R. J. SKELTON DEFENDED

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28264, 30 April 1957, Page 5

R. J. SKELTON DEFENDED

Handling Of Horse j On Saturday (N 21. Press A ssociation^.CoTryrigTit) MELBOURNE. April 29. The Melbourne racing writer, “Sunstar,” came to the defence to- ; day of the New .Zealand jockey, R. J. Skelton, who was castigated by the AJ.C. stewards at Randwick on Saturday for his handling of the New Zealand-owmed horse, Decisive. The stewards told Skelton his riding was “a very poor exhibition,” and they’ would expect -“a little apprentice boy To do better.” “Sunstar” said that, as he saw the race, the stewards’ comment seemed a bit harsh. “Skelton's riding did not appear to me to contravene the crossing-in danger rule,” he said. “Here are my reasons:— “(1) Skelton told the stewards that he did not ride the horse in work, but the boy’ who did said the gelding would not respond to the reins. “(2) The jockey’s statement to the stewards that the owner, Mr G. S.' Walton, had told him that if be had let the horse run out and kept rid- 1 ing him he would have won. | “ (3) There was not the slightest danger of Decisive interfering with 1 another runner in the straight. When third and near the centre of the course he began an outward drift j before he veered over the last half- • furlong when racing alone.” “Sunstar” said: “'lf the stewards were consistent in their straight-course-for-home decree they could! have reprimanded other jockey’s in the Final Handicap. “Some of them let their mounts swing wide on the home turn and gave Cambridge, which had been pocketed, a run wide enough 1r lake a bullock team through. “Cambridge, backed from 10 to 11 to 6 to 1. beat the pacemaker, Lyddas, and the consistent Co I Supreme.”