ALISTER WILL BE FAVOURITE IN MELBOURNE CUP TODAY

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 November 1950, Page 3

ALISTER WILL BE FAVOURITE IN MELBOURNE CUP TODAY

MELBOURNE, Nov. 6 (Rec. 6.30 pm).—After his easy win in the Victoria Derby on Saturday, Alister has become a firm favourite for the Melbourne Cup, to be run at Flemington tomorrow.

Alister is now at a much shorter price than before the Derby, due to his impressive performance and also to the poor display of the former favourite, Playboy, in the L. K. S. Mack inn on Stakes. Playboy disappointed his ownertrainer, Tommy Smith, and the jockey, Darby Munro. Smith stated that he had had some shocks since he had been training, but none as great as Playboy’s display. The horse had done extra well since his good race in the Caulfield Cup and he thought Playboy was a certainty on Saturday. Tie pulled up well and there was | nothing wrong with him,” he said. “On that form he could not win anything, let alone the Melbourne Cup.” Smith added that he hoped it was only one of his off days. Darby Munro said that Playboy did not stretch out at any stage of the race. R. Heather, who rode Alister in the Derby, said after he dismounted that the colt would win the Cup “by a street.” He, however, could not ride him in the Cup because he could not make the weight. G. Purtell, who will have the mount, expects to ride Alister about 21b overweight, but most racegoers expect Purtell to be a little heavier. It will be setting Alister a severe task to win at more than weight-for-age, but it will be in his favour that the field this year is not as high class as in former years. R. Heather will ride the New Zealander Bhutan in the Cup. Bhutan finished on well to run sixth in the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday. Hel has done well in Melbourne, but there ; is a doubt whether he has done sufficient work since his mishap to fit him for a strenuous Cup race. By his win in the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday Comic Court increased his stake-earnings to £32,092, the highest, of any horse racing at present. True Course, which probably showed his best form to date in winning the Wakeful Stakes, a mile race for

three-year-old fillies, on Saturday with a 141 b penalty, will start In the Oaks on Thursday and will then be spelled. She has won eight races in .12 starts. She cost HOOgns as a yearling and has now won £17,841 in I stakes. i Following are the final acceptors:— MELBOURNE Clip. (Of £12,500; two miles).

Comic Court .. 9 K Indian Chief .. 7 12 Sir Falcon .... 9 2 Silver Buzz .... 7 12 Benvolo 9 King Comedy 7 10 Dark Marne .. s Alister 7 6 Playboy 11 Morse Code .... *7 6 Chicquita .. .. 10 Potentate .. .. 7 3 Iron Duke .. .. s 9 Saxonian .. .. 7 4 Bhutan s s Purdey 7 3 Saxony Matterhorn .... 7 2 Thracian Lad « 6 Midway 7 Hoyle g rt Bruin 7 0 Dashing Beau H 4 Lucky Mascot 0 Peerless Fox .. s 3 Hum vie 7 0 Conductor .. .. S' 0 Gold Bar 6 10 Bold John .. .. 7 12 Prince Hussar 6 in Glenvue 7 12 Glenian 6 7