HE WOULD NOT LEAVE

NZ Truth, Issue 1193, 11 October 1928, Page 13

HE WOULD NOT LEAVE

Commendation Stands On Mark Last Saturday

Since Commendation came

given no signs of wanting to "boi HE was taken north to have a race at Ellerslie, but he did not get one— 'much to the surprise, and disgust of his owner and his trainer. He, came into the;, birdcage for the Shorts the first day and walked about quite unconcerned. He did his preliminary sedately and then went around to the post like a gentleman. There, circling round before the order to line, he was like an old sheep, paying no attention to anyone or anything. , Then just when he had lulled "Snow Morris into a false sense of security the order came to line up. ' "Snow" threw the reins at him and directed him into his berth. 'But, 10, he was no sooner m than up m the air he went. He reared on his hind legs, broke back- from the barrier and went down the course a little way. He was brought back and again did the circus stunt. Once again m line he was standing nicely, but, as the tapes skied, he screwed round and refused to go away. He was taken to Ellerslie to get work, so failing to have the race he got it m another way. On Sunday morning he was sent out to do once round on the number two grass and with a good weight m. the saddle he strode over a circuit m 1.42 —

back to work this year he has iss the whole outfit. a gallop that is seldom seen these days up north. He pulled up and would not have blown a candle out. The effort surprised everybody, for it was not imagined that he was forward, enough to go that pace. Next day,, after the meeting concluded, Commendation was given barrier exercise. Accompanied to the seven-furlong post by two hacks, and with George Jones m the background with a whip, he at first attempted to run riot. ..He got it from three directions at once— -from- his rider, from the, rider of the hack alongside and from Jones at the rear. ■ He naturally- protested, but then he was fairly good. He walked up, stood, and then was taken back and made to walk up and stand again. In the end the barrier was lifted and he jumped out like a shot, but he no sooner hit the ground than he put his toes m. — ~ ■ " ' A cut with the stick and he was away again. Perhaps the failure of the two hacks to jump away, when he 1 did, was the reason for his stopping. Commendation's owner is certain that the gelding remembers the sixfurlong post at Ellerslie— it was there he played iip m the Foal Stakes— and it is his. intention not to race him from that barrier again. j The gelding has to race at Opakl on Saturday and then will be seen how. Monday's schooling has affected him.

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