BIG WINNINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 639, 16 April 1929, Page 12

BIG WINNINGS

GET-RICH-QUICK HORSES STRIKING EXAMPLES Little wonder that the financial pinnacle to which thousands aim is the owning of a good racehorse. The get-rich-quick manner in which they bring comparative fortunes to their lucky owners is an attraction that few men can withstand, but in the reflected glory of these enormous wins is lost the fact that only one in a thousand or more can get hold of a champion. For rapid wealth. the case of Strephon is hard to beat. He did not win a race till last August, yet in the seven months since then he has earned for his owner £16,145 in stakes alone (wrote a Sydney critic the day before the conclusion of the racing at Randwick). And there is the rich A.J.C. Plate for decision before the colt retires from the turf till next spring, assuming that Mr. Sol Green does not carry out his announced desire to take him to England. Strephon, of course, is an exceptional case. But take at random the two-year-olds Parkwood and Holdfast. Parkwood did not start racing till October. and has won £7,821. Holdfajst had his first race in November, and since then his owner has collected £3.769. Deceptive Winnings This pair of youngsters, however, are interesting in another way than the rapidity of stake earnings. They prove thq lack of stake-earning power in suburban events, for Holdfast, with liis five wins, is over £ 4,000 behind the Victorian with his four wins. Three of Holdfast’s wins were valued under £ 300. Parkwood’s lowest was £7OO for the Maibyrnong Trial, while he even got £6OO for his second in the V.R.C. Sires’ Produce Stakes. W hich shows that stake winnings are not always a true guide to respective ability. Despite Holdfast’s failure In the Champagne Stakes, there is not one racegoer in Australia who has seen the youngster who would claim him less than half as good as Parkwood. In fact, his admirers still reckon him the most brilliant youngster in Australia. Tables of the winnings of the horses mentioned (with Honour included) are: STREPHON

Won Aspendale Three-year-old ~ \A °n V.R.O. Stand Handicap .. .. Won V.A.T.C. Herbert Power Stakes Won V.n.C. Derby . Second Melbourne Cud L8S 700 4,610 2,000 1,827 1,080 756 2,474 1.275 \\ on AVon Won Won Won Won _> R C. Governor’s Plate . . \ .R.C . 5r>t. Leger .R.C. King's Plate . W.F. Chipping Norton Stakes A.J.C. St. Reger A.J.C. Cumberland Stakes .. Total * PARK WOOD Won V.R.C. Maribyrnong Trial .. r -P® butant Stakes.. N\ on \ .R.C. Maribyrnong Plate .R.C. Sires’ Produce . . . . Third Ascot Vale Stakes . . . non A.J.C. Champagne Stakes .. 16,145 700 1,100 2,006 600 150 3,265 Total . . . . Won Won Won Won Won HOLDFAST RosehUl Nursery A\ arwrek Farm Greystanes Nursery StXSr iCk Farm Kirkham A.J.C. December Stakes *' \v arwick P arm Fairfield. Handicap ISO 191 1.159 1.940 299 HONOUR Won C.J.C. Welcome Stakes .. . Second G.N. Foal Stakes .. .. J. on A.R.C. Royal Stakes . . .. £3,769 49(3 Won " Pinngton Stakes A.J.C. Sires’ Produce .. .* 600 4.903 Total . . £6,943