YES, PENNYPLAIN IS SOME UGLY NAG

NZ Truth, Issue 1290, 28 August 1930, Page 9

YES, PENNYPLAIN IS SOME UGLY NAG

BUTHEHASJHE PACE Scored Three Victories and Third Oat of Four Tries WOULD HAVE BEEN CHEAP HORSE (Prom "N.Z. Truth's 5 ' Special Auckland Representative.) . Pennyplain, which has won three times out of. four starts since the beginning of June, is one of the most aptly named performers of the /turf, „ L

[)ICK HANNON'S five-year-old gelding" probably gets the "penny" from the fact that his dam was "Pen" — Thesilia, but regarding the second syllable "plain," that was not hard to xrriveat. He is one of the plainest looking customers which ever turned up trumps for the punters. In fact, 1t is hard to discover a distinguishing feature, which would lead to the belief that he is possessed of galloping ability above the ordinary hackney stage.' Nevertheless he is evidently more than useful, though when limping oadly both m and out of the sale ring at Papatoetoe on an off day of the last Great Northern jumping fixture It looked safe to predict that a lengthy spell was required before he *:ould be even dreamt of as. a winner. Yet he came back apparently as sound as a bell at Ellerslie last Sat-, urday and accounted m determined fashion for both the Hunters' Hurdles and Bracelet. ,It is certainly nothing new to note plain' looking members of the Quin Abbey tribe turning up victorious, , but Pennyplain is among the plainest of the plain. Punters never heard of him till just prior to the last June fixture at Ellerslie when it leaked out that the Cambridge stable possessed a hunter

which would win on each of three days, f Northern punters have learned by experience, over many years that these prediction^ regarding Hannon's horses must not be treated lightly and Pennyplain was solidly supported on the totalisator when sent out to contest the Hunters' Hurdles of two miles on June 3. He duly won handsomely from a dozen others. Then the boosting of Pennyplain was continued. . Yet he could only finish third to Lucess and Spalpiko m the Hunt Club Cup Steeples m h:s next start two days later, but lie must have received a knock during that event, for he developed lameness. Still he has recovered quickly, and so far m four starts has accounted for £ 610 m stake money. He has defeated only those of the hack and hunters' class as yet, and before "Truth", can term him a champion, Pennyplain must do something better. It is hard to conclude that one so plain m looks is a crack-a-jack, but that he is useful has to be admitted. He would not have registered three wins and a third out of four starts m such quick time if he Was not. One thing which goes a long way towards the success of Hannon's horses is that they evidently never go short of the Best "eats" that it is possible to place., m the manger.