RACING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 152, 17 September 1927, Page 7

RACING

CONTINUED WHY MERRY? REVERSAL OF FORM BACKERS WHO MISSED In winning the Hobartville Stakes the New Zealander, Merry Mint, gave some backers an awful shock. Those were the punters who backed Merry Mint as if unbeatable at Kosehill recently. Merry Mint failed on that occasion. At Warkiwck Farm he gave nothing a chance. It was a striking reversal of form.

On form Merry Mint did not appear to possess bright prospects of winning the Warwick Farm race, says the “Sunday Times.” No doubt he won at his first start in this country in remarkably easy fashion, but at Rosehill he was beaten into third place by Prime Don and Chromium. It looked as if he would find the seven furlongs in the Hobartville Stakes beyond him. But the reverse proved the case. And, by the way, someone did not forget to back the Catmint gelding as if he were unbeatable. Some of the bigges~. wagers of the day were written against his name.

On what grounds Merry Mint was so confidently backed it is difficult to fathom. Evidently some people were under the impression they knew something. Whether they did or not it is difficult to say, but the fact remains that Merry Mint was responsible for a glaring reversal of form.

It was no wonder that the bookmakers offered double figures against Merry Mint recently. When he started at Rosehill he was a solid favourite. He was beaten. And that was in a field of poorer quality than that met with at Warwick Farm. Why, then, was he so confidently backed? This is a question that many backers "ho supported Merry Mint at Rosehill but who failed to support him at Warwick Farm are asking. MEETINGS TO COME September I?—Otasro Hunt Club September 24.—Ashburton R.C. September 24-26.—Avondale J.C. (at Ellerslie) September 24-26. —Mapler Park R.C. September 29-30.—Geraldine R.C. October I. —Hawke's Say J.C. October 6. Manawatu Hunt Club October 6.—Kurow J.C. October 7-B.—Otakl-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 21, 22 —Waikato R.C. October 24.—Waikato Hunt. October 24.—Waverlev R.C. October 24-26 —Gore R.C.