AN OUTSIDER

NZ Truth, Issue 1213, 28 February 1929, Page 13

AN OUTSIDER

Maiden Winner's

History

GOING TO WAR

If everything had gone off to schedule m 1914, Ali Baba would not have figured as the winner of the Maiden at Woodville. WHEN the Main Body sailed that year Noni Sandilands — now one of the stipendiary committee — was aboard, and he had .as a remount a mare called Sureland, given to him by the late Ernie Short. A scare of German cruisers sent the expedition back to harbor, . and Sureland, not having stood up to the life on the ocean -wave, was sent back to her owner.. Out at Parorangi, she was left ■ m the paddock and when Short died, his son asked Sandilands what he was to do with the mare. As far as that worthy wag concerned, he did not greatly care and the suggestion that Ebb made — to put her to a colt named Wilderness — was found m favor with Sandilands. Sureland produced a colt and he was not worried a deal. Time passed and . he came into ; the hands of Wi : J,\ Hastie, a . member of a well-kn : 6wh Feilding family. . V „ ; Wilderness m the meantime had; carried the Short colors as a gelding, and then . passed, into other hands.' Varying success came his way till he commenced to "bleed. His fame was on the wane till last week. Ali Baba, at outside price, won the Maiden and then enquiries as to his breeding brought forthj his mother's history. Ali Baba is a big- upstanding horse, but is built on more solid linea than his sire. He . may never be a great prize on the flat, but on appearances no fence should hold any. terrors for him. He has it m his favor that he has been given an easy time, and that will stand to him when the big: question is asked.