PHOTO-FINISH IN AUSTRALIAN CUP

Wanganui Chronicle, 11 March 1947, Page 5

PHOTO-FINISH IN AUSTRALIAN CUP

Melbourne March 9. Sydney James, winner of the last Perth Cup, and Field Balloon staged a most exciting finish in the Australian Cup. It was not until the judge hau called for a photo finish that he decided in favour of Sydney James by half a head. Then th e winner had to withstand a protest for interference, whicit wa s dismissed after a fairly lengthy healing. Sydney James bore out in the run hom e and carried Field Balloon with him. Ellipsis tired in the last furlong and was live lengths away third.

Sydney James is an aged gelding who was sold a few months before the Perth Cup.very cheaply. He was intended for a hunter, but his owners changed their minds with happy result and kept him to flat racing. Since then he has won the Perth Cup and Australian Cup. Field Balloon displayed his best form for some months, but Cherie Marie, Codicil and Drama, the favoured candidates, performed poorly. Attley scored an allvhe-way win in the C.M. Lloyd Stakes, in which Flight could only finish third. His form today showed that Attley is the best miler in Victoria at present. There was a large attendance for the concluding day and the weather was perfect. Details:— Autumn Hurdle (21 miles)—Kookaburra, 10.0 (B. Smith), 1; Foxard, 9.4 tW. Aldridge), 2; Azores, 11.9 (L. Meenan), 3. Four started. Three and a-half lengths; twe and a-half lengths. Time, 4.455. Gibson Carmichael Stakes (seven furlongs).—Chanak, 9.8 (A. Breasley), 1, Better Days, 7.0 (D. Snart), 2; Two Kings, 8.3 '(S. Ralph) 3. Nineteen started. Neck; length. Time, 1.295. C.M Lloyd Stakes (on e mile).—Attley, 9.0,(J. Purtell), 1; Don Pedro, 9.0 (R. Heather), 2; Flight, 8:12 (J. O'Sullivan) 3. Reperio was scratched. Two and a-half lengths; ten lengths. Time, 1.40. Australian Cup. I • (Of £3250; about 2tniles 330yds). SYDNEY JAMES, 712, Beresford ..... 1 | FIELD BALLOON, 7.7, Purtell ..... 2 ELLIPSIS. 7.7 ffßadger 3

Scratched: Russia and Knockarlow. Half-head; five tojjg.ths. Time, 3.501. Leonard Stakes (six furlongs).— Four Freedoms, 8.11 (Badger), 1; Burnevoke, 8.13 (G. Eourgoure), 2; Solray 7.11 (J. Crilly), 3. Thirteen started. Two and a-quarter lengths; three-quarters of a length. Time, 1.153.

Farewell*Handicap (11 miles).—Silver Rocks, 8.2 (Crilley), 1; Peter Blank, 8.3 (G. Moore), 2; Rubontine. 8.1 (W. Williamson) 3. Thirteen started. Two lengths; length and threequarters. Time 2.51.