AUSSIE NOTES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 203, 10 August 1928, Page 2

AUSSIE NOTES

Hynanna for Melbourne, As some may be expecting to see Hynanna’s name mentioned in connection with coming events round about Sydney, it may be as well to remind them that it is not the intention to race him in that area. According to Sydney papers, he was landed there in good shape, without showing any ill effects from his sea voyage, and was going on almost immediately to Melbourne. His special mission is the Caulfield Cup, for which he has been given 9st., a quite sufficient load, with Gothic,. 9.7, at the top of the handicap. Mr. Kemball’s Hymestra "hiding is also in the Melbourne Cup "his burden being 8.11, or 151 b. less than Spearfelt, the 1926 winner of the event. Hynanna is, of course, likely to be given a trial in minor events before he takes on the big-monm' races. Melbourne Cup Backing. Speaking of the Melbourne Cup, latest press files to hand report Winalot, despite his 9.9 load, as having been backed so steadily from apparently the right quarter that he is now a distinct favourite at odds that look very short considering the race is still three months away. It is also stated that one of the charges of the ex-Maoriland trainer R. D. O’Donnell has come unexpectedly into the betting. This is a three-year-old, The Happy Warrior, by imported Great Star from Donna Maria, and the puzzle is to know what it is he has done to merit stable support, as he has as yet never started in a race. • • « Spearfelt for £20,000. Persistent rumours had gone abroad that Spearfelt was booked for the stud this season. There was a good deal of surprise, therefore, when it was reported from Melbourne that he had been heavily backed to win his second Melbourne Cup, no less than £20,000 being laid against him at the one sitting. This was the first move in his favour since the weights were declared. Evidently the backers think the horse will stand another preparation. He has not raced since he finished last in the St. George’s Stakes at Caulfield in February, but he has been doing work on the Caulfield tracks for some weeks. In the Melbourne Cup Spearfelt will, as mentioned above, carry top weight—9.l2. He had 9.3 when he won in 1926 in time which equalled the Flemington record for two miles, and he carried 9.13 to victory in 1927 in the Australian Cup. when he broke the Australasian