A.J.C. SPRING CARNIVAL

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1929, Page 4

A.J.C. SPRING CARNIVAL

EPSOM & DERBY RUN TO-DAY NIGHTMARGH DOUBLY BACKED. PHAR LAP HOT DERBY FAVOURITE. TERI’S PARTY HAVE A GOOD AVIN. Nightmarch has been heavily backed in the Epsoin as well as in the Metropolitan Handicap, according to latest advices, and the New Zealander has been freely coupled at long figures for the double ’event. Resting secure in the hope that .if Nightmarch did win the Epsom they would be relieved of substantial wagers with fancied Epsom candidates, operators in Australia have been beguiled into giving long odds about the New Zealander for the shorter race, and they have been so inundated with big commissions that now a win for Nightmarch will be the worst thing that can happen to them. Best of luck to Nightmarch at all events, but he has tough nuts to crack in Gilt Edge and Adrian’s .March. #*. « * New Zealanders liiye been doing well at the "smalls” during the lapse in big racing prior to the A.J.C. carnival. -At the Menangle Park meeting on September 24, Teri (Romeo —Piraeus) won the Three Hundred Cup from a good field. Teri, who was top-weight with 8.8, ran the mile ip Imin 40-Jsec and beat some good winners in Linatic, Black Douglas, Amusement, Rosso, Tressillian, Kilperon and others. At the same meeting Wise Miss, an aged mare by Solferino from Kawaha, won .tJie’'Noviee Handicap from Student by- a head. Wise Miss was at double figures and ran the seven furlongs with Till in Imin 28scc. Statuary was backed and beaten in. the Three-year-old Maiden at the meeting, finishing fourth. At the Rosebery "ponies” on September 18, Lorient 11. (Lomond —Annie Laurie) won the first division of the Flying Handicap by a short neek from Sarinch and Merton. Lorient 11. was a warm order and under 8.12 ran the six furlongs Gfiyds in Imin 19Jsec —not bad time. o * * # •. Trainer F. McGrath stated at Randwick lately that the coal baron, Mr. J. Brown, contemplated sending Magnifico and Bob’s March to New Zealand to be operated bn for respiratory troubles by the Auckland veterinary specialist, Dr. W. C. Ring. Magnifico, ny the way, is the three-year-old half-brother to Windbag, who cost Mr. Brown 4000 guineas as a yearling. # o » i? By winning the Derby Phar Lap would not make racing history for rapidity of . improvement, but such a win would provide the first case in many years where the Derby winner was handled by a trainer outside the really successful few, writes Alan Dexter in the Sydney Daily Guardian.. Mr. Telford- trains ,at Kensington, and he has never been successful out of his turn, and to win the Derby with a horse he owns as well as trains would be a marked rise for him. Last season Telford was only 53rd on the metropolitan winning list with three wins, but a Derby win would attract such attention to him that he might never look back. Certain it is that he would receive greater recognition from big owners, for most prominent racing men, perhaps unconsciously, follow success and ignore the man whose luck has temporarily vanished. It would be a change to see a classic race won by a man who trains in a moderate way, for too monotonously do the big prizes go to the men who really do not need the money. The potential rise in fortune for Telford is probably all the more welcome to him because there have been no great building up of hopes until the last few weeks. There was no justification, for as a two-year-old Phar Lap was a moderate performer with no prospects of ever getting past very ordinary handicap company.

It was • not; until after the Warwick .Stakes that' Telford entertained hopes of possessing a champion. Prior to that race he told friends that he was running the colt merely to get an idea whether from, a Derby viewpoint it was worth while persevering, so the fast-fin-ishing fourth then must have provided an extensive, if'welcome, surprise. # . • i • Phar, Lap’s rapid rise is- another indication that. the extreme confidence that prompts owners of hundreds of pool horses to enter for the big sporting events is itot ahyays misplaced. Year after year it hqs been shown what added maturity can do to a three-year-old. This year it was Phar Lap who made the miraculous improvement that has carried him to Derby favouritism and equal fancy for the Melbourne Cup. But it might have been any one of the scores and scores of three-year-olds who, let alone start in Australia’s biggest race, might never win a race in any company with minimum weight. » * -/f It is reported that Eric Connolly, leviathan of Australia's punters, was a good winner over the Riccarton horse Nightmarch at Sydney Tattersail’s meeting at Randwick. Nightmarch was backed for the Spring Handicap from an outside price down to second favourite, and as. a, result of the four-year-old’s success it is believed that a huge sum changed hands. # # # # Writing about Teri’s win at Mcnangle, the Sydney' Morning Herald says New Zealand horses are favourites for the big handicaps at Randwick. Even if the Dominion representatives fail in these races their owners will not go home empty handed. Already several victories have come their way, and yesterday Teri accounted for the Menangle Three Hundred ? Cup. Teri had run a couple of good races at suburban meetings, and his form pointed to him having a wonderful chance yesterday. Racegoers were so convinced of his prospects that a number of them accepted a short price about him'immediately betting began. Teri's price, however, began to drift alarmingly, and a few minutes before the race as much as three points better was bet about him. Ho firmed a point, however, and those bookmakers who had accepted late wagers of big dimensions, were unable to offer any fair quotation. The quotation did not affect Teri’s display. He was one of the smartest to move, but .was momentarily headed once, and that was when Linatie began his run a little more than a furlong from home. There Black Douglas, who also had been prominent all the. way, again joined issue, and for the next 20 strides or so tho trio was abreast. Teri and Linatie fought out the last half-furlong desperately, the New Zea-

lander prevailing by a head, with Black Douglas two lengths further away... The feature of the betting was the strong demand for Vertoy, who was supported at an outside price on Monday for the Epsom Handicap. This move was all in favour of Teri and Linatie. Vertoy had every chance, but she could not run. down tlie placegettcrs at any stage, and finished fourth. Valhalla was close up, also Kinbally. * # # • With the Derby and Epsom run today, the order of favouritism for the two big races is of interest. Phar Lap has been heavily backed for the Derby, Carradale being next fancy a point further back, with still another point to Comanche and Honour. Then there is a big drop to Lorason, Sir Ribble, Toper, Cathmar, Nedda, Penthcus and Queen Nassau. Paquito, Gilt Edge and Nightmarch are almost equally supported for the Epsom, Adrian’s March and Don Moon being a point less fancied, and Loquacious, Habashon, Perception, Fuji San, Sion, Sir Christopher, Aussie, Figure and Bright Glow following in demand. THE JOCKEY CLUB STAKES. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. United Service. London, Oct. 3. The Jockey Club Stakes resulted: — Cyclonic I, Bosworth 2, Plymouth Hoe 3. Eight started. Won by a short head, a short head between second and third.