GREAT HORSE WON

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 34, 3 May 1927, Page 7

GREAT HORSE WON

BUT GREATER ONE LOST THOUSAND POUND TROT Behind the victory of Marie Dillon in the Victoria Park £I,OOO Trot is a story of dashed hopes—that were rebuilt. Sid. Ball, well-known pony man and owner- trainer of the winner, rebuilt them for himself after victory for Ins mare in New South Wales’ richest troting event seemed out of the question. The Sunday morning before the race Marie Dillon became afflicted with severe leg trouble. The mare’s legs swelled considerably and so bad did they appear that Ball doubted his ability to even get her to the post on the Tuesday. STROKE OF LUCK Then appeared the silver lining to his dark cloud. The heavy and consistent rain over the week-end caused a postponement from the original day. The extra two days made all the difference. Still she had done very little work for such an important engagement, and Ball doubted her ability to stay a hardrun mile and a-half. She managed to do that, but not before she had cauised more trouble. Marie Dillon had charge from the start, but all the way down the straight she was under punishment, and at the leger she started to run out. From a position a little way out from the rails she kept bearing over and across the course until at the finish she was on the outside fence. MAKE OR BREAK The judge decided for her by half a length from the outsider, Isabel Wilkes, whose connections promptly entered a protest. The stewards took some time to decide it, but eventually decided to allow the judge’s placings to stand. Ball said that the race would either break or make Marie Dillon. Fortunately for him —but unlucky for the connections of Auto Machine—it made her. Punters recognised the merit of Auto Machine’s win in his heat, and despite his being 60 yards behind, they made him an odds on favourite for the runoff, while Marie Dillon started at good odds against. SLOW TO START The favourite appeared to dwell slightly at the start, but it was probably Marie Dillon’s remarkable speed in jumping off that that fostered the impression. Passing the stand the first time, Ball’s mare was about 70 yards ahead of the favourite. She even improved on that lead, and around the back was fully 100 yards in front. At that stage Auto Machine’s chance looked hopeless, .but a little further on it improved. Slowly but surely he commenced to bridge the gap, and at the half-mile he had got to within 40 yards of the flying leader. Turning for home Marie Dillon still had a commanding lead, but the favourite was coming along at an amazing bat, and never had such excitement been evidenced by a crowd on a trotting course as when it was seen that the distance between the two was rapidly diminishing. Over the last bit Marie Dillon, under terrific punishment, commenced to run wide, but gamely battling every inch she stuck to her task and struggled past the judge a winner by half a length. A great horse won, but verily a greater one lost.