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CAULFIELD DOUBLE
Prospects For Candidates For
Jumping Races Discussed
TURF BOY AND HILLTOP
By "Malua"
' MELBOURNE, July 18.
gEVERAL prominent Australian Hurdle Race candidates
were given tryouts at Caulfield on Saturday, but the
racing threw little, if any, light on the first leg of the double,
except perhaps to discount the prospects of Turf Boy. Has
the Gay Lothario gelding slipped? He was made favourite
for the Leamington Hurdle, and the only time he flattered
his backers was when he momentarily loomed up at the third
last hurdle. The effort was short-lived, and he dropped
back.
FULLARTON, who roda Turi Boy,
'said that the gelding did not race
kindly, and ran down many of his jumps.
Despite Turf Boy's undoubted weight
carrying ability, and the claims made by
his admirers, that he has never been quite
so good as just now, it is questionable
whether he can win the Caulfield mara-
thon event under 11.5.
Dornford's stocks soared high after his
Leamington Hurdle victory. - The Wind-
bag gelding scored very easily, showing
pace combined with jumping ability. Dis-
playing plenty of dash, he quickly opened
up a gap of five lengths, and, continuing
his effort, Dornford was a comfortable
winner. F. Hoysted's smart jumper is
favourably treated in the big Caulfield
event with 0.4. Dummett was not seen
to advantage on Giant Killer, who gave
Durnford eight lengths' start from the
mlle. He came home strongly, and got
within a length of the winner. With his
excellent blood lines and fine physique,
Giant Killer should not be troubled to
see out 3i miles. The vital question
arises whether he is seasoned enough.
His finish on Saturday Impressed . me
greatly.
What Of Koke King?
( )NE of the keenest judges of racing in
^ Melbourne ls pinning his faith to
Koke King in the Australian Hurdle. His
nucí, omni!, v/ctb criiicisea xor ms nancii
ine of the Adelaide jumper, who covered
a. great deal of unnecessary ground, nnd
finished strongly In third place. Koke
King has not fallen below the high re-
putation that preceded him to Melbourne.
If there was ever a horse whose appar
ance would not attract backers, It ls
Koke King, but his Adelaide wins prove
that with him it ls "handsome, ls as hand-
some does." Whether Koke King can
rank with Arquebuse and Plstolier, who
gave South Australia the best possible
advertisement by capturing the important
Caulfield race, ls certainly open to much
argument. Smith, who rides Koke King,
considers him the best stayer in Aus-
tralia.
Pooley Bridge will not have another race
before the Australian Hurdle. Mel-
bourne bookmakers assert that if Pooley
Bridge goes to tho post, he is certain to
start favourite. With 12.3, or 21b. less
than he carried lo victory in the corres-
ponding race two years ago, the cham-
pion is nicely treated. Pooley Bridge's
performance suggests that he ls still a
force to be reckoned with. A. Poulsham,
part owner-trainer of Pooley Bridge, be-
lieves the gelding has a great chance of
repeating, his victory of 1936.
Davanthus' Form
"T)AVANTHUS' form in running second
to Pooley Bridge in the Doutta Galla
Hurdle points to his possession of a first
class chance In the first leg of tho Caul-
field double. This solid David gelding may
have reversed positions with Pooley
Bridge only for being hampered when the
tiring Heroic Chief rolled on to him near
the half-mile. Practically a second-rater
at this period last year, Wallace Drake
has suddenly come into the limelight. It
was a stroke of misfortune for his connec-
tions that the gelding went under to Dak
wood in the Grand National Hurdle. Mc-
Kee was disappointed In attempting to
force a passage on the Inside, and he had
to take Wallace Drake to the outside for
his final run. The magnificent manner In
which the big Drake gelding answered the
call won him many friends for the Aus-
tralian Hurdle, In which he ls nicely treat-
ed at 9.8. The extra distance will suit
him admirably, and he ls certain to be
running on strongly nt the finish. A bet-
ter horse than ever this Winter, Wallace
Drake looks Uko coming right Into his
own.
Laveur recently revealed good form, and
should not be without a chance at Caul-
field next month.with 9.2. This improv-
ing Sllvlus gelding ran sterling races in
the Grand National and Doutta Galla Hur-
dle races, In which he finished fourth and
fifth respectively. J. Mulcahy jun. has
certainly managed to Invest Laveur with
more determination than he previously
disclosed.
Dakwood nnlshed a long way back in
the Doutta Galla Hurdle, and his showing
left the impression that he is averse to
sticky going. Dakwood has been raised
only 61b. at Caulfield for his success in
the Grand National Hurdle, and the son
of Backwood may emulate the feat of
York, Arquebuse, and Pooley Bridge by
winning the Grand National and Aus-
tralian Hurdle races In the same year.
Hilltop's Prospects
TT1LLTOP gained greatly in popularity
for the Australian Steeplechase as a
result of his victory In -the Godfrey Wat-
son Steeplechase on Saturday. Little
Queen's brother displayed great Jumping
ability.. He fairly flung himself at the
fences, and cleared them in spectacular
style. He did not put a foot wrong, but
It wns risky Jumping, for he stood off a
ong way from some of the fences. "When
he settles down, Hilltop will go a long
way among the steeplechasers. It ls be-
lieved that his breeder (Mr. H. Gleeson)
expected Improvement with racing, and
that might mean that on Australian
Steeplechase day he will be better still.
Hilltop, who has only D.O, Inherits a full
share of Jumping ability from his dam,
Yellow Mountain, and he has the neces-
sary brilliance to raise him above the
standard of the ordinary plugger.
A. Driscoll'* Mount
A DRISCOLL, has been offered the
mount on Koko King In the Aus-
tralian Hurdle. He will ride either Wal-
lace Drake or the Adelaide jumper at
Caulfield next month.
Lady Treasure Schools
Lady Treasure jumped six hurdles In
good style at Flemington today.
Lucky Spray Destroyed
T UCKY SPRAY, a member of G. Red
JJ dan's stable, was destroyed yester-
day.
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