SPORTING NOTES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 75, Issue 6442, 5 November 1947, Page 7

SPORTING NOTES

THE MELBOURNE CUI' - NEW, ZEALAND-BRED HORSES IN DOMINANT POSITION

(By

“Old Rowley”)

Run yesterday afternoon, the 1947 Melbourne Cup was a triumph ■ for New Zealand-bred gallopers. Three horses bred in this country started in the race, and two of them filled first and second places. They were Hiraji (the winnbr), bred by the successful Matamata trainer G. Cobb, and the second horse, Fresh Boy (Revelation —Racefox by Foxbridge) which incidentally was the actual favourite on the day. Kerry Lad the third New Zealand-bred competitor was not disgraced although he could make no impression at the finish. The time for the race 3.28 was not fast, but Melbourne had a wet Cup day, and the going was holding. Always well placed, Hiraji challenged strongly in the straight to get the decision by a head, paying a handy return to supporters: he was about 12 to 1 in the' quotations of bookmakers in Australia.

The victory was a popular one, for the Nizami—Duvach horse has been most consistent, and the racing public have not forgotten that when owner F. W. Hughes had the opportunity of picking up easy money in Hiraji’s first acceptance through an Australian handicapper’s oversight in allowing the horse in at roughly 14 lbs below what he should have carried, Mr Hughes sportingly withdrew the horse rather than benefit from another man’s mistake.

Hiraji’s meritorious win yesterday is certainly going to further boost the stock of 'N'izami; which has gone from victory to victory as a sire since being sold by the Trelawney Stud to Australia. It was the culmination of two fine blood-lines, for Duvach, dam of Hiraji, is by the Dominion’s leading sire, Foxbridge, and such illustrious names as Son-in-Law, Pharos, The Tetrach, and Spearmint figure in Hiraji’s pedigree.

Things to. Come Although to date Bonny Fox has not been asked anything serious, high hopes are held that this one will graduate soon. There is a good class of hack engaged in the Melrose Hack at Ellerslie on Saturday, and whatever wins will need to be right on top. However, Bonny Fox is reputed to be very smart.

Should Race Prominently Aylesbury has been consistent in his races, and this Defaulter gelding from W. Clifton’s stable ought to be prominent in his division of the Melrose Hack Handicap; with 8.10 on a good track he should be able to keep up with the fastest of them. He is about due for a place.

On the Improve Last season Discovery created a deal of interest when worked on the tracks, but failed, to do justice to himself in races. This season he has been out a couple of times, and at Whangarei gained a minor placing. He is good enough to improve on this, and even if he fails at Ellerslie on Saturday should still be a possibility if taken to Te Rapa, for I have an idea that he may need plenty of racing to get him to top form.

Freshened Up Lola May is. not a bad sort. She failed at Rotorua, and one or two of the wise ones seemed to think she was going sour; they may have been right, too. Her connections elected to miss engagements at Cambridge on Labour Day, and the spell should have done her a deal of good. She may find the class hacks at headquarters too tough, but there is a stake in the offing for this mare, and it may be at Te Rapa if things do not go right on Saturday; so don’t cross her off yet: she has speed. Not Forgotten

The failure of Double Chance at the Mitchelson Cup meeting, after such a brilliant display at Te Aroha, caused some of the hasty ones to cross off the Nizami—Golden Hair galloper; but it may pay to give him another chance. Double Chance looks to be the type which would show to advantage on a good track, and he has the breeding. Easy Mile

To my way of thinking it will be much harder to win a division of the Melrose Hack Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday than the Milford Hack mile, and both Swanee and Aylesbury would seem to be better placed here. Of the others, Wonder Boy and Tatanga could be dangerous, but the field is not strong, and a good-class hack would meet no stiffer opposition on the country circuit.

Chance for Improvers A mile and three-quarters is always a bad jumping race for equines getup in years and lose their pace.. With the good . weather prevailing, fast times will be the order of the day at Ellerslie on Saturday, and although proved hurdlers are the safest mode of conveyance for totalisatorians, the likes of British Mint and British Talent, also Captain Jesse, may find the pace too torrid. The up-and-coming Snappy and Duncan should be sufficiently competent now to breast the sturdy fences, and With one or two others which are schooling well should take a lot of beating.

Risky Proposition Should all those higher in the handicaps take their place in the Allison Cup on Saturday, it will be one of the finest races for this trophy seen for some time, and this being the case it is apparent that such a time is not opportune to be taking risks. There has been a deal of speculation since the acceptances were published on Saturday, and already a whisper (which is rapidly becoming a shout) is about that Sir Bian will prove best on the day. This is not beyond the realms of possibility, and it certainly would be a popular victory with local sportsmen, but I think this is no time to be pitting such as Sir Bian against the likes of Foxwyn, Sylis, Chung Chong, Silver Lighting, Ascot Lad,

and maybe Foxfable. I do not say that the Lang Bian—Love of Silver gelding is not good enough, but a little thought may save a lot cf sorrow. He has raced only once this season.

May Be Right It will be a game punter who thinks he can sort out which of F. Smith’s team will win the Cambria Handicap, for they all seem to be good, and have improved a lot since last racing. However, reports suggest that Gay Coronach is moving along fast enough in his trials to trouble the best of the two-year-olds seen out so far, and the sports who are planning to invade Ellerslie for the sole purpose of supporting +/ie Coronachfc-IBonny Gay filly may be right in their opinions.