NOTES BY PHAETON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22543, 7 October 1936, Page 11

NOTES BY PHAETON

THE CRAVEN I'LATE RACE WITH A HISTORY MANY NOTABLE WINNERS An important race connected with the Australian turf is the Craven Plate, which was founded by the Australian ■Jockey Club in 1882 and has been run annually at tlie Randwick spring meeting for 51 years. When founded, the distance was fixed at a mile and a-quarter and the conditions standard weight-for-age, which remain unaltered. It is claimed that no bad horse has ever won the Craven Plate, and a glance over the list of 54 winners shows that many of the greatest horses who have figured on the Australian turf are included in the list of winners, namely, Carbine, Sir Modred, Abercoru (twice). Marvel, Wakeful, Cetigne, Gloaming (three times), Beauford, Windbag (twice), Limerick, Amounis, Phur Lap (three times), Chatham (three times) and Peter Pan.

Up to 1889 Trident's 2.ICU stood as the record, but in the following year Carbine's 2.7 took pride of place. At various periods in the interval fresh records have been registered and Phar Lap's 2.2} in 1931 now stands. This year's Craven Plate, which is set down for decision to-day. attracted a numerous entry, but various circumstances operating will affect the character of the field. Chief New Zealand interest will be centred in Silver King's prospects. Tin victory registered by the Silverado gelding in the Spring Stakes last Saturday was invested with brilliancy and he can bo depended upon to play a part in to-day's contest.

DERBY WINNERS SOME LUCKY PURCHASES The victory registered by Talking in the Australian Derby furnishes another page in connection with the interesting subject constituting the yearling lottery, for he was bought for the moderate sum of 120 guineas, and he stands out as a bargain of the salering. The sums for which Derby winners were bought at the yearling stage is always interesting, and a review of matters beaming on the Eandwick classic shows that a number of bargains are included. At the dispersal sale of the Middle Park Stud at Canterbury in the autumn of 1891 the Apremont—ldalia mare Fair Nell, in foal to St. George, was included in the collection submitted to auction and she was bought by Mr. Spencer Gollan for 575 guineas. The bay colt foal produced by Fair Nell as the result of her mating with St. George was subsequently named Bonnie Scotland and he led the field home in the A.J.C. Derby of 1894.

The year following Bonnie Scotland's success in the classic event at Handwick saw another colt entered with the lucky purchases. This was a little colt named Bob Bay, a son of the New Zealand-bred sire "Welcome Jack, who was bought when a yearling for the small sum of 35 guineas.

At a sale of yearlings at Melbourne in the autumn of 1917 a bay colt by The Welkin from the Eager mare Light was bought on account of Mr. G. 1). Greenwood for 230 guineas. In the spring of 1918 tho purchase appeared as a gelding under the nam© of Gloaming, to win Derby honours at Randwick and to subsequently capture tho New Zealand Derby and the Great Northern Derby. Prince Humphrey, winner of the A.J.C. Derby in 1928, was bought cheaply for 70 guineas by Mr. H. 11. Mackenzie at tlio dispersal of the Woodlands Stud, in New South Wales, in 1926. Transported to Auckland, tho Australian-bred colt developed attractive physique and when sold to Mr. C. G. Macindoe it was stated that the sum involved ran to four iigures. The winner's portion of tho Derby stake won by Prince Auinplirey was £7035. Phar Lap, winner of the A.J.C. Derby in 1929, was bought at.auction when a yearling for 160 guineas and ho cau be cited as one of tho greatest bargains of tho sale-ring. At three years old his winnings amounted to £26,794. Tregilia, winner in 1930, was bought nt auction when a yearling for 175 guineas. However, the man who bought tho Treclare colt at the youthful stage of his career was not to enjoy tho fruits attached to tho Derby victory. A certain incident that arose necessitated the colt being sold. The sum paid for Tregilia when sold at two years old was not stated, but what is known is that £7293 attached to his victory in tho A.J.C. Derby.

THE EPSOM HANDICAP NEW ZEALAND-BRED WINNERS New Zealand-bred horses have succeeded in leaving a very strong mark on the Epsom Handicap, one of tho most valuable races on the Australian turf. Dating from 1929, horses hailing from the Dominion have scored five victories, tho winners being as follows: si. lb. —*Nisr!itmnrcli, lyrs .. !) 1 1931 —■•Autopny, lyrs .. .. s t> 10:51—'Silver King, r>yrs .. 9 «> 1935 —Synagogue, lyrs .. .. S 31 1930—Cupris, oyrs .. .. 7 12 •Owned in New Zealand. PROMISING COLT PRINCE QUEX'S SUCCESS The win registered by Prince Quex in the Melbourne Stakes at Flcmington last Saturday introduces another New Zealand-bred colt as a promising candidate for Victoria Derby honourfe. Prince Quex, who was bred by his owner, Mr. W. R. Keniball, is by Lord Quex, roil of Lcmberg. from Princess Pat, by All Black, and it is said for him that'in tho matter of physique he is well up to the standard of the best of his ago seen out this season. Prince Quex is engaged in the Caulfield Guineas to bo run on Saturday, and ho appears to bo nicely placed to extend his record,