ONE TO BERT

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

ONE TO BERT

Rodents Suffer Reverse ' (From "N.Z. Truth's" Auckland Rep.) A STAKE to keep, the rats out of the ri cupboard is a great saying of Bert Russell's. Bert made no secret of the fact that he expected Spalpiko to keep the rats out at Pakuranga, and he was not disappointed, for by acting as runner-up to Pennyplain m the Hunters' -Hurdies and gathering m

the Hunt Cup Steeples, it meant £440 m cash and a £50 gold cup. But ■ the luck was all on Bert's side i n th c Hunt Cup victory, for had not Scaramouche fallen at the second fence on the h:ll the last time, thus bringing down St. Warrigal and causing Mashoor to lose his rider,

a different tale would probably have been told. From there on, it was only a case of the well-conditioned Spalpiko having to keep Odin off, and this he did by four lengths at the finish. Freyja had previously fallen before the big mishap and also Roger. Thus the finish resolved itself into something of a farce. Opinions differ as to what the result would have been but for the big crash, some contending that Mashoor would have taken the honors. "Truth" holds the opinion -that had Scaramouche stood up he would have proved the winner because of his lighter impost and his staying qualities which were evidenced by going on at the close of the Greenmount Steeples which he Avon earlier m the afternoon.