WAS HE READY?

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 48, 19 May 1927, Page 6

WAS HE READY?

SAN FORTE’S CASE AT HAWERA

EGMONT RACING CLUB’S INQUIRY

RACEGOERS in general must have suffered a slight shock when they read the stewards* report in connection with the San Forte incident at the recent Egmont Racing Club’s meeting. The report read as follows: “The committee is very dissatisfied with P. Holman’s handling of San Forte in the Egmont Steeplechase, and the evidence adduced on inquiry is far from satisfactory, especially as regards the horse being started when not in anything like racing condition. The committee wishes to place on record that it does n!ot and will not countenance horses being started in races merely for training or schooling purposes. Having given the evidence in this case due consideration, the committee is of the opinion that it is not quite conclusive and resolved to give the parties the benefit of the doubt.” San Forte started in the Egmont Steeples on Thursday last, and was the outsider in a field of 10. He carried 9.0, and was ridden by the hurdle horseman, P. Holman. San Forte ran unplaced, and at no part of the journey did he appear to be going well. In a hurdle or steeple field candidates always possess what is termed a jumper’s chance, and on several occasions horses have scored easy victories as a result of their ability to jump well, though in appearance it looked as if they would need two or three months’ work to bring them to their top. As a rule, condition and form are the first essentials in selecting probable winners, and it is a big advantage to know that a horse is fit in heart and ready to run a big race. Only a trainer who has personally attended to his charge, or, in some cases, those who have seen him sent along in a trial, can tell whether a horse is right. Appearances are often deceptive. You hear of a horse looking perfect, yet such opinions are merely guessing if racing condition is applied. It is unlikelv San Forte’s connections would have started him if they thought the outing would do him more harm than good, and this alone should have influenced the stewards in concluding that lie must have had some kind of a In flat racing one fallacy that often lets punters down is that a horse must he thoroughly seasoned to win. That is wrong. Many horses will run a great race over sprint courses when fresh, and sometimes even surprise even the keenest of judges. Take, for in-

stance, the win of Degage at Egmont on Saturday. She was allowed to go out the rank outsider of the field in the Mokoia Handicap, and what was the result? She was a long way back for the first four furlongs, but gradually improved her position, and by the time the last furlong was entered upon she was making a great run. She still kept up her run a hundred yards from the judge’s box, and scored in a hot finish from Avola 7.9 and Shining Armour 7.11. Degage carried the steadier of 9.5, and most people thought the distance was far too short for her. It is doubtful if her connections benefited by the result. Again, it will be remembered that The Hawk scored a surprise win over the odds-on Manfred in the Rosehill Stakes two years ago, and it was a general turn-up for the “books.” The Hawk was big and round after his trip from New Zealand. Hence he started at a comparatively long price, while Manfred was screaming hot, and his condition warranted it. Yet the aged Martian gelding beat the wonder horse of a decade, and who subsequently scored a runaway win in the A.J.C. Derby, after being left a hundred yards at the post. This is only one or two instances the writer can name, and after all surely owners do not throw their money away if they think their horse has no earthly chance of winning. Take the case of Ngata at Riccarton in August last. He was as big as a prize bull, so to speak, but he won the Jumpers’ Flat Handicap so easily that the punters went crazy on his chance in the Grand National Hurdle Race. As often is the case, Ngata’s victory in the Jumpers’ Flat was the effort of a fresh horse, not that of a fit horse, consequently Ngata was not as good when he contested the Grand National Hurdles as when he raced in the Jumpers’ Flat, with the result that he finished well down the course in the Hurdles contest. Performances of fresh horses often capsize their owners and their trainers. It takes a shrewd trainer to know when a horse has done enough work so that a race will improve it. A horse’s heart, lungs, and muscles must be got ready to enable a horse to derive benefit from fast work. The Egmont Racing Club’s episode provides plenty of ammunition for the sceptical racegoer. 1 BERAGOON.