SHY OF THE TRUTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 106, 26 July 1927, Page 6

SHY OF THE TRUTH

SUSPICIOUS PUNTERS FIJIAN HORSE DELIVERS THE GOODS Tell a punter the truth, and he’ll think you’re trying to “put one over” on him. Which explains why many of the fraternity went bald-headed fqr Tui Viti when betting opened on the first division of the Maiden Two-year-old Handicap at Moorefield recently. No crowd is more suspicious than the race crowd, and when a rumour circulated the course to the effect that Tui Viti had injured a leg when galloping two mornings previously, the majority counted their cash, and decided how much they would have on him. Rumours on the racecourse are always taken with a grain of salt. No one can be blamed for doing so, for the practice is often resorted to in an endeavour to stretch the price of a runner. But there is an exception to every rule, and placing the wrong construction on the Tui Viti rumour might easily have cost punters their cash. For the gelding did meet with a mishap. Sufficient testimony was forthcoming from the expression on trainer

Jack Kelso’s face as Tui Viti cantered down the straight on his way to the post. No mentor of a Melbourne Cup favourite ever wore a more anxious look. He had fears of a breakdown, but he might have saved himself the trouble.

Ken. Bracken hopped Tui Viti out first, and his backers quite justifiably reached for their briefs. Only a brick wall could have stopped him from winning.

Had everything gone well with Tui Viti during the week the books would have suffered. Arrangements had been made for a plunge, but the accident upset the stable plans, and less than half the sum that it was originally intended to place on Tui Viti was invested.

The town clerk of Suva, Mr. S. G. Davey, is the owner of Tui Viti, which means Fijian King. He certainly ruled the roost, and it must have been with mixed feelings that his connections viewed his easy win.