TO BEST-RIDDEN HORSE
And One That Was Asked To Do The Impossible
COMEBODY, m years long gone by a wise guy, penned a catch when *^ he scribbled that patience was a virtue and that it was seldom found m a man. Had he been, present at Riccarton last Saturday, to witness the running of the New Zealand Cup, he would have been very pleased with himself. ■ ■ - ' . ■ • It is easy to prate on one's sins and yery.much easier to just gloss over the virtues. But it is the way of the world, and it has to be done.
If there is a course m the country where patience counts for everything, it is Riccarton. The size of the track makes him who waits get the worm — not the early bird. The worm last Saturday was caught by Jimmy Ellis when he came home on Oratrix. i ' ' The little fellow — the baby of the well-known racing family — rode a well -judged race. He could only be spoken to on one thing. He made a slight error, but he soon corrected it; With seven stone on his back; Hoylake, pulling like seven "devils, tore out to the front and went for the doctor. With a mile covered he was a good ten lengths ahead and the rest of the field was spread, out like so many sausages. In addition to pulling his rider out of the saddle he was hanging off. the course, and down the back he was two horses out from the fence. '
No one seemed to want to tackle the job of going out and picking the leader up, and most were content to go along as they were. Not so Ellis. . '■' .■ . .■
' Seven furlongs frdm home he started to move up. He was not going up rapidly, but he was gaining a fraction m every stride. Half a mile from home he went up very quickly, and it was there that perhaps .he. made a slight error. ■-■';• m ' ... ' Seemingly he realized that it was still a bit soon, and he then checked the mare and horses he had left behind came up to him again. Hoylake turned for home with a good lead, and then once properly straightened up Ellis came on the outer. He urged Oratrix and she answered. A furlong' and a-half from home and Hoylake was passed. ■. - '• • " Then, just when the race seemed over, up flashed Rapier. Giving an impossible start, he was being set a task that only a wonder horse, could have carried out. ' . . But Rapier is game and he went for dear life, head stuck out m his characteristic fashion, but Oratrix had far too much of an initial advantage. .. v . :' ' It was good to see the mare win, for she! was 1 handled m the correct way right from the start, but it was ghastly to see Rapier murdered—as he was. ... ■ . - '< ■ . ■; .. ■■ / .-. ■' ■"■'•■, ■ ■' , • His Was a great performance to get where he did, and it is open to doubt whether /any horse m the ; country could have carried his weight and answered the call as he did. . • The- win goes down m history to Oratrix, but to everybody present last Saturday the honors are reserved for Rapier. " ' ■
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTR19281108.2.52.11
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NZ Truth, Issue 1197, 8 November 1928, Page 13
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Tapeke kupu
532TO BEST-RIDDEN HORSE NZ Truth, Issue 1197, 8 November 1928, Page 13
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