WALLALO'S DISQUALIFICATION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2125, 17 April 1914, Page 4

WALLALO'S DISQUALIFICATION.

OWNER'S STATEMENT. Mr. Eccles, owner of the disqualified Wallalo, on Saturday, made a statement to a Sydney "Sun" reporter. Ho said: "I am innocent of the charges levelled against mo by the stipendiary stewards. At tho inquiry, Mr. Rouse said that three and a half furlongs from homo Wallalo made a forward move and ran into third or fourth position. Gray, the jockey, denies this, and says that he was never nearer than sixth till just liefore the finish. This statement' was corroborated by other jockeys who rode in the race, and who gavo evidence. I had my glasses on the horse, and say that at tho time Mr. Rouse say a he was third or fourth ho was no nearer than sixth. My instructions -,to the jockey were: 'This is only a mild race, and .the.lioKe may bo tailed off. ■ Keep as close to the field as possible' 1 backed the horse to win £700 beside the stake. M'Grath, tho trainer, backed him to win £100. I took £500 to £15 in one bet, arid offered to take £1000 to £30, but was refused. I think that Mr. Rouse's assertion that the horso was third or fourth three and a half _ furlongs from home was due to a mixing up of the colours on his part. Secrete was in that position at that stage, and his colours are very similar to those of Wallalo. Wallalo's colours aro green, pink sleeves, and red cap, while those of Secrete are green, yellow sleeves, and black cap. Mr. Rouse mistook the horses. I have had considerable experience of racing, and it. ; would have been simply madness on my part to null the horse in a minor engagement just prior to tho running of an important 'race worth £5000, and for which my horse was a pronounced favourite., And then ho was engaged in'several valuable weight-for-ago events. The horso was honestly run to win. Certainly I did not back him heavily—tho reason being that while he is a proved stayer, I was of opinion 'that a mile was perhaps too short for him."