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PERTH CUP TO MADDINGTON
OWNER'S AMBITION
'REALISED
A Romance of the Turf
(BY "CORINTHIAN.")
Maddington, the only horse directly descended from on English sire!
end mare in the field of 17, won the Victory Perth Cup at headquartersl
yesterday with the greatest possible ease. He won by six lengths from
Gold Patois, who races in the same ownership, while Lord Treat, who was!
a course sensation in the betting, and who finished better than anything
else in the race apart from the winner, was third.
In a sensational Cup, in which one of the runners was later ordered
away by the stewards for tests taken by the club's veterinary surgeon, the
race was made memorable by J. Marshall's daring and successful bid for
victory on the winner, and the record time made by a horse ;ho is
trained by LE. Hodgson, rider of Fernridge when that horse made the
previous record for the big race.
-The richest of all Perth Cups
provided a remarkable romance of
racing.. For 23 years Mr J. H.
Cumming, of Boyup Brook, has had
an ambition to win the Cup and
when Dame Fortune did turn in his
direction her smile was warm.
The winner of the Cup of
£3,000 yesterday was originally
bought for only £40, and was later
re-sold to Mr Cumming for
350gns. When he offered other
owners a half-interest in Madding
ton they smilingly declined. Mr
Cumming has certainly had a cheap
horse in the Cup winner, and in
addition to the Cup has won other
races with him.
As for. Gold Patois, Mr Cum
ming's other place-getter in the
Cup, he purchased him in Adeloide
for a mere 35gns.
There was a link with the
"golden days" of Cup history in the
result, too,- as the winner was bred
by the veteran owner and sound
judge, Mr P. A. Connolly. He did
not back Maddington but drew him
in a sweep, and had the thrill of
watching the victory of the second
Cup winner he has bred. The other
was Jolly Cosy. Mr Connolly won
the Cup with horses he either owned
or part-owned seven times.
The Cup race was a repetition of
the old story of a lightly-weighted
older horse easily beating those with
heavier weights over two miles. With
only 7Tst, or 301b 'under weight-for
age, Maddington fairly romped home
by a wide margin. Most of those
behind him were weary and merely
plodding at the post.
In one of the most cleanly run
Cups we have seen and with the
ýeld spread out over half a furlong,
the big-striding Maddington had
plenty of galloping room. He settled
down early, ran his own race and
the fast early pace suited him.
There were no furlong-to-winning-
post thrills, and it was one of the
quietest Cup finishes on record.
There was no bubble of excitement
as the field straightened up for home,
as even then it was clear to everyone
that Maddington had the race in
his keeping.
CAUTION TO THE WINDS.
When the field bunched in a heap
at the half-mile and Maddington
made the dash that won hif the
race there was a thrill, but soon it
was clear that the other runners be
bind the leader were done with.
Marshall had daringly thrown cau
tlon to the winds and was making
the most of his mount's feather
weight. It was a masterpiece of con
fident riding and a dramatic climax
to the big race.
Only five years ago Hodgson won
the Cup as a rider on the nine-year-
old Fernridge. When he did 'so he
cracked the record and made new
time for two miles in this State of
3.241. Yesterday Rodgsen, now' s
trainer, won with the seven-year
old Maddlngtqn in 3.23 for the jour
ney. Once again it has been'demon
atrated that stayers can be produced
on the short reaches of the beaches
for wins at two miles.
Little Marshall, who rides com
fortably at 7at, was wreathed in
smiles when he wheeled Maddington
for the return to the judge's box. He
had pulled up when the others were
still being reined in, and with a clerk
of course holding Maddington's bridle
Marshall happily trotted the winner
back to scale.
Marshall would have raised his
eap to acknowledge the cheers, but
he had his hands full in holding in
Maddington. The winner had his
head thrown high and his ears
cocked as though he understood per
fectly. It was his great day.
YODVARA LAME.
Behind the place-getters the tired
"also rans" lined up to return to
the mounting yard. That staunch
old stayer, Yodvara, was the
"tragedy" of the race. He was lame.
He had run his usual honest race,
but broke down at the half-mile. He
struggled on gamely but was done
with.
Gallant Smithie gave of his best,
as he always does, but weight
anchored him in the straight. He
had every chance but the winner had
a terrific pull in the weights and
Smithle, who conceded him two
stone, could not make any impres
sion in the run home.
Earl Mond, too, had appeared to
have a winning chance at the turn
but he could not come on. It was
lift to Gold Patos .to lead the chase
after Maddington in the straight. It
was the second time in recent weeks
that Mr Cumming's horses, who are
in different stables, had finished in
the same order of first and second
In a race at headquarters.
One of the big surprises of the
race was the last-minute demand on
the course for Lord Treat and Mad
dington. There was a flood of money
for Maddington, reminiscent of the
confident course backing of Fern
rldge, while Lord Treat was backed
so heavily that he hardened to equal
second favourite with Sorcery and
Maddington.
Iord Treat seemingly had no
chance at the turn, but h afinished
stoutly. He easily passed the tiring1
Earl Mond and Smithie to gain third!
money.
Only a thorough stayer could have
won as Maddington did. The first
half-mile took 49sec, the second half
mile 51-sec, the third half-mile
524sec and the last half-mile 50tsec.
There was never any loafing and on
the day the best stayer won.
MUGGY HEAT.
More people, visit the birdcage
nowadays and enjoy the parade inl
that enclosure than formerly. There
were crowds round the stalls of the
various runners and later, when
the Cup candidates came into the
mounting yard, all were showing thei
effects of the muggy, stifling heat.
The horses sweated freely.
Bigger crowds have seen the Cup
but it was a great attendance,
nevertheless, for victory year and it
was a happier crowd, more given to
enjoying itself, than had been the
case in the war years. The crowd in
the leger lined the fence and when
the parade, in order of saddlecloths,l
started on the course there was a
big overflow from the main stand
and the lawns were practically hid
den from view.
There was a cheer for Smitlh.e as
he took his position, seemingly "tine
honoured," at the head of the can
didates as topweight, and all :-the
horses went sedately up the straight,
particularly Yodvara, the "old gen-;
tleman" of the field. He was the
least affected by the importance of
the occasion, and he seemed bored
by the whole proceedings.
There were no vigorous prelimin-j
aries and soon the field was at thei
barrier which is used only once a
year. There was the usual small!
crowd of spectators from across the
river at the machine, and as the,
horses began to line up a faint breeze
ruffled the flags on the grandstand
and blew lightly frona the west.
The track was firm, fast going and
the scene was complete. A stillness
settled over the great crowd and
then the pattern of colour on the
top of the hill broke line and the
big race was on.
FALSETTO-FRONT RUNNER.
Kondinin, Falsetto, Flaming Mon
arch, Air Plare, Maddington and
Smithie were the first to catch the
eye from a good start, while Ease
wold was second last, but going down
the riverside the bold-galloping Fal
setto, taking the bit hard, forged
to the front. Sallur was trying to re
strain him but the hard-pulling
chestnut wanted his head.
Falsetto led up the straight, first
time, from Kondinin and Yodvara,
both of whom were hard held, and
right behind them were the three
year-olds, Flaming Monarch and Air
Flare. Maddington was still with the
leaders and Gold Patois was there,
also Lord Treat. Smithie was in the
ruck, and Sorcery was near the rear
with Gay Parade.
?alsetto had made the first half
mile a cracker and he was still
bowling along in front a. mile from
home. He was weakening fast how
ever, and soon after crossing the
brow of the hill Yodvara dashed
past.him. The old stayer was at
tempting front-running tactics again.
As he "went" Maddington moved up
and kept him covered. Kondinin was
still handy and so was Gold Patois.
Smithie had moved up in a handy
position, and it could be seen that
the field was bunching fast.
LEFT IN FRONT.
Before the half-mile Yodvara
broke down and Marshall, on Mad
dington, found himself in front. It
was a time for rapid decisions and
Marshall took the chance and let
Maddingtot have his head. The
field had been bunched behind the
leader,; but as Maddington clapped
on the pace the others floundered.
Already the race was won.
Round the turn Maddington had
a clear lead from Gold Patois,
Smithie, Bobby Breen, Earl Mond,
Lord Treat and Air Flare, and on
straightening up the light-weight
went right away from his field. Gold
Patois had Earl Mond and Smithie
covered for second, and Gold Patois
had no chance with the winner.
Inside the distance there was
promise of an interesting finish be
tween Earl Mond and Smithie for
third place, but suddenly Lord Treat
loomed up. He quickly passed that
pair to run third. Both Smithie and
Earl Mond weakened badly under
weight within the furlong post.
Air Flare, one of the two three
year-olds in the race, was sixth, just
behind Smithie, and Gay Parade,
who had been second last early, was
seventh at the post. Easewold was
never a danger and Sorcery was a
disappointment. He did not raise
great hopes at any stage. Flaming
Monarch, Kondinin and Bobby
Breen all weakened and Falsetto had
"bellows to mend" at the finish.
BEST BACKED HORSE.
Maddington was probably the
best-backed Cup horse on the
course yesterday. The fluctuations in
the betting, in fact, were a last
minute sensation, and while Earl
Mond eased from 5's to 8's and 7's,
and Sorcery from 7 to 2 to 5's, Lord
Treat and Maddington entered
strongly into the final betting.
Lord Treat hardened from 8's to
4's and 5's, and Maddington from
10's to 5's. Smithie for the first
time became outright Cup favourite.
Maddington was backed early for
the Cup at 50 to 1 straight-out. His
win will take thousands out of the
ring, but the irsult to those fielders
- who had ante-post doubles books
would not be so bad. Other horses
s were far worse for them in the Cup
- so far as doubles were concerned.
SIn the overnight straight-out mar
ekeet Maddington was backed at 12j
to 1, 12's and 10's, and many prom
-inent backers will share the £7,400
afor which the horse was supported
at the final discussions.
WINNER'S CONNECTIONS.
To Mr Cumming, owner of Mad
dington, goes the credit of picking
out the Cup winner as a good horse.
He liked Maddington after seeing
him run second to Scutate in a mile
and three-quarter race at Belmont
Park last winter, and on securing
SMaddington he turned him over to
Hodgson to train.
Mr Cumming has .been an owner
for more than 20 years and he was
a firm supporter of the South-West
and Great Southern meetings,
when the annual round was quite
an event in those areas. He
has also supported the few wartime
meetings and once he walked Gold
Patois, who was second in the Cup
yesterday, 180 miles from Boyup
Brook to Mt Barker to race. Gold
Patois, it seems unnecessary to add.
won his race.
Mr Cumming has won his first
Perth Cup, but it is not a new ex
perience to Hodgson, who won as a
rider on Pernridge. Hodgson then
made an ambitious start as a trainer
with his team at Premantle, but it
was not until lately that he acquired
good horses," including Golden Ath
-lete, for his stable.
CONFIDENT TRAINER.
Hodgson always held that Mad
dington would stay any journey and
he told Mr Cumming continually that
Maddington was not only the best
stayer here, but in Australia! Even
that confident statement did not
alter Mr Cumming's idea that Gold
Patois was his best Cup horse. In
the final result he had the two best
stayers in the race.
The connections of the winner
had their health toasted after the
Cup by the. committee of the
W.A.T.C. at a traditional functionl
and were congratulated by the chair
man, Mr W. . Winterbottom. "It
is hard enough to secure a Cup win
ner at any time," said Mr Winter
bottom, "and for Mr Cumming to
own first and second is surely
enough to make us all envious."
Hodgson declared he was so ner
vous when Marshall tcok his mount
to the front a long way from home
that he "almost fell off the stand."
However, Marshall's good judgment
was vindicated, and he deserved
every credit.
Marshall was engaged for Mad
dington many weeks ago. He thus
had his first winning ride in the Cup
and has completed the Railway Stakes
and Cup double-but not in the
same year. He won the Railway
Stakes on Bobby Breen last year,
and was to have had a good ride
on Earl Mond in the Cup at the
same carnival. Suspension, how
ever, prevented the successful light
weight from keeping his engagement
in that Cup.
BRED AT MADDINGTON.
Maddington was bred and reared
in the district of that name and in
the good paddocks of the stud farm
of Mr Connolly, who believes thatj
the Nicos, who generally were not a:
success on the turf, are better horses I
with age. That certainly seems to ,
be the case with Maddington. The ]
plain-looking, rangy bay is out of i
the English mare, Jess, who was I
bought for racing in this State by i
Mr Connolly. She is by Black Jes
ter from Ring Up, a mare by Sun
star from Hello, by Teufel from ]
Prepare, by Pioneer.
Nico was a bay horse by Bache
lor's Double from Bithynia, by De- 4
clare from Phrygia, by the Mel
bourne Cup winner, The Victory,
from Royal la by Kendal Royal. It
is not a fashionable pedigree, but
now, some years after his death, Nico I
has been honoured as a sire by the I
deeds of Maddington. I
Maddington has now paid the pen- I
alty for success and Mr D. C. Bra- I
ham, in the weights declared last 4
night for the Imperial Stakes. has
allotted him 8.10, which is a stone
and 101b on the weight he carried
in the Cup. Maddington, in the
ImperiaL is within 41b of Smithie,
who is equal topweight with Lord
Treat.
NO RIDE
Vic Hartney, the visiting Victorian, I
rider, had an easy time at head
quarters yesterday. He was on the
course but did not have a ride and
today he will return to Melbourne.
When Hartney declined to have al
mount Gay Treat was scratched.
Other course withdrawals from the
Cup were Beaufine. Portrach and I
Ragtime. .
. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . ..
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