TO NOTHING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 134, 27 August 1927, Page 6

TO NOTHING

MERRY MINT’S WIN TOUR ALREADY PAID FOR New Zealand trainer J. Cameron has the rest of his trip going to nothing. Though the Three-Year-Old Handicap won by Merry Mint at Moorefield a fortnight ago was worth only £l5B, the commission for the gelding was one of the biggest for some time. And the manner of Merry Mint’s victory indicated further trouble for the fielders from that source. For years now New Zealanders have seen the wisdom of winning even small races in Sydney. Good horses have been brought across early to become acclimatised, and with them have come ordinary performers to pay expenses while the champions are in preparation. PART OF PREPARATION It has been customary to find New Zealand horses doing well in August, and Merry Mint has carried on the good work. Merry Mint, however, is

a different proposition from those winners of previous years. He was brought to Sydney with a view to decent prizes, not suburban races, and his run was simply to bring him to his top. His form in New Zealand was not particularly striking, but there must have been something behind it to cause Cameron’s good opinion. And, to prove his pace, Merry Mint registered a fast seven-furlong gallop at Rand wick that immediately attracted attention to him and assured the taking of a short price in the race. SMALL ODDS At a Gloaming price the books possibly thought they had stopped the rush, but the demand continued, and at the barrier rise punters were asked to lay odds. paying odds on is a trap from which the majority of racegoers try to escape, but Merry Mint proved himself worthy to be at such a short price. Actually he never appeared to be out of a canter. He was in front when the field came in view, and continued in that position without undue exertion until the post was passed. At the turn Flinders was the only runner with any possibility of beating Merry Mint.. At the time he was within a length of the New Zealander, but instead of finishing on he lost ground in the straight and was two lengths behind at the end. In view of the particularly weak field, it may be unwise to be carried away with Merry Mint’s victory, but even taking that into account it seems probable that he wall pick up a minor race in the spring, even if the bigger prizes are beyond him. He has the excellent combination of early pace and stamina. MEETINGS TO COME August 27. —Taranaki Hunt September 2-3.—Marton J.C. September 8-10.—Wanganui J.C. September 9.—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt (at Wanganui). September 10. —Otago Hunt Club September 14.—Dannevirke R.C. September 15.—Dannevirke Hunt September 24.—Ashburton R.C. September 24-26.—Avondale J.C. (at Ellerslie) ' September 24-26.—Napier Park R C September 29-30.—Geraldine R.C. October I.—Hawke’s Bay J.C. October s.— Manawatu Hunt Club October 6.—Kurow J.C. October 7-B.—Otaki-Maori R.C. October 8-10.—Oamaru J.C. October 8-10.—Auckland R.C. October 13-15.—Whangarei R.C. October 13-15.—Dunedin J.C. October 15.—Carterton R.C. October 19-20.—Cromwell J.C. October 22-24.—Wellington R.C. October 22-24.—Waikato R.C. October 24.—Waverlev R.C. October 24-26.—Gore R.C. October 24.—Waipawa Cty. R.C. October 29-31—Thames J.C. October 24.—X. Canterbury R.C.