Ahua

Manawatu Herald, 23 August 1892, Page 3

Ahua

The following interesting statement about Ahua is taken from the N>Z'. Iteferee, and must meet with the approval of all those who have seen this grand horse run. It is alao of much local interest as the horse was bred and owned by one of our most popular horse-owners, MiDavid Scotfc, of Willow Bank, Rangitikei : -

" Seldom has a horse in this country reoeived such an ovation as was accorded Ahua on Thursday week at Riccarton. The spontaneous burst of enthusiasm which greeted the winner of the Grand Nationul when his rider had weighed in was but a fitting reception to the hero of a hundred fights. Many horses have had a meteorio reign in the afflictions of New Zealand'sportsmen — the successes of Maxim, Nelson and others were ever received wifch aoolaira, while the victories of such doughty performers over country as Agent and Clarence were always hailed with the utmost satisfaction, but no horse since th 3 days of Templeton has stood so high in public estimation and admiration as the gallant little son of he Painter. Never since the day — three years years since— when he first attempted the task of winning over the big fences at Riccarton— it was his maiden effort over a country— has the puhlic swerved in its allegiance to Ahua. On each of the four occasions he has contested for the chief steeplechase prize was confidence go firmly fixed on him that he was established favourite —-and racegoers were not at all out in the estimate they placed on their idol's abilities, for he is at once the best and at the same time the most unfortunate steeepleohase horse that the colony has produced. 'Weight of lead under the saddle flaps can crush any horse and Ahua, on whom weight must of necessity tell more than on a bigger-framed animal, has invariably carried great burdens, go we have not been able to see of what -tally^brilliant deeds the horse was capable* in jumping races. Canard, who carried 12st 101 b to the f»*ont in th* Grand National of 1886, and Agent, thrice winner of the cross-country blue riband, were unquestionably greater weight carriers than this year's victor ; but, with say list up,, none of the steeple chasers of former days could not live with Ahua. With pace and^tamina enough to win a Melbourne Cup, and despite repeated failures the boldest jumper that has yet negotiated the Riccarton walls Mr Rutherford's horse stands out as the b?st all-rp'and performer that New Zealand has yet seen. Ahua was foaled in 1880, and was therefore counted as twelve years old last week. He has been running ever since he was a two-year- old, and has likewise been doing stud duty off and on. for the last eight years. As a three-yearold he started fourteen times, winning on six occa* sions, which included his dead heat with Consul in the Marton-Rangi-tikei St. Leger. He also ran third to that horse in the Wanganui Derby, while he ran unplaced in the Wanganui Cup behind The Poet. In the years following up to 1889,

he scored up and down the coast on which he was bred. The most noticeable of his victories were secured in his last season there, when he was seen to the fore afc Palmer ston on the same afternoon in the Hurdle' Race and the Guineas; following these achievements the tw ■■ Hurdle Races at Wanganui and that at thf! Foxton -meeting fell to him. He thus left the north having live successes right off the reel to his credit. How handsomely he won his Grand National on the fourth time of asking, never putting a foot wrong during the journey, is told by our critics, and his perform* ance in beating what was probably tho strongest field that has gone out for the prize during the past decade, when only really half fit, will stand oufc as one of the greatest turf triumphs of the colony.