AUSTRALIAN TURF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22401, 23 April 1936, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN TURF

RANDWICK REVIEW GOLD ROD'S MISFORTUNE SILVER RING AND CUDDLE [FROM oun OWN COIUIKSrONDENT] SYDNEY, April IS Highlights of the third day's racing at Randwick were tho successes of Cuddle and Silver Ring in tho two weight-for-age races and Gold Rod's unfortunate defeat in the Champagne Stakes. Mostly Mr. R. J. Murpliy has been unfortunate at Randwick, Oratorian being his only winner prior to Cuddle—and Oratorian died inimediately on his return to New Zealand—hot he has certainly had a change of fortune this time. Cuddle's All-Aged Stakes success was amazing. She appreciated the bad track and beat a good field pointless. As in the Doncaster Handicap, she had the race won at the half-mile, settling the pacemaker up to that point, the smart Hadrian, with the greatest of case. From there she gave M. McCarten an " armchair ride." Thoro was a good struggle for second place between Regular Bachelor and Gay Blonde, the Queenslander, after again being slow to begin, just beating Gay Blonde. Hall Mark, a pronounced favourite, could not go at all on the track. McCarten's experience on Gold Rod supplied one of those remarkable differences so common in racing. Tho big colt was at long odds on; in fact, most bookmakers simply f/et on a one, two basis, accepting Gold Rod as the winner. Gold Rod, a wonderful beginner, tried to drive himself out with those powerful hind legs at barrier-rise, but they slipped from under him on tho greasy track. Ho lost lengths and was naturally quite unbalanced. This caused him to travel badly all through the race and it was obvious a long way from home that ho was not going to fill a place. He suffered no serious injury so far as could bo seen, but Avas hit in one eye by a flying clod, having the eye practically closed. Success of Tonga Tho race Avent to Tonga, the Rampioti colt raced and bred by the studmaster, Mr. H. A. Taylor. Tonga ay as runner-up to Gold .Rod in the Breeders' Plate, carrying a 51b. penalty, whereas Gold Rod was unpenalised. Tonga did not begin particularly Avell in the Champagne Stakes and he had to bo a good colt to score. Valcare's daughter Siren led to within a few yards of the pos-t, but Tonga caught her for a head victory. A. E. Ellis adopted tho right tactics on tho day to win Avith Silver Ring in tho Cumberland Plate. Tho track Avas cutting up badly and mostly horses in or near the front were winning. Accordingly Ellis allowed Silver Ring to stride along. Ho had matters mostly his own way until reaching the half-mile, Avhen Lough Neagh closed on him. Tho New Zealander was always going better, however, and he Avon easily. Master Brierly, Avho had been last early, came through in tho straight to defeat Lough Neagh, proving himself to bo still a good " mudlark," Lough Neagh Aveakening into third place. There is a 3.15 time limit on the Cumberland Plate, but Silver Ring set such a good pace that he Avon in 3.2J for tho mile and three-quarters. Before the race there was some agitation to reduce the time penalty on account of the heavy track, but the officials declined to do so, rightly, as it proved. The stake of £1250 is reduced to £SOO if the race is not run in 3.15 or under. This was done to make the event a test and not a burlesque of a crawl and half-mile sprint. Fidelity Consistent Gold Rod and Fidelity played their parts at Randwick with the utmost consistency. At Flemington last month Gold Rod beat Fidelity pointlessly into second place in the Sires' Produce Stakes. Tho race of the same name at Randwick on Saturday worked out in the same Avay. At Flemington Fidelity put up a 101b. penalty and won the Ascot Vale Stakes without a great deal of trouble. At Randwick she put up the penalty again and won just as well. Gold Rod shot out of the barrier at Randwick on Saturday and made all exhibition of his field. Fidelity was as definitely second from her stable mate Siren, who hung on surprisingly well over the seven furlongs. Fidelity made short work of her opponents in the Faster Plate, emphasising onco again that Gold Rod is a super-colt. The A.J.C. St. Leger provided a good finish, Allunga following up his Melbourne St. Leger success. With a dead-heat with Homer in tho A.J.C. Dorbv, Allunga now is the leading three-year-old of the season. His lease to his present OAvners, Messrs. Milligan and Williamson, expires this Aveok,, and he returns to Mr. S. Oakes, who bought him very cheaply as a yearling. The classic event on Saturday was a muddling affair, Allunga being left in front early and then over the last seven furlongs was worried by Nalda, with Wykeham waiting for the last run. DoAvn the straight Wykeham produced bis determined challenge, but Allunga stuck to his guns and won by a short head. He is a solid and determined colt. Valiant Chief Kicked * Heritor beat a smart field of sprinters in the La Perouse Handicap on Easter Monday, but possibly he Avas lucky - to beat Valiant Chief. The Melbourne colt ran a great race into third placo. He was badly kicked at the post and was slowly away, yet ho made a determined run. His injury was serious enough to cause a cancellation of further engagements. Tho crack three-year-old filly Cereza was well l.\ncied in this event, but she was caught on one of her off dayi, showing no dash. A promising two-year-old, Jubilee Son (Constant Son—Lile Queen) won the Wentworth Handicap second division on Easter Monday. After being very badly away from tho barrier, lie finished on to beat tho good Magpie colt Talking/ Jubilee Son is one of the staying typo for later on, judged on this performance Kuvera< at long odds, beat his stablo mate, the well-backed Gay Blonde, in the Tocal Handicap on Faster Monday Kuvora had been galloping well on tho track, but did not show his form in the Doncaster Handicap, even though ho was left slightly. Accordingly Gay Blondo was given preference in the Tocal Handicap, but Kuvera led the field from tho half-mile, giving nothing else a look-in. The Coogee Handicap, on tho third day, gave the bookmakers a great result. Musk Deer, tho Avinnor, \vas not even entered in most volumes, returning a Avin dividend of Avell over a century on the totalisator. The third day was a good one altogether for the bookmakers, avlio had not fared well on the first and second days. The double, Cuddle-Contact, was not a bad one, however, for Cuddle was not introduced as a Doncaster Handicap hone until very late, and bookmakers' liabilities thus were small. There were few big winners over tho double, the maximum 111 one hand being €3OOO. Tho Nassau—Warstar mare Collstar made a bold bid for the City Handidicap on Wednesday, but found the Queenslander Spear Prince much too good. Spear Prince confirmed his third in tlie Sydney. Cup beyond doubt*