EPSOM CONTEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23780, 7 October 1940, Page 5

EPSOM CONTEST

HIGH CASTE TRIUMPHS FOOT INJURY OVERCOME RING LOSES ABOUT £20,000 (By Air Mail) SYDNEY, Oct. 0 Reviewing the contest for the Epsom Handicap at Randwick, the Sydney Sunday Sun to-day says:— "Trainer ,1. T. .lamieson did not decide to start High Caste in the Epsom Handicap at lt:uidivi»k yesterday until 10 minutes before the A.J.C. Derby was run—2.4B p.m. Less than an hour later High Caste had proved himself one of the greatest horses to have raced in Australia, having overcome a serious foot injury and won a prize of £2250. Jeering Remarks "A small section of the crowd made jeering remarks about High Caste's lameness, but when the horse had cooled down and was walked about outside Ills stall he was undoubtedly lame When taken into his box, he winced whenever he put his injured foot to the ground and his attendants had some difficulty in dressing him. Jamieson, who was standing close to the horse, then ordered that High Caste be taken straight home, and the foot placed in hot water to relieve the soreness. "High Caste, who had bruised the inside of his heel, probably through galloping on a stone on Thursday morning, was treated by the Randwick veterinary surgeon, Mr. V. E. H. Davis, all Thursday afternoon, Friday and yesterday morning. Mr. Davis was the first attendant to reach Janiieson's stables yesterday morning, and, although High Caste was taken to Randwick before the first race, there was no certainty of his starting In the Epsom until Mr. Davis had made a final examination just before (lie Derby. Because High Caste seemed to he walking freely after he had been saddled, big hackers took a risk about liis condition and bookmakers reported that they lost at least fjo.ooo over his win.

Disadvantage Early "High Caste felt the disadvantage of his heel trouble in the first few furlong,s. Bartle told Jamieson that the horse could not stretch out, and at the half-mile he thought that he was a 100 to one chance. Then, suddenly, Hiffh Caste was galvanised into action. He shot forward as thought he had just, joined In. and, although he had to make his run wide on tho outside at the home turn, he had ranged close to the leaders at the furlong post. For a few strides, High Casto looked like winning easily, but Mildura, who had shot through the centre of the field, staged a great finish, and ran High Caste to a neck. "St. Constnnt, who most racegoers thought had lost his speed, and could not show up at any distance less than a mile and a-quarter, ran one of the finest races of his life. He began even slower than usual. He was tailed off early, and was still last at the home turn. Then Coutts pulled him wide on tho outside and St. Constant produced one of the most remarkable finishing efforts seen at Randwick for years.

"Katanga, who was fourth, finished almost as fast as St. Constant. There was little between them at the home turn, and on his Epsom performance Katanga seems certain to win a race before the close of the A.J.C. carnival. Red Thespian, the oldest horse in the Epsom Handicap, ran one of tho best races of his career. He was well placed all the way, and finished a close fifth. Buzalong looked a possibility when he ran into sixth place at the turn, but he lost a little ground through having to race around tho leaders. He was still a place chance at the furlong, but dropped back to eighth at the finish."

AJAX WINS AGAIN TRANQUIL STAR SUCCESSFUL (Received October 6, 5.5 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Oct. 6 The chief events at the Victoria Racing Club's October Meeting at Flemington yesterday resulted: — MELBOURNE STAKES, first £SOO, second i'l"."), third £75; weight-for-age, with penalties; t mile.—AJax, C. N. and M. H. Baillieu, A. W. Thompson and "Mr. Constable's" ch hj, fiyrs, by Heroic—Medmenham, I). 8 (H. Badger), 1; Positron, 7.3 (W. Elliot), ii; El Golea, 9.3 (N. Creighton), 3. Six started. Length; neck. Time, lm 38%5. EDWARD MANIFOLD STAKES, first £7OO, second £2OO, third £100; three-year-old fillies; weight, 8.7; 1 mile.—Tranquil Star, T. G. Jones and R. Cobden's ch f, by Gay Lothario—Lone Star (F. Tocknell), 1; Session (E. Preston). 2; Pauline (H. Badger), 3. Twelve started. Three-quarters of a length; length. Time, Jm 38V a s.