"THE IRON HORSE."

Shannon News, 20 July 1928, Page 3

"THE IRON HORSE."

FIRST ACRE'S DOUBLE TRIUMPH.

First Acre, known in New Zealand as "The Iron Horse," gave a taste of his cast-iron constitution at Canterbury Park yesterday, (says the Sydney Sun of July 1). Having his first race since his recent arrival in Sydney he deprived Nandillyan's stable of a big stake by winning the Flying Handicap. and later in the day he' won the Campsie Handicap after having experienced a series of misfortunes in running. A. D. Webster is the trainer and part-owner of First Acre (Mr A. Trevor being the other nominator),' and in addition to. that gelding he brought Moutoa Wonder and Greenfield with him. Accompanying him was his son, F. Webster, who is apprenticed to his father, and it was young Webster who piloted First Acre to his double success yesterday. Adopting the same procedure as when he was here last year, Webster took his team to Canterbury Park to train, and it was on the strength of a couple of good trials that First Acre was supported for the Flying Handicap. PLAYED UP WINNINGS.

Followers of J. Donohoe's stable played up a good deal of their Figure winnings on Nandillyan, but although they were on good terms with themselves when the gelding led into the straight, his luck was no better than at the recent Randwick meetings, and First! Acre was too strong for him at the finish. NICE BETS LANDED.

Burdened with a penalty of ' 71b., whieh was reduced by Webster's 51b. allowanee, First Acre was rushed by the public as soon as betting opened on the Campsie Handicap.

First Acre's second success was meritorious, to say the least of it. He struek trouble and lost ground near the six furlongs, and on two subsequent occasions he was again in difficulties. He overcame them, however, and won comfortably, after "Valhalla had looked like winning at the top of the straight.

First Acre is no stranger to us, as he won at Eosehill during the last trip to Sydney, when Moutoa Wonder was successful at the ponies. Guonod tried to lead all the way in the Campsie Handicap, but he appeared to be hampered when other horses ranged alongside him going up the hill, and eventually he finished last. He was bleeding from the noae when he returned to the enclosure.