JUST STRUGGLED HOME

NZ Truth, Issue 1150, 15 December 1927, Page 11

JUST STRUGGLED HOME

Then They Wanted to Know Why All the Support

The Book of Books tells us broke the camel's back.

that it was the last straw that when he ran in a five-furlong event. v For he finished 1 up just in behind the leaders, and, was not knocked about. Perhaps it was just as well that he was not knocked about for after passing the post he all but collapsed. Aston is broken-winded and he found his bellows empty after going the six furlongs. The next day Aston was in a fivefuiiong race and those who watched him the first day were waiting at the tote to save getting shut out in the rush. And in addition to those on the course there were a lot of outsiders who wanted, to be on the alleged good thing. . But Aston proved to be anything but that. , He was lobbing along in behind the leader when the straight was reached, but he did not go out and'grab Helotis as a good horse would have. Instead Snow Morris had to take his mount up gradually and then over the-last hundred yards give him everything. ... He won, but that is all, and less carefully .handled over the first halfmile would have been well and truly licked. There was a total of 419 tickets on him this time and the stewards and stipes asked all manner of questions. In the end they accepted the explanation advanced. Aston may have been "in the bag" the first day, but to that "N.Z. Truth"' will not agree. The difference in the betting in the two days last week is certainly a story of "its but that Aston was pulled up to make the story is hot correct. ; '.The reasons that brought about the support can.be named—a race : into him and a furlong shorter distance. , !,

THAT the unfortunate camel's spine collapsed under the strain is admitted. Perhaps had the imported horse Aston been put under the same test last -week he -would have piqued also. But, lucky horse, he was not called on to oarry the.straw. The only .'straw he knows about he finds in his box, and when it comes to money he is not in the leasts interested. Talk about bricks without straw, that's nothing to a tote without money! Not that there was a total absence of money on the chance of Aston the first day at "Woodville —there were actually ninety-four tickets opposite his name. Having his first race since he was a good thing beaten on the same course last February it was natural to expect most to hang off and have a look at him. • That is just what happened, andafter seeing that race many were prepared to expect his victory