VICTORIAN EVENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20690, 9 October 1930, Page 11

VICTORIAN EVENTS.

AMOUNIS AGAIN DEFEATED. WISE FORCE'S SECOND WIN. PRINCESS BETTY SHOWS PACE. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] MELBOURNE. Oct. 2. It was expected that, the racing at Moonee Valley would throw now light on the proa pects for the spring carnival, but from that point of view the meeting was a little dis appointing. The defeat of Amounis in the Quality Handicap was unexpected. The conditions attaching to this race are rather unusual At one time the Mooneo Valley club included a weigh t-for-age race in the programme for its second meeting in September, but to nvoid a clashing of interests between the principal clubs this race was changed to a handicap. So that tho high-class performers would not be weighted out of the raco and thus rob it of much of its interest tho maximum weight was fixed at 9.0. Factors Against Amounis. The result was that a horse of Amounis' calibre was ablo to get in at more than a stone less than he would have had in an ordinary handicap. Just imngino the wiseacres rubbing their hands and saying to themselves, " Well, here is something toward the Christmas holiday." Other good judges wero not so sure that Amounis was a racecourse certainty and they based their judgment on one or two important factors In the first place they argued that by his defeat of Amounis in the Memaie Stakes tho former Quecnslander, Wise Force, had established himself as a high-class racehorse capable of holding his own with the best over a short course at least. Then they pointed out that Moonee Valley racecourse is built on small lines and lacks the wide stretches of Flemington and Caulfield. Amounis is a long-striding horse who requires plenty of room to stretch out, and it was thought by many that he would not ho seen at his best on the Moonee Valley course. Wise Force Wins Brilliantly. In spite of all those considerations there was no hesitation in sending Amounis out ft warm favourite, with Wise Force tho only other horse in the large field seriously considered. Tho raco vindicated the judgment of the sceptical ones, as Wise Force won brilliantly and Amounis missed a placo. Not only did the champion son of Magpie fail to finish in tho first three, but also ho tailed the field after going a couple of furlongs and passed only a few moderates in tho ruD homo.

It may bo that tho hoodoo associated with so many horses who have got within striking distance of Gloaming's stake-winning record hns settled on Amounis, but it is a little early to consign this brilliant fellow to the has-been brigade. Before these notes appear Amounis may have vindicated himself in the October Stakes at Flemington, and his form in that race will give some indication regarding his prospects in tho Caulfield Cup, in which ho will carry 9.8. (Amounis won the October Stakes.) Red Sea's Poor Form. Since the Valkyrian mare Red Sea arrived from New Zealand she has been more or less in tho boom. Students of form remembered that at the Dunedin meeting in May Bed Sea comfortably defeated Waterlino in tho Birthday Handicap, run ovor one mile and a-half. In that race thero was a difference of eight pounds in favour of Red Sea, and on tho second day of tho meeting when Waterlino met Red Sea on six pounds better terms ho was only ablo to beat her by a neck over ono mile and a-quarter. With bo many moderate stayers racing in Molbourno Rod Sea appeared to stand out ns a good one, especially as Waterline had won tho Caulfield Mnlakoff Stakes and tho Williamstown Underwood Stakes in such brilliant fashion. Red Sea was given a race at Aspendalo Park and tho manner in which she was supported by her connections forced Melbourno racegoers to tako notico. She started a warm favourite, but ran a poor raco after having every chance. This caused Red Sea to recede in public favour and eho was the rank outsider for the Tullamarine Handicap, ono mile and three and a-half furlongs, at Mooneo Valley. Sho showed plenty of pace in tho early stages of the raco, but failed to come on when tho pressure was applied and finished last. It is obvious from her appearance and the form sho has shown so far that she is a long way from her best. Probably she is in need of a spell. Smart Chief Ruler Filly. Australians havo heard a good deal regarding tho doings of the progeny of imported Chief Ruler and thoso present at Moonee Valloy on Saturday wero interested in tho appearance of Princess Betty, who is by Chief Ruler from Marceline. As a two-year-old this filly raced in the colours of G. W. Now, of Awapuni, and sho proved very smart, winning the Spring Nursery at tho Now Zealand Cup meeting and the Palmerston North Stakes in December. In the last-named raco sho defeated the brilliant Paganelli. Sho started twice in Molbourno prior to taking her placo in tho first division of tho Ailsa Handicap, but her form had not been very striking. Apparently the filly required time to settle down in her new surroundings, for in the race on Saturday sho put in a paralysing run and defeated tho pacemaker. Girouette, by a head. It was a most impressive performance and stamps Princess Betty as a filly of clnss. She has 7.5 in tho Canlala Stakes, ono mile, to bo run on Victoria Derby Day.

Another New Zealander, Rational 11., owned by Mr. C. Boylo, of Wellington, was among tho starters in tho race won by Princeas Betty, but ho failed to show up at any stngo of the race. Of course this was to bo expected, as ho i 3 being trained for distance races (ho i 3 in tho Caulfield Cup) and he has not been long off tho steamer. NOTES FROM EVERYWHERE. TRACK AND STABLE GOSSIP. Mr. ET. Shaw has been appointed starter for tho Whangarei Racing Club. The Auckland horseman E. Mnnson has boon engaged to ride Arajean in tho Pahiko Hack Handicap at Otaki on Friday. Arajean displayed smartness as a juvenile last season, and, if she is relatively as good as a three-year-old as she was as a two-year-old, she should bo ono of tho hardest to beat. Tho Ellerslio trainer A. Robertson has made a start 011 a three-year-old gelding by Flying King from Chatenny. His charge was turned out for a long spell after being imported from Sydney by Mr. E. W. Alison, jun., last year, and ho has como in somewhat in the rough, so that lie will take some time to reach racing conditiou,

Afler Thursby's poor exhibition in the Trial Hurdles on the first day of the Auckland spring fixture, his owner, Mr. A. S. Ilidewood, decided not to persevere with him. 110 m;ido a present of him to the Blenheim trainer T. R. Goorge, who hns taken him to Otaki with tho other membors of his team.

Mr. T. H. Lowry'a horses, Commandant, Great Charter, Chryaology and Courtesy loft by train last evening on their return to Hawke's Bay. They travelled from Groenmoadows to Aucklnnd by motor-float, but trouble on (Tie way made tho trip a long ono and tho horses were set back, running poorly at Avondale. However, they recovered for tho Auckland meeting, whero they won four racos. The only member of tho team who did not raco at EUerslio was Courtesy, who contracted a cold.