Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954), Sunday 9 November 1941, page 8


SKIPTON STABLE SECRECY

RESENTED BY PU3LIC

Sydney jockey W. Cook re-turns to scale after Skipton's

Cup win.

MELBOURNE, Saturday.-After the series of stable bulletins that he was on unlikely starter. Skipton's convincing win in the Melbourne Cup was received bitterly by sections of the Flemington

race crowd.

To a direct question after the Cup, Mr. J. J. Kitson, husband of Skipton's owner, denied that stable warnings were intended to induce a "something-to-nothing" offer from a person who had die colt running for £25,000.

"I know nothing about that end of it/' he said.

"My trainer told me the colt had j pulled up badly after bis Derby win, and that he woud bot make an immediate decision as to his starting in the Cup.

"Skipton did welt over the week-end, and when the trainer told .Je that he was ail right I backed him for £8000.

"I got nothing from anybody associated witt, an Investment."

CRITICISM

A leading Sydney owner said:

Ctaclng in Australia has come to a pretty pass when the public cannot be tolù outright whether a Melbourne Cup horse ls going to

run.

"It makes it worse that Skipton

won.

"There is so much secrecy now about champion horses that the racing public does not know where

it tanda.

'They are entitled to know lt a Derby »"".nner Is tb be a Cup

starter.

"The Derby winner ls usually the chief <~up pick with the racing crowd, but" nobody knew until within lees than 12 hours of the running of the Cup whether Skip-ton woul'l run."

RUN IN RAIN

The Cup was run in pouring rain. Some jockeys said it made the going greasy. Others said their reins became slippery

In the circumstances. Skipton's1 runaway win by two and a half lengths In 3.2S3-only 2|sec. outside Wotan's record-was a great performance.

X coincidence was that Skipton is trained by J. Fryer, who won with Wotan.

There has rarely been a Cup with so marv swift changes In

running. |

THREE HORSES BOLT |

Three horses bolted In the race. Jockeys said this was due to rain

greasing their1 reins. I

The first to dash away from the field was Patencia.

Gaillard had led past the Judge's box the first time from Patencia, but when they reached the mile and a quarter Palencia Jumped away to a four lengths break on the field.

Beresford steadied him down after two furlongs, but before they reached the seven Tranquil Star dashed away with F. Shean.

Shean said: "I couldn't hold her. She simply took the blt and I had no control."

LAUREATE HEADSTRONG

Tranquil Star had no sooner gained a big lead with half a mlle to go, when Laureate shot to the

front.

His jocfexj, H. Badger, said: "He simply took control, and away he went. Of course^ it spoiled his chance.

"Laureate led Into the straight with two lengrths to spare, but I never believed he could win under these conditions.

"He faded out a long way before the finish." _