Starting in the next issue of the Joy of Horses we will be covering the Australian racing
scene. To give you a taste of things to come, we have a preview from our new
correspondent...
- Australian racing enters its premier time of the year when
the Spring Carnivals are conducted in Sydney and Melbourne in September and October. The
rich Group races are highlighted by Australia's richest race The Melbourne Cup worth $A2.6
million which attract the best available stayers from Australia, New Zealand and around
the world.
Both major capital cities conduct Group races, the major features highlighted by the
running of The Metropolitian and Epsom (Sydney) and the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup and
Melbourne Cup (Melbourne).
Twenty Two Group races will be decided in a six week period from two-year-olds to the
proven topliners. Australia has had many an overseas contender for the Melbourne
Cup(3200m) but this year we will probably see for the first time overseas runners in the
Caulfield Cup(2400m) and The Cox Plate(2040m).
Some of the overseas in horses that have arrived for this years Group events include
Faithful Son, from the Godolphin stable in England. Taufan's Melody trained by Lady
Herries who campaigned Harbour Dues last year and Persian Punch trained by David Elsworth.
The spotlight is firmly focused on Flemington, Caulfield and Moonee Valley racetracks in
Melbourne,Victoria with the first of the major Group Races, the Caulfield Guineas for
3-year-olds run over 1600m in October.
The Australian horses to watch for in the spring carnival are Dracula, Northern Drake,
Might and Power, General Nediym, Doriemus, Tie The Knot, Ancient City, Danelagh and
Zacheline.
**
The long awaited return to the racetrack of Australia's champion sprinter, General Nediym
will be in the Moir Stakes (GR2) on October 24. He is the winner of 12 races from 15
starts and has amassed $A1.7 million in prizemoney.
General Nediym injured a tendon in June this year and has fully recovered from his
injuries according to his owners Ron and Helen Ashdown. An international campaign is
planned for the sprint star with two starts in Australia, a start in the Hong Kong Bowl.
General Nediym will venture to England in March 1999, if he stays sound, to contest some
of the Group races.
His owners have been approached by a leading English Stud to stand him at stud overseas,
before returning to Australia to commence domestic stud duties.
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