NOT FORTUNE’S FAVOURITE

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

NOT FORTUNE’S FAVOURITE

OWNER OF TOWN BIRD AND TE KAWANA UNLUCKY TF there is an unlucky owner in "*■ the Dominion it is the Waikato sportsman, Mr. F. I. Hunt, and with the ill-luck going his way his trainer, G. A. Reid, of Te Aroha, is also a victim. Mr. Hunt races Town Bird and Te Kawana, and with both horses he has had unenviable experiences. The former had been unlucky. At Ellerslie in the spring the Archiestown-Lady Birdwood gelding showed a lot of pace in the race won by Clarus, this being his first start in public. On his next appearance he was made favourite in a big field at Takapuna, and was accounted uniueky in finishing second. His next two starts were misses. Town Bird next figured in the correct cards at the Easter meeting at Feilding, a second to Vast Acre being his portion. ROBBED OF RACE From Feilding the Archiestown gelding was taken to the Manawatu meeting, and his mission was the hack sprint the first day. He won all right,

but over the last 100 yards he was on the outside of Waicullus, and was stated to have interfered with that horse. As a result, the judge’s placings were reversed, a decision that aroused a lot of comment, for the decision appeared unduly harsh. There was slight interference, and although the Northern horse won by a small margin he apparently had it on Waicullus all the way up the straight. Subsequently Town Bird raced with success at the Hawke’s Bay and Egmont meetings. Following on these experiences, Town Bird was spelled, and attention concentrated upon Te Kawana. TRENTHAM INCIDENT After winning a race in the autumn at the Te Aroha fixture, the daughter of Marble Arch and Bonny Fishwife was a disappointment, performing only moderately in several of her races. Subsequently she began to show her trainer traces of form, and it was decided to race her at Trentliam at the winter meeting. Her fkst appearance there was in the Te Aro Handicap, and after going with the pacemaker Denier (who won the second day) to the distance, she was joined a little further on by Horomea, who came up on the inside, and near the post Rowley joined issue on the outside. Thirty yards from the post the three horses were in a line, and there was promise of a stirring battle home. PINCHED OUT Unfortunately there was some interference, caused by Rowley boring in, and in this manner Te Kawana was chopped right out, and her rider had to pull her almost up. Horomea won narrowly from Rowley, and Te Kawana was a length and a-half away third. It was an unfortunate affair, for at the time Mr. Hunt’s mare was holding her own, and would probably have got second money. There was a belated inquiry, as is usual after the last race, and it was small satisfaction to Mr. Hunt that the rider of Rowley should get reprimanded for his part in the affair. The dividends were paid out on Horomea and Rowley with little delay. Perhaps the tide of fortune will turn in favour of Mr. Hunt during the new racing season which commences on August 1. It is due.