TACTICS WON DAY

NZ Truth, Issue 1212, 21 February 1929, Page 13

TACTICS WON DAY

Bagby Slows Field Down And Sprints Home

AUSSIE COLLECTS TRICK

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Dunedin Representative)

When two good horses meet and their respective merits are m doubt, tactics and horsemanship play a big part m the result. That is precisely what happened at Wingatui when Aussie, George Paul's crack, inflicted a sensational defeat on the mighty Limerick, by a bare length m the Mazlett Memorial Cup.

THE race was run to suit the Aucklander, the first half being left behind m 54sec. and the five m 1.7 1/5, and m what was actually a three-furlong sprint, Aussie proved the more seasoned and faster horse. Though he won by only a bare length, he was going- within himself, for Stan. Bagby never moved on him until the last half-furlong, and then' it was merely a move to ensure that he would not stop. Against this the stick was drawn on Limerick soon after they turned for home, and he was doing his best when Aussie crossed the line. The race hardly paralleled the now historic Gloaming-The Hawk contest at Hastings, but it attracted patrons from far and wide, creating such enthusiasm that has never been witnessed before on the Wingatui course. Limerick was a trifle pretty, and suffered m comparison with the physical condition of his rival, which showed the benefits of solid racing this season. While the race might, and probably would, have been won by Aussie had it been run differently, it is not detracting from the brilliance of Aussie's win to say that Limerick was _not quite at his best. . It was the first race he. had had

Aussie responded to the challenge like a champion. The moment Bagby moved on him he went off smoothly, and a hundred yards from the post the public realised that the Riccarton idol was only getting second money. The last three furlongs were covered m 36 4/5 sec, and the time for the full journey was 1.44. Aussie is such a brilliant sprinter, and was put forward so well by his owner- trainer, .that Limerick had no chance with him over the final stage, and it appeared that wiser tactics would have been to make Aussie carry his weight all the way and then take the chance on which horse would tire first In the run home. Ellis no doubt rode to instructions, but Bagby's exhibition of horsemanship was superb, and much of the success goes to the North Island horseman. Fred Jones was undismayed by the defeat of his champion, and is satisfied that if he keeps sound he will again be taking a hand m the decision of the important classics m Australia at Easter. ' • And on his Wingatui form this is quite logical reasoning on what will be truly run races. Aussie is m the Doncaster Handicap,