AUSTRALIAN TURF

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25172, 9 April 1945, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN TURF

MAGNIFICENT WINS AGAIN SYDNEY, April $ Magnificent, a handsome colt by Ajat, proved himself the season's outstanding two-year-old by racing away from the oppositioi to win the Champagne Stakes on a rain sodden track on the third day of the Aus tralian Jockey Clab's Autumn Meeting a' Randwlck yesterday.. In four starts hi haregistered three wins, his earlier successebeing in the Breeders' Plate and the Sires Produce Stakes. Although still a little green In his races Magnificent had no difficulty in running pasi the speedy Agincourt filly Courtship to win untroubled after conceding her about sis lengths' lead at the half-mile. The highlyrated Double Remove filly Jamelie met with barrier mishaps which presented her effective participation in. both the Sires' Produce and the Champagne Stakes. The Sydney Cup winner Craigie, a maiden performer until six months ago, scored his first win at weight-for-age in the Australian Jockey Club Plate. Russia was second and Flight third. The three placings were the same as in the Sydney Cup. Craigie, who will now be trained for the IfMo Melbourne Cup, • led throughout and had to beat off a strong challenge by Russia over the final hundred yards. Flight, who has lost her former brilliance, and has failed at weight-for-age this autumn, was well beaten. She will now be trained for the long spring handicaps

The nine-year-old Katanga, leading presentday stake-winner of the Sydney turf, rati probably his last race when he finished fifth m the A.J.C. Plate. He will be istired to the stud. Katanga has raced for seven seasons, running in 88 races and winning: 22 for £17,004 in stakes. Thirteen of his successes have been at weight-for-age. Accession, A.J.C. St. Leger winner, made a dismal showing. Craigie's success, although meritorious, is regarded as a poor tribute to Sydney's present weight-for-age standard. Results:—

CHAMPAGNE STAKES, sweepstaker of £ls each, with £2OO added: two-year-oldi: 6 fur. —Magnificent, 9.6 (J. Delaney), 1; Courtship, 9.1 (J. Thompson), 2; Moongalba, S.lO (J. Coutts), 3. Four started. Three lengths; six lengths. Time, lm 16VaS. A..T.C. PLATE, sweepstakes of £lO each, with £ISOO added; weight-for-age: 1% miles. —Craigie, 9.0 (J. Duncan), 1, Russia, 9.0 (J. Coutts). 2; Flight, 8.12 (J. Thompson), 3. Six started. Three-quarters of a length; four lengths. Time, 3m ll%s.