JOCKEY LEAVES SICK BED

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 96, 14 July 1927, Page 6

JOCKEY LEAVES SICK BED

DOES IT TWICE AND STEERS TWO WINNERS Pony jockey A. Callinan must have a high opinion of the galloping ability of Merton. Some time ago (as previously reported) he literally rose from a sick bed to ride the gelding, and was rewarded by success. He repeated it to ride the same horse at Ascot (Melbourne) on Saturday week with equally compensatory results. In Merton, however, is a horse worthy of the highest opinion, though the public did not know it at the time Callinan thought fit to first take a risk to ride him. But they knew the worth of Merton after that win, and it was further pressed upon them in the first division of the Novice. EFFECTS OF THE KNIFE Operations are not calculated to improve any jockey’s riding ability, and for that reason alone, some racegoers were inclined to pass Merton over on Saturday when Callinan’s name was again posted. Recognised as one of the best boys at the ponies, they still thought him unable to do his best under the circumstances. But as matters turned out, there was really no need for riding. Merton, as though understanding the position, hit the front early and galloped very easily over the whole journey. Bad horsemanship seemed the only thing that could beat Merton, and Callinan would have been the last to provide that handicap. If he had found he could not do justice to the horse, he, at least, would have sat still and let Merton run his own race. Tactics, however, were unnecessary. “KNOWING”BACKERS Three furlongs from home, Merton was over a length in front, but when the field closed on him at the turn, the usual cry of “He’s beaten” was more discernible than the urgings of backers of the other runners. Callinan had merely eased Merton a trifle, and once the straight was reached he shot the gelding away to win easily. The field was not of the strongest, yet it contained horses capable of putting up fair performances. That Merton made their pace appear so mediocre indicates that the Greenstead three-year-old is far better than his registered performances lead racegoers to believe. He is still eligible for Encourage events, and even allowing for the big weight he is sure to receive in that class, it seems that a particularly brilliant sprinter will have to be brought forward to beat him. Merton as yet may not be quite up to open company, but he will not have to improve greatly to reach that standard, and the next month or so may see him extending the best of sprinters.