, Racing Club Handicap, Grandstand • Handicap, King's Plate, and Clifford Plate it the Auckland Racing Club s Sumner Meeting close at 5 p.m. on Friday. Weights for the C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap are due to appear next Tues3ay. The two-year-old Salmagundi—Love Lake colt Piastre, who is due to have lis first outing at Masterton this week, las been sold by his trainer, T. R. George, to Mr. J. L. Cheesman, the iwner also of Alunga. Lindrum, the maiden winner at Hastings on Saturday, is a promising chree-year-old bay gelding by Siegfried from the Mystification mare Taleteller, hence he is a full-brother to 2hat and a half-brother to High Court and Bradman. He is owned by his breeder, Mr. T. White. The committee of the Franklin Racing Club has decided to offer £2000 in stakes for its Annual Meeting next March. The amount is £500 in advance of last season. The Franklin Cup will be worth £500, which is a record for the clubTwo of the fastest two-year-olds in training at Hastings, Gay Son and [var, were not raced at their home :ourse on Saturday, but they are in the Masterton field, and they are also nominated for Trentham. Gay Son, who is to contest the Wellesley Stakes next week, is the Beau Pere colt out }f La Moderne who was made favourite and ran fifth at Marton. Gay Peggy, who is to make her Jebut in the Maiden Stakes at Masterton. is a four-year-old mare by Royal Pointer out of the Cape Horn —Peggy Ford mare Miss Peggy, a fullsister to Helen Ford. She will carry the same colours as Helen Ford, those sf her breeder, Mr. C. A. Cameron. Royal Pointer, who has been used on i number of mares in the Wairarapa in recent years, is by Royal Stag. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. 'G.H.C."—Wellington Autumn, March 17 and 1.9; Auckland Easter, April 16 and 18.