The Trainers' Nightmare

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 236, 24 December 1927, Page 7

The Trainers' Nightmare

Manawatu and Wellington Cups. The late Jack O'Shea, who was associated with Desert Gold in most of her victories, won the Cup twice, on Balboa in 1915 and Te Kara nine years afterwards. Then come several present-day riders. Roy Reed in 1910 piloted Depredation and Rapine two years back. It is only the injury to an eye at Takapuna recently that keeps him off Star Stranger’s back on Monday. L. G. Morris came home on Mascot in 1918, her weight being 6.13, considerably below what the Marton horseman will be riding next week, his lowest nowadays being in the vicinity of 8.4. Then came T. Glover on Starland and A. Dixon on Malaga. The latter does some riding still round Gisborne way, where he trains a few horses. Eighteen months ago Dixon visited the Feilding Easter meeting and practically scooped the riding pool. Maurice McCarten was successful but once, on Scion after that gelding had won the New Zealand Cup, and he is now doing well in Australia. W. Bagbv and H. Goldfinch, neither of whom is riding at present, were associated in the only dead heat in the race,

when the two light-weights. Muraahi and Te Kara, were bracketed together in the Cup of 1923. The former gelding was last seen as the hack of the clerk_ of the course at Wanganui, but Te Kara, like a certain old-fashioned

strong, and only three months ago won the Avondale Cup. Te Kara won the Cup outright the following year, and so made a complete atonement, although even on the racecourse half a loaf is better than no oats. Last season the Ellerslie horseman. S. Henderson, probably had the most successful run of all the Dominion’s

horsemen, for after piloting Tanadees home in the Auck- ; land Cup he had a great spin, winning among other races the Great Northern Steeplechase. Wellington Steeple- ; chase and Grand National Steeple- j chase, as well as having a number of j successes at the Great Northern meeting, apart from his one big win.

Of jockeys that have won the Cup there *are few available for this year’s race, not more than seven—R. Reed, L. Morris, S. Henderson, F. E. Jones. C. Emerson. J. Conquest and C. Browne. And some of them will not be taking part. It will be noticed that Hector Gray, probably the best horseman the Dominion has seen in recent years, has not been successful in an Auckland Cup. Now lie linn lefr his run tor. late: