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Australia S. Aussie Sport Upset by Frauds By BOB THOMSON Melbourne Correspondent, Daily Racing Form MELBOURNE, Australia. Racing frauds have disturbed the- serenity of South Australias turf world. Stewards in that unhappy state expect to name the "Master Mind" who has netted thousands in a dramatic move to ban for life a turf Al Capone who has engineered many nefarious schemes on Adelaides major tracks. Men at the helm in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria have been watchine waiuuiug the cue "Master iviaatcj. waiuuiug cue iviaatcj. .Minds" activities. Charges of having "stung" horses with an undetectable drug-will be leveled against him. Jockey W.-Attrill was disqualified for 10 years for attempting to carry a battery in the toe of his whip. Chief steward Fred Everests vigilance reached its peak when he demanded Attrills whip and saddle before the Clarendon Handicap at Morphettville. D. Coleman, one of South Australias leading riders, was then substituted for Attrill on Thundering Legion, who won in a photo finish. Victorian trainer W. Conway, who recently settled in Adelaide and prepped Thundering: Legion for Ballarat Vic. owner H. Irvine, was "grounded" for 10 years for fraudulent practice and three years for improper practice. Conway has appealed. Attrill has offered to be. his star witness to say that the trainer is innocent and that he, Attrill, "had a go on his own." Since "B Day" battery day at glorious Morphettville -Everest and the GIB have worked with untiring zeal and determination to uncover and reveal the seamy side of South Australian racing. The present policy of the SAJC is for appeals to be heard behind closed doors, but legal representation is allowed. The policy must be changed in this case, as already it has had a shattering effect on Australia-wide racing. South Australia has for years strived to keep its sport of kings clean and rank equal with the senior states, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Maurice V. Point, master of the vast Sledmere nursery, and Tinagroo stud-master W. H. Mackay were pleased with the result of the English Derby. Sledmere has a stallion bred on the same cross as Phil Drake. Royal Empire, the magnificent French-bred son of Admiral Drake, is living proof of the close and progressive interlacing of British and French lines. Point fayors English mares, and many royally-bred matrons grace the Sledmere paddocks. Standing alongside Royal Empire is Royal Trophy Windsor Slipper, half brother to Bob, winner of the York Ebor Handicap. Both stallions should raise the standard and quality of the thoroughbred Down Under. An interesting mating at famous Sledmere in the little hamlet of Scone New South Wales would be between Royal Empire imp. and Merry Muse imp., an alliance very much after the pattern of Phil Drake. Royal Empire, a brother of the excellent Monsieur LAdmiral, ran second in the Grand Prix de Paris, in a field of 26 horses. His sire, Admiral Drake, won the Grand Prix de Paris, Grand Internationale dOstende 1935, the 77th Prix Biennal at Longchamp and two other races, Admiral Drake Craig An Eran traces through his sire to Sundridge and Amphion. Royal Empires dam Aethelfiaed is by Aethstan a noted French stayer. Owned by Mackay, who breeds for the yearling market and races a few of his" home-breds, Merry Muse traces in direct descent from the third dam of Phil Drake, Pride of Hainault. Her sire Grandmaster is bred in direct line from another French stallion Vatout, sire of Bois Roussel. Phil Drakes dam, Phillipa, is by Vatellor, sire of the English Derby winners My Love and Pearl Diver. Negotiations are under way, according to O. N. Hollier, secretary of the New South Wales Trotting Club, to bring lto Australia for the next inter-Dominion championship in Sydney one of Americas best pacers. The club will pay all expenses for the horse, his trainer and driver, and will add lucrative inducements for the connections who make the trip. The decision is being left to the controlling U. S. body, zut it has been Continued on Page Fifty-Tv Australian Report , By BOB THOMSON Continued from Page Eight stipulated that the horse must be one of the nations light-harness stars. After a stay of six months in England in accordance with quarantine regulations the horse will leave for Australia. The Sydney championship meeting opens at the end of February 1956. TJ. S. light-harness horses have- had a profound influence on breeding in Australia and New Zealand. Leading Tasmanian breeder E. Tatlow imported the dual gaited Raider Vr-mite, sire of numerous high-class pac j and trotters.
