STATESMAN WINS MELBOURNE CUP

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6755, 7 November 1928, Page 7

STATESMAN WINS MELBOURNE CUP

Strephon Runner-up

EASY VICTORY IN EXCELLENT TIME

THE BANKER FINISHES LAST Australian Press Association. Received Tuesday, 7.20 p.m. '• MELBOURNE, Nov, 6. The weather was delightfuly fine fotho Melbourne Cup day. There was an enormous attendance, including the Governor-General and State Governors. The Cup seratchings were: Texile, at 12.36, Bacchus 11.37, Ramulus 11.50, Kavalli 11.55. The first prize in the cup is £9563. Migrant was fifth early in the Cup Hurdles but led at the last jump and won nicely and was also successful at Moonec Valley recently and was ridden by E. 'Ramage. Switzerland on the outer rail, was prominent throughout the Highweight Handicap and won nicely. The New Zealand Paonui, was unplaced. Lady Deneb led early in the Nursery but Moirawa finished fast. Now Hope was some distance back early but led into the straight in the Yan Yean Stakes, beating the fast-fin-ishing pair Prince Voil and Cairncross. The win..or is trained by the former New Zealander Stan Reid and was ridden by J. 0. O’Brien. Extortion was always prominent and won the Steeples easily. He made a very promising showing and also scored at Moonco Valley recently. He is owned and trained by the amateur rider Claude Grice, and whs ridden by R. Inkson.'. - Results:—

MELBOURNE CUP, a sweepstake of t 30 sovs.; vith 10,000 sovs. added money; two miles. STATESMAN, 8.0 (J. MunrO) 1 STREPHON, 7.6 (R. Howes) ~ 2 DEMOST, 6.12 (R. Mcdhurst) 3 Seventeen started. Time, 3.32 J. Sectional times: First four furlongs, 53secs; next four, 50J; the succeeding four, 49J; final four, 50J; last six, 1.15 J; Anal mile, 1.40. Tho time ia three-quarters of a second outside the race record. How the Cup was Run, Statesman was drawn in the middle of the field but won the 6up easily. It was the smallest field for 50 years. The rider, J. Munro, who had previously scored on Windbag, was given a great ovation on returning to scale. Tho winner was one of the first horses backed in the race, and was a bad horse for the bookmakers, as he was extensively coupled with Maple for the double. He was bred-by his owner and is trained by W.. Kelso . Ho ran sixth in the Cup last year. When the field had settled down, Tho Happy Warrior led tho way past the stand from Dion, Strophon, Balmerino, Epilogue, Alfred the Great, Oatendale, Allecret and States men, with Canning Queen and Demost last.

At the mile, Strephon was only 9 length behind The Happy Warrior.. Others then prominent were Dion, Bas merino, Oatendale, Mondiago and Epi logue, while Statesman was moving ,up Strephon took tho lead at the six fur longs and at tho half mile was just in front of Balmerino, then came A 1 fred the Great, Ottoman and Statesman, with Demost still a long way back. f

Strepbon led round! the turn and was first into the straight from Statesman and Balmerino. Statesman took charge below tho distance, and ridden right out, won by four lengths, the third horse being three lengths away. Then came Balmerino, Winalot, Canning Queen, Epilogue, Oatendale, Allecret, Dion and Mondiago. The lass two were The Happy Warrior and The Banker.

Munro stated he had a clear run oa the inside and went outside only tw« horses. Howes stated Strephon pulled hard early in the race but tho winner was far too good. Demost was a long way back ‘early, but met with no interference, and came home strongly. CUP HURDLES, H miles ■ MIGRANT. 10.9, .. L .. . / 1 FRED BROWN. 10.5, ...... 2 IDLE TIME, 9.12 ~. 3 Won by half a length, the same distance 'between second and third. Nine started. Blast was fourth. Time, 3.34 3-5. RAILWAY HIGHWEIGHT. 6 furlongs SWITZERLAND, 9.6 .. .. 1 COROMANDEL, 8.2 2 SOUTH AUSTRA, 9.3 3 Won by three quarters of a length, a neck . Red Sea was fourth. Time, 1.135. Twenty-six started. NOVEMBER NURSERY, 5 furlongs: MOIRAWA, 8.0, .. ..* * 1 GLAIVE, 7.3, 2 ELLESDEE, 8.0 ..' 3 Won by half a length, three quarters of a length. Ileen Cello was fourth. Time, 1.35. Nineteen' started, YAN YEAN STAKES, 1 mile; NEW HOPE, 7.10, ........ 1 PRINCE VIOL, 0.7, 2 CAIRNCROSS, 7.5, 3 Fourteen started. Won by a neck, half a length. Time 1.401. Durability was fourth. CUP STEEPLES, about two miles. EXTORTION, 10.5 1 ORAL TREATY, 9.7 ......... 2 ORANGE PARK, 9.2 3 Won by four lengths, a length between second and third. Eight started Valbroy was fourth. Ancient Mariner fell and Bushlaw and Sir Frewin were pulled up. Time, 4.7.