OLD ROWLEY’S CUP SUCCESS

Evening Star, Issue 23726, 6 November 1940, Page 6

OLD ROWLEY’S CUP SUCCESS

WON ON HIS MERITS BEAU VITE AND BEAULIVRE FAILED TO STAY THE JOURNEY MELBOURNE, November 6. (Received November 6, at Ip.m.) The 1 Herald 1 says: “ A croivd of 90,000 saw the Melbourne Cup, which in many ways was one of the most remarkable on record. It was won by Old Rowley, a rank outsider, who has won a race since 193 S and whose racing days were nearly over. Old Rowley is a gift horse seven years old, with bad joints, but he won on his merits in one of the cleanest run races for the cup. He covered as much ground as any other horse in the field, and he sustained a very long run to win. He was one of the last five at the mile, and was still only eleventh m the field of 20 at the half-mile. From there he made up ground on the outside of the field. The favourite, Beau Vito, finished a close fourth. A slight check in the last furlong kept him out of a place, but Beau Vite was not as good a stayer as his backers believed, as, even allowing for the check, he could have won if he had been good enough. Beaulivro, who finished fifth, could also have won if he had been a true stayer.”

The ‘ Telegraph ' sayss “ Munro, the rider of Maikai, claimed his mount would have won but for meeting with a check two furlongs from home. Tidal Wave proved himself the best of the three-year-old stayers.” RECORD INVESTMENTS - The totalisator investments for the second day of the V.R.C. meeting, £127,376 15s, were a record. Pooley Bridge has strained a ligament and will not race again. He was one of the greatest hurdlers of recent years.. Old Rowley will be retired at the end of the spring campaign, but is likely to be a rurilier in the Williamstown Cup.