BACK FROM SYDNEY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1931, Page 3

BACK FROM SYDNEY

AUTOPAY’S CONNEXION'S. IMPRESSIONS OF RANI)WICK. „ WELLINGTON, October 20. After an' exceedingly successful• visit to Australian ' racecourses, Messrs N. Aitken and H.’ F. Wood, joint owners of Autopay, returned to Wellington by the Mnunganui to-day. Both were more than satisfied with the performances of their horse, which won three big races in two weeks and which further distinguished itself by leading all the way in the Kpsoin Handicap, the only horse t.o do so for forty years. “The only fly in the. ointment,” Mr Aitken said, “was that our friend from Oriental Bay, Mr Murphy, was unlucky enough to he' beaten by half a nose in the Metropolitan with his horse,' Concentrate. Had Concentrate won, as it would, given an ounce of luck, Oriental' Bay would have had the distinction of winning the Epsom and the Metropolitan. That would have been a triumph for New Zealand horses.’’

Both Mr Aitkin and Mr Wood said they were glad to get home again, although the Australian people had made them very \velconie and given them a wonderful time and their horse had been a great favourite with the sporting public there. In fact, >ew Zealand horses were particularly popular. Piiar Lap, Concentrate, Autopay, and Ammon Ra had all received great receptions in big races. It was very noticeable, however, that attendances. at b:g Meetings there were failing off just now. There seemed to be plenty of money available for horse-racing, however, in spite of the depression. Mr Ait ken said he had been greatly impressed with the work of the bookmakers in Australia. “They give people a better idea of what owners are doing with their horses,” he said. “On the machine, if an owner wants, to tell hs friends to back his horse, it takes away a percentage of his winnings, but with the bookmaker he can make liis bet and then tell everyone, he waiits to." Mr Aifken was greatly impressed also with the machine at the Randwjck racecourse, where horses could be backed for places. Tt was an idea that could well be copied in New Zealand. Another advantage of the Australian racecourse over those in New Zealand was that horses were required to be iti the birdcage only ten minutes before „ the start of a race, an advantage that was particularly valuable in the case of a fractious horse.

“Well, if the weights suit we might go down south in November and try to win the Stewards’ Handicap for the second time in succession,” Mr Aitken said when speaking of Autopavs probable coming engagements.