SPEEDY TRACK SPRINTS

NZ Truth, Issue 1141, 13 October 1927, Page 9

SPEEDY TRACK SPRINTS

Aussie's Performance In Shorts Was Clearly Indicated

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.)

No sprint winner ever gave a better indication of success m his late track work than Aussie before winning the Shorts Handicap at Ellerslie.

TJOWEVER, the fact that he was 11 reeling off • fast sprints "lightly shod" was partly responsible for [Aussie not being made first choice by the public. On the -Tuesday morning before the races. George Paul's sprinter — from practically a stand at the old fivefurlong post on the rise — ran home on the outside of the course proper m 1.61.-5, a good deal faster than anything else from a moving: start that morning. Then, on Thursday, he gave Ballymoy 11. three-length starts and beat her home m time which would win most Railway handicaps, Aussie's timo' being 1.18 3-5 on the extreme outside. Again, on the morning of the races, he ran 361-5 fop three furlongs on the grass with over 9st. aboard and did it easily. He was without a race, but Bert Tinker's patient tactics m the early part of the race and his energy when required brought Aussie home by a neck from a great tip m Paganelli. Just how much must be allowed for a horse galloping m plates instead of shoes is hard to determine, but "N.Z. Truth" was so taken with the manner m which Aussie came through his fast trials before the day that some inquiries on the point were made.

Most experts failed to agree on the question, though the majority are of opinion that about two seconds m six furlongs can be allowed. Looking at it from another angle, "Truth" discovered that there would be somewhere near 9ozs. difference on each foot m favor of the plated horse. This is well over 21bs. m all — quite a lot, of course. So far as Aussie is concerned he has never really worn shoes since George Paul brought him to New Zealand. He has been bare- footed, worn light tips or plates only. And m his case the mere fact of galloping m plates may not make such a difference as on most horses. That he has speed is evident from his winning three different open sprints on the Ellerslie course Inside ten months. This feat is no easy one to accomplish m these days of large and quality fields. As a two-year-old, Aussie gave great promise and has proved a real bargain to the Te Awamutu trainer- owner who picfted up the son of Fortafix — Fortune Beauty for under 80 guineas at the Sydney sales during Te Kara's successful trip to the other side m 1925.