NIGHTMARCH

Hokitika Guardian, 11 October 1929, Page 3

NIGHTMARCH

HEAVY SUPPORT IN SYDNEY RACES. AUCKLAND, October 7. To no one more than the owner of a good racehorse comes the opportunity to win a fortune in a matter of a few seconds. In a like position- is the courageous backer who is not afraid to risk-big money, and of this type of man Australia claims not a few. Turf history is full of coups brought off by plungers. The ones that do not materialise are only mentioned occasionally.

In New Zealand the fact that bookmakers are not legalised is against any big betting coups being brought off and no doubt it is because of this that recent years have seen the majority of the Dominion’s best horses taken across to Sydney for the spring campaign at Randwick. The first of the season’s big betting events, on which the an£e-post betting assumes tremendous proportions, are the Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps, and the business done both straight out and in doubles must mean that anything up to a million pounds is won and lost, because throughout Australia horses are backed for fortunes.

When the history of the Epsom Handicap, which was won by Nightmarch on Saturday, comes to he written up, if ever the full “inside” information is available, it will rank among the most . interesting. Nightmaarch, a four-year-old owned by Mr A. Louisson and. trained by Mr A. M’Aulay, was one of about fifty horses who were taken across to Sydney in the past few n.oi'.ths. A fine performer in the Dominion as a three-year-old, he won the New Zealand Derby among other races.

Nightmarch was rated highly hv the handienpper for the Epsom and Metropolitan, being weighted at 9.4 in the mile event, and 9.2 in the mile and five furlongs.

It was given out that the particular mission of Nightmarch would he the Metropolitan Handicap, set down for decision on Monday, and that he would not be asked to contest the Epsom Handicap on Saturday last. With, practically every Epsom candidate Nightmarch was backed for thousands of pounds to win the Metropolitan Handicap, and after showing brilliant form both on the tracks and in races, he became a very warm favourite for the longer race.

Suddenly one of Australia’s biggest bettors, Eric Connolly, stepped in and supported the New Zealander to win the Epsom Handicap. Regarded as an unlikely starter, a good price was offering, and in one transaction Nightmarch was supported to win £20,000.

This was followed up by other wagers, and inside a lew minutes Connolly had Nightmarch hackee, to win him a'fortune. This part over, Connolly, it is said, then hud the owner and trainer of Nightnuuch £8099 to nothing about the horse for the Epsom. It would be thought that tanked for anything up to £60,000. Nightmarch would be a bad horse to win for the ring, but as a matter of fact it was not so. In the Metropolitan Handicap Nightmarch had the pencillers up for the limit, he being supported for fortunes with all the fancied Epsom candidates, but Nightmarch for the double was not one of them.

It was no secret that if Nightmarch Avon the Metropolitan Handicap the ring would be hard hit. Evidently the biggest of the bookmaers put on their considering caps, because on their behalf a substantial offer was made to the oAvner to run Nightmarch in tliq Epsom Handicap. As is noAv Avell knoAvn, the NeAV Zealand took his place m the field and scored a comfortable win in the Epsom Handicap. Just how much money the race Avould be Avortli to the OAvner, all things considered, perhaps will never be known, but it Avould run into a big sum. FolloAving up his Epsom Handicap success, and to demonstrate his real class as a racehorse, Nightmarch, with a 101 b penalty, making his weight 9.12, put up a Avonderful performance to finish second in the Metropolitan Handicap.