AUSTER WINS DERBY ON OPENING DAY OF BIG FLEMINGTON CARNIVAL

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 November 1950, Page 3

AUSTER WINS DERBY ON OPENING DAY OF BIG FLEMINGTON CARNIVAL

MELBOURNE, Nov. 4 (Recd. 6.5 pm).—Yesterday was Derby Day at the V.R.C. spring meeting at Flemington. Comic Court showed that he is in top form by easily winning the L. K. S. Mackinnon Stakes, a standard weight-for-age race, run over a mile and a-quarter. In the centre of the field for seven furlongs, he moved up smartly at the home turn to take charge with a furlong Io go. From that stage he never looked like being caught. Chiquita finished strongly tc> run second, but was giving the winner too great a start. Beau Gem made all the early running and hung on well to finish third. Comic Court is engaged in the Melbourne Cup with 9.5, but the extra distance is likely to find him out. Chicquita has lib more in the Cup, but judging by her finishing ettort yesterday and in the Caulfield Cup, in which she finished second after meeting with interference, she should not be troubled by the extra distance. She has been well backed for the Cup and after her performance today will firm for the Cup. She should be very hard to beat on Tuesday. Playboy, favourite for the Cup, did not run up to expectation in the Mackinnon Stakes but should do better on Tuesday, when the distance and the conditions will be more in his favour. The New Zealander Bhutan finished sixth today and is not likely to lose

any friends for the Cup. Although he has yet to run over two miles he has indicated by his finishing efforts in his Melbourne races that he should run out the two miles.

Alister, a very firm favourite, easily won the Victoria Derby from Midway and Londonderry. Alister will be ridden in the Melbourne Cup by J. Purtell, who will have to declare a few pounds overweight. Although Alister won very impressively he is not likely to firm for the Cup as the field he beat was not high class. In addition racegoers do not fancy three-year-olds carrying over weight-tor-age in the Cup. Lucky Mascot, Rumyle, Matterhorn, Prince Hussar, Glen lan and Midway, other starters in the Derby, are also engaged in the Cup, but their prospects on Tuesday appear on yesterday's form to be very remote. Thracian Lad by his win tn the Hotham Handicap will now firm for the Melbourne Cup. He finished on well and held off the fast-finishing effort of Hoyle. Thracian Lad has 11b more tn the Cup than he carried today. Hoyle finished well and will be suited by the extra distance of the Cup. Saxony was a disappointment and will have to improve to have a chance in the Cup. Details of results:—

The Wakeful Stakes for three-year-old fillies (one mile).—True Course, inc 141 b pen. 7.4 (W. Williamson) 1, Weka inc 71b pen. 8.11 (R. Hutchinson) 2, Niaranga inc 71b pen. 8.11 <S. Ralph) 3. Thirteen starters. Betting 6 to 4 True Course (favourite), 7 to 1 Weka, 5 to 2 Niaranga. Half-length; neck. Time 1.381. Maribyrnong Plate, for two-year-olds (five furlongs).—Jara 8.10 <J. Purtell) 1. Fergari 8.10 (D. Munor) 2, Diplomacy 8.10 (G. Bougoure) 3. I Eleven starters. Betting: 12 to 1 Jara, 14 to 1 Fergare, 6 to 4 Diplomacy (favourite). Halt-neck; length and a-quarter. Time, 601 sec. L. K. S. Stakes (11 miles).—Comic Court 9.3 (J. Purtell) 1, Chicquita 3.9 (W. Williamson) 2, Beau Gem 9.3 (S. Dodd) 3. Nine starters. Betting: 7 to 2 Comic Court, 3 to 1 Chicquita (favourite), 40 to t Beau Gem. Length and a-quarter; head. Time, 2.251. Victoria Derby (Of £5000; 11 miles) I AUSTER, 8.10, R. Heather 1 I MIDWAY, 8.10, N. Sellwood 2 ' LONDONDERRY, 8.10, J. Gilmore 3 Betting: 7 to 4 on Alister (favourite), 25 to 1 Midway, 16 to 1 Londonderry. Three lengths; half-length. Time, 2.351. The Cantala Stakes (1 mile). —Ellerslie 8.11 (S. Ralph) 1, Spitfire 7.7 (N. Sellwood) 2, Gallant Rob 6.13 (H. McKenzie) 3. Ten starters. Betting: 5 to 2 Ellerslie (favourite), 10 Ito 1 Spitfire, 14 to 1 Gallant Rob. Neck; half-head. Time, 1.361. Hotham Handicap (1 mile 5 fur).— Thracian Lad 8.5 (A. Ward) 1, Hoyle | 8.3 (S. Ralph) 2, Bruin 7.8 (H. McCloud) 3. Fourteen starters. Betting: 6 to 1 Thracian Lad, 25 to 1 Hoyle, 16 to 1 Bruin. Saxony (9 to 2) was favourite. Length; half-length. I Time. 2.45.