Thames Cup Contest Marred at Start

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 313, 26 March 1928, Page 10

Thames Cup Contest Marred at Start

GOLD JACKET’S VICTOR NELSON TASKER’S SLRPRjsg Without in any way attempting to detract from the well-deaervM and meritorious victory of G.Tj Jacket in the Thames Cup d Saturday, it must be admitted contest did not come up to eap.. tations. Several competitor, their chances extinguished at »ul start and this robbed the event of certain amount of interest. * When Peter Grattan reared un . the start of the Thames Cup on day, he made across the track on ins his feet again, and Dundas Tamerlane and Reremai suffwrL,' through the occurrence. ~ The race proved a good betting o n*> and when the machine was finally art ‘ justed, Dundas Boy was a slighri better favourite. With £ 541. than thl Explosion—Direct Morning brari£! £SIS. Tamerlane was also solirtw backed with £478, but last year-sW?,; ner, Gold Jacket was only support*! to the extent of £lB9, and when hi ultimately landed the stake he paid a

double-figure dividend. Good and all as the price paid by Mr. Parke’s horse was, it was put in the shade bv the great figure returned by Nelson Tasker who struggled out the journey to get second money. Had Mr. Nichollsg pacer exchanged places with the winner his few supporterss would have received a dividend in the vicinity of the allotted span of life. But Peter Grattan was not the only candidate that lost ground at the start Explosion also refusing to strike a gait, and even after settling down thr ex-Hawera pacer *\vas wobbly and his driver did not persevere with him after a circuit. Dundas Boy. when he did get away, was at a break, and failed to correct himself until all hope was gone. Gold Dial, usually a stay-at-the-post mare, began in fine style and Williamssan had her in a handy position. Toll Chimes and Peter McKinney ,ed out of the tapes, but by the time back straight was reached, Dir?ci Morning had run through to the ■van followed by Lord Nepean, Gold Dial, Reremai, who suffered somewhat at he start, and Van Rich. Crossing the top Lord Nepean wrested the lead frani

Direct Morning, and they passed the stand with Gold Dial, Peter McKinney. Reremai, Nelson Tasker and Van Rich following in a bunch. Nelson Tasker put in a fast run along the back stretch which carried him up to Gold Dial, while Gold Jacket had worked up behind Van Rich. Making for the straight Nelson Tasker was taken to the front and he turned for home attended by Gold Dial, Gold Jacket, Lord Nepean, Reremai, Van Rich, and Tamerlane. Once straightened up for the box. Andy Bryce gave Gold Jacket a free rein and the Gold Bell gelding soon cut down the pair in front of him. Gold Dial went after the black horse but could make no impression, and passing the Press stand the result was in safe keeping. But a great struggle was in progress for second dividend, Nelson Tasker, under punishment, making desperate efforts to overhaul Gold Dial. His task 50yds from the post seemed hopeless, but the Wellsford mare stopped badly over the final pinch, and. not only did A. Ayres’s charge beat her for the second dividend, but Reremai got up to collar the minor piece of the stake. The manner in which Gold Dial stopped came as just as great a surprise as the improvement in stamina shown by Nelson Tasker. After Williams’s mare came Lord Nepean. Tamerlane, Van Rich and Reliance, with the favourite never in the picture.