WHEN RANSACK WOKE ’EM UP

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 57, 30 May 1927, Page 6

WHEN RANSACK WOKE ’EM UP

CRITICS STIRRED AT INACTION OF ROSEHILL COMMITTEE That things were not all as they should be at Rosehill (Sydney) last Saturday week must have been obvious t° most of those present. The Sydney “Sun” has the following to say on the matter, and the article is reproduced in full. Ransack, whose win was the subject of some comment, is a New Zealand-bred mare by Solferino from Raid. As a two-year-old when racing in Mr. A. McDonald’s colours, she showed considerable promise, but she failed to turn out as good as expected and was sold to an Australian sportsman, who up to recently raced her at the pony meetings with considerable promise. After asking what was the matter with the Rosehill committee, the “Sun” goes on to say:— L.C. after filling three minor places in succession, won. And was not disqualified! There was no report by the stewards.

A PRETTY PASS! The committee ignored this strange and thrilling consistency. Things are surely coming to a pretty pass when a horse can be honest in hurdle races and not b,e rubbed out. What was the committee doing when Ransack won the Auburn Handicap? This mare was a recruit from the unregistered courses, where curious things occur. She brought a great and well-earned reputation with her. About a month ago when Fuji San with a welter weight was what is known in racing parlance “in commission” at this same course every eleventh-hour whisperer was telling his friends “Whatever you do, have a saver on Ransack.” Many took the advice, but the mare was amongst the “also ran” division.

BECAME FAVOURITE Rater she appeared at Randwick and did no better. Nevertheless, for some reason not readily ascertainable, she became favourite for the Auburn Handicap on Saturday in all the double books which the rings has developed to hasten the discomfiture of the poor punter. At golf clubs, on football grounds, knowledgable racing men were unshakeable that “from information received” Ransack would win the sprint. And by the same occult means most patrons of Rosehill also had the “good oil” and supported the mare. She won. But how did she win?

AT THE BARRIER Let us take a Sunday contemporary. It said: A report from the stewards threw some light on the mix-up at the barrier. The starter reported to the stewards that as the barrier lifted Roisyce got into trouble with the tapes and carried all the horses outside of him off their course. Among those that appeared to suffer were Suggrapho, Golden Grist, Bunkum, Bardelona and Lace Girl. According to the positions drawn, Bunkum and Suggrapho should have both started from the inside of Roisyce. That is a correct description of what occurred. I do not for one moment impute improper practices to anybody concerned. But there are the facts. The chances of five horses were annihilated at the barrier, and as the race was run Bunkum must have won with a reasonable start. Ransack just scrambled home from him. But she got there and somebody collected big money.

NO SIGNIFICANCE! I have searched the papers in vain to see if any notice w: fc taken of two horses starting out of their proper places in the line-up. Nothing seems to have happened. Occurrences of this sort have no significance to those who are acting as trustees for the public who find the money for the prizes which keep the game going. At the very least there should have been punishment of the jockeys who offended. Otherwise what virtue is there in the draw for positions If any jockey can ignore the fortune of place then the procedure becomes a joke, fraught with all manner of possible trouble for the public. And conceding that Ransack staged a most surprising change of heart —which was anticipated in the right quarters—it was the duty of the committee to have made some inquiries which would have been jolly interesting. A chart of the bookmakers’ sheets on each day that she has started in the past five weeks might possibly have exposed how one can guess what a good sprinter can do when she is determined to

do it. Thus might a new “system” be devised. CROWDED OUT The inferior horsemanship which disfigured recent meetings was not so flagrantly obtrusive on Saturday. But it was still very much in evidence. The fields were not really large, yet there was tremendous crowding on the track though it is rightly famed for its spaciousness. Horse after horse suddenly fell back because of interference. Bootlegger conspicuously got a shocking bump, which effectually left him without hope of winning. These exhibitions all happened in glorious sunshine and under the very noses of the authorities. It is said that most criminals live closest to the police, in order to escape capture, because their own neighbourhood is not where the police expect to find their quarry. Apparently the safest place to commit all the sins of bad riding is where the committee men are most numerous. ANOTHER ACCOUNT

The outstanding item of an interesting afternoon’s sport was the success of Ransack in the Aubuip Handicap. Incidentally, her form was a great improvement on her effort in a division of the Rous Handicap on the final day of the A.J.C. autumn meeting. In that race she started at long odds, was a long way back early, ran wide at the turn, and finished last. Evidently she had since shown her connections something pretty good on the track, as the improvement in a weaker field was clearly anticipated. Soon after acceptances had been declared it was apparent that Ransack was expected to take a lot of beating, as she was heavily laid in doubles with most of the fancied candidates for the Rosehill Handicap. On the course she continued to be in demand in doubles, and one bookmaker laid her with Bravado to the extent of £2,000. For that matter all the money available about the combination of Ransack and Bravado was quickly snapped up from the ringmen who dabble in this form of wagering, and that double betting is becoming increasingly popular in Sydney was emphasised by the fact that yesterday about 25 per cent, of the Paddock pencillers were “laying the little double.”

NICE STAKE LANDED When betting opened on the Auburn Handicap Ransack was immediately installed favourite at nice odds. However, that price did not last long, and after a bet of £1,250 and several other wagers of large dimensions had been written against her she touched a short price. There was heavy support for Cave Dweller, whose quote shortened, Roisyce and Suggrapho were best backed of the others, but whatever chance they possessed was more or less ruined at the start, which, as it appeared from the stand, was a straggle. Mr. McKellar, however, reported that as the barrier was released Roisyce jumped outwards, and took all the horses on his outside off their course. WON TWO PONY CUPS

A six-year-old mare by Solferino from Raid, Ransack was a speedy galloper as a two-year-old in New Zealand. On being brought to Australia she had three unplaced runs in Victoria, and was afterwards tried on the Sydney pony tracks. She proved one of the best mares seen on unregistered tracks during recent years, and her successes included the Victoria Park and Ascot Cups. In January last year, however, she was offered for sale by auction, and was booked to her present owner, Mr. R. Garlick, for 650 guineas. Mr. Garlick then stood her down for the 12 months required by the A.J.C. for a horse crossing from the unregistered to the registered fold, and she was given to F. Hickey to train.

FOOTBALLERS OUT OF FORM

It is only natural that in the earlv off season, footballers’ muscles and tendons get somewhat flabby and weak. Any violent exercise early in the season necessitates the free use of diluted Q-TOL, which penetrates the skin and. soothes- and invigorates tired or strained muscles. Experienced trainers use Q-TOL.