PICKED HIS HOOFS UP

NZ Truth, Issue 1184, 9 August 1928, Page 11

PICKED HIS HOOFS UP

Passin' Thtough Would Have Won Just The Same

When a horse wins a stee; right that he should be given the IT is extraordinary, however, how often a horse is belittled when he wins under siich^ circumstances. Glendowie would hot have won the Northern had Maunga not lost hfs rider. So, at least some said. Then at Trentham had not Beau Cavalier fallen it was contended that Pouri would not have won* . The mere fact that one horse carried out his job correctly ana the other didn't is not taken into consideration. So it was at Riccarton last Saturday, when Passin', Through came home on his own m the Homeby Steeplechase. Had Dubious done this and his rider done that Passin' Through would not have won — so it is said. Once again the fact that Passin' Through picked up his hoofs and jumped safely is passed by. But to "N.Z. Truth" from the time the sod wall down the back was cleared there was only one winner — and he won. Dubious certainly was still on the

jplechase on His merits it is only credit that is due to him. premises, but at each fence he was losing ground. He was a new-chum over* new country and he was not taking any risks. On the other hand, Passih' Through knew his fences, and like all the old hands at the lepping game,, he knows the difference between a brush, obstacle and a sod wall. Talking to "Truth" after Saturday's race Stan. Cleaver, owner of Passin' Through, said he had not yet made his mind up about the National. He was willing to admit his horse had not yet i run out the distance/but he was inclined to run the black fellow. "They are not a great lot you know, and my fellow will get round." Cleaver is master of his own business, and as he does the paying is surely entitled to do as he pleases. - Should Passin' Through run on Tuesday next he will 1 be ridden by Allan McDonald. Harry Burt, who has been associated with all the black's successes, would have to chop a leg off to do nine stone!