BRABAZON HANDICAP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27450, 25 July 1950, Page 7

BRABAZON HANDICAP

SPORTING

Dress Rehearsal For Winter Cup Race SHAR BIAN EARLY FAVOURITE By the Sporting Editor The Brabazon Handicap, the principal race on the flat at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting at Riccarton next Saturday, is generally regarded as something in the nature of a dress rehearsal for the Winter Cup, and for that reason it carries more interest than it otherwise would. Several horses have won the Brabazon Handicap—Winter Cup double and Soneri collected it two seasons in succession. In 1946 she won the Brabazon with 8.8 and the Cup with 8.13 and in the following season her weights were 10.13 and 11.4.

Among those who are engaged in both events this season is Swift Fox, who has 9,3 in the Brabazon and 9.7, with a 7.7 minimum, in the Cup. A six-year-old horse by Foxbridge, Swift Fox has been placed in two of his last three starts. On the first day of the Hawke’s Bay meeting, carrying 9.10, he was beaten by a nose by Silver Blue, 9.5, in the Heretaunga Handicap, of seven furlongs, and on the. second day, with 9.13 he was third to Da Vinci 10.0 and Spandan 8.0, who ran a deadheat and beat Swift Fox by a nose. Swift Fox’s last win was in the Islington Handicap, of one mile, at the Auckland meeting with 8.11 from Star Fox, 7.13, and Intervene, 7.10. Distinction and Detention are also in both races, and of the two Detention is preferred. Made each-way favourite for the Members’ Handicap at Trentham, he was a disappointment, but his record for six races prior to that was five wins and a second placing. The Defaulter gelding won over a mile at Wingatui in impressive style. Shar Bian’s record for his last three races is two wins and a second placing. He won the Himatanga Hack Handicap, of six furlongs, at the Foxton meeting, was second to Destination, beaten by a long neck, over seven furlongs at the Manawatu meeting last month, and won the Stewards’ Handicap, of six furlongs, at the recent Trentham meeting from Consulate and Finola. Shar Bian is a three-year-old by Bulandshar. This does not by any means complete the list of horses who are in both races, but at this stage Shar Bian is the most freely discussed horse for the Brabazon Handicap, a win in which would not entail a penalty for him in the Winter Cup.