AUSTRALIAN RACING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21181, 31 October 1938, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN RACING

AJAX’S TWELFTH CONSECUTIVE WIN MELBOURNE CUP FORM United Press Association—By EJect’lc Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 30, 6.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, October 30. The weather was warm and sultry for the races and there was an excellent attendance. Early Bird, trained by the ex-New Zealander, J. T. Jamieson, had an easy win in the Wakeful Stakes. Talkalot finished well and Lady Montague had every show. Early Bird cost its present owner 2,300 guineas at Alan Cooper’s dispersal sale.

Aurania owned and trained by Phar Lap’s mentor H. Telford, finished brilliantly to win the Maribyrnong Plate. Aurania was bred by the owner. Aspire ran a good race and was beaten in the last few strides. Zonda made a fair effort, but Merry Smile tired. Beaucaire and Beaumari were never dangerous. The owner refused a big offer for Aurania after the Valley race last week when it ran second to Esperanto. Ajax had little difficulty to win the Mackinnon Stakes. This is his twelfth successive win and his full record is 19 wins and three seconds from 22 starts. The stakes won total £23,075. Royal Chief made a game effort but made little impression on the winner in the final stages, but ran a good Cup trial. Silenus created a surprise in securing third place. Nuffield had a perfect run in the Derby and never left the rails. He was all out to beat Tempest who experienced his first defeat in the last nine starts. Adios was a moderate third. K’ngdom finished fairly and Netherlea was outclassed. Nuffield’s owner Mr C. B. Kellow, the trainer J. Holt and the jockey, D. Munro, won the Derby previously with Hall Mark. Nuffield's record for 12 starts is eight wins, one second, one third. The total st|akes won amount to £17,000. Opinions are divided concerning the merit of Nuffield’s win as regards the Cup. St. Constant finished brilliantly in the Cantala and is now liable to be rehandicapep up to 101 b in the Melbourne Cup. Judean had every show. Mohican finished strongly. Amigo made for a fair effort. Gold Rod proved a big disappointment and was last.

Spear Chief beat the fast finishing L’Aiglon in the Hotham Handicap. Catalogue with a good effort was a close third. L’Aiglon has now enhanced his Melbourne Cup prospects. Queen of Song again disappointed. Results were:

WAKEFUL STAKES, ' Of £750; 1 mile. Early Bird, 9.0 (E. Bartie) 1 Talkalot, 9.0 (F. Shean) 2 Lady Montague, 9.0 (J. O’Brien) .. 3 Fifteen starters. Won by two and a half lengths; one and a half lengths between second and third. Ronolive was fourth. Time —Imin 38sec. MARIBYRNONG PLATE, Of £1500; 5 furlongs. Aurania, 8.5 (E. Preston) 1 Aspire, 8.5 (F. Dempsey) 2 Z'nda, 8.7 (A. Breasley) .. 3

Twenty started. Won by half a neck, a neck between second and third. Merry Smile was fourth. Time —Imin Isec.

MACKINNON STAKES, Of £1000; 11 miles. Ajax, 9.0 (H. Badger) 1 Royal Chief, 9.0 (E. Bartie) 2 Silenus, 9.0 (H. Skidmore) 3 Six starters. Won by two and a half lei'.jths; one and a half lengths between second and third. Marauder was fourth. Time—2min slsec. VICTORIA DERBY, Of £3000; li miles. Nuffield, 8.10 (D. Munro) 1 Tempest, 8.10 (R. Medhurst) 2 Adios, 8.10 (M. McCarten) 3 Nine starters. Caragona led until the straight entrance. Nuffield came through on the rails, withstanding a strong challenge from Tempest and won by one and a quarter lengths, with two and a quarter lengths between second and third. Kingdom was fourth, and Netherlea seventh. Time—2min 34isec. CANTALA STAKES Of £2500; 1 mile. St. Constant, 8.3 (W. Cook) 1 Judean, 8.0 (W. Elliot) 2 Mohican, 8.13 (D. Munro) 3

Sixteen starters. Won by one and threequarter lengths; threequarters of a length between second and third. Young Idea was fourth. Time—lmin 37isec. HOTHAM HANDICAP, Of £700; li miles. Spearchief, 8.12 (M. McCarten) .. 1 L’Aiglon, 8.6 (D. Munro) 2 Catalogue, 8. (F. Shean) 3 Sixteen started. Won by a neck. The same distance between second and third. Plectrum was fourth. Time —2min 3Usec. Nuffield’s Performance The Melbourne correspondent of “The Sydney Sun” commenting on the Victorian Derby says: “Nuffield’s performance was not that of a great three-year-old. It took him too long to perform the task against mediocre colts.” Jockey Munro however, is well satisfied with Nuffield’s performance, and declares he won well after getting into trouble in the straight and was going comfortably at the finish.

Most turf critics plump for Royal Chief for the Cup, others for St. Constant, Marauder, Kingdom and L’Aiglon.

ST. CONSTANT REHANDICAPPED MELBOURNE CUP STARTING TIME United Pres? Association - ts> Hjiprrru Tp|p<?rqnh r'nnvriehi MELBOURNE. October 30. St. Constant has been rehandicapped 91b for the Melbourne Cup as a result of winning the Cantala Stakes. Nuffield will be examined at 2 o’clock to-morrow when a decision will be reached as to whether he will start in the Cup. Ajax was timed to run the last half mile in the Mackinnon Stakes in 46i seconds. The last four furlongs in the Derby was covered in 472 sec. The Melbourne Cup will start at 3.30 p.m. New Zealand acceptors for minor events are: Railway Highweight.—Top Row, Raeburn, Beaufrere, Gaylot. Yanyean Stakes—Prince Quex. Flying Chief, Amigo, Top Row, Conveyor.