FEW HAVE IT ON HIM

NZ Truth, Issue 1146, 17 November 1927, Page 11

FEW HAVE IT ON HIM

Booster Is Brilliant and He Is Also Solid

This is an age with an over-plus of good sprinters, but few of the speed merchants have it oh Booster. :

ONLY a six-year-old, Booster was not asked to race at two years and he commenced with his first win at Invercargill when he was three. The next season he won seven races m all, but most of these successes were scored on the coast, which meant nothing much was thought of them. It was really not till last season ithat he came prominently into the picture. A couple of wins at small meetings prior to the New Zealand Cup brought him Into the betting for the Stewards', and ■with seven pounds overweight he finished just behind the placed horses. j From then on he i never looked back, though there is no doubt he lost a few races m which he I should never have ' gone down to defeat

• Trained by Jim S Jennings, that worthy would persist m riding him, and though due credit must be given Jennings for the success he had with him, the fact remains that Booster had more to do with the victories. This year Booster was going to be well supported for the Stewards', especially when it v became known that A. Didham was to have the mount, but he did not run.

Some minor ailment overtook him and he had to be withdrawn right on time.

He quickly recovered and was able to run m the Criterion, but he faded out over the last half -furlong. Not so m the Members' on Saturday last. Well placed all the way, he fought out a resolute finish with Comic Song and won by a narrow margin.

Immediately after the race it 'was rumored that Jennings, who has had Booster all his career, had lost the horse and that he was to go into a well-known stable at Wingatui — a stable that brought a horse to Riccarton and cost the punters a ton of money.

If the change has taken place there i a probably some reason for it, but Jennings will have every reason to feel peeved.

His merits or demerits as a trainer matter not, but m cold cash he has been more than successful with the horse.

Up to date Booster has won seven-

teen races, and— when it is taken into consideration that a third of these were won on the Coast, where money is poor — the total stake earnings of £3320 speaks for itself. Bad horses often appreciate a i change of stables — on the other hand, good horses have been known to fail to carry on as they should do. If Booster has gone, many will watch his future with interest.