WRONG METHOD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 364, 26 May 1928, Page 7

WRONG METHOD

BUT HE WINS FOUR IN ON A DAY Most trotting enthusiasts wonder how “Jerry” McDonald drives winners, says a Sydney writer, but wondering doesn’t stop them from backing his horses and admitting that, as a winning driver, he is several cuts above any of his rivals in the harness game at present. Last week at Epping McDonald accomplished a remarkable feat when in six races he trained and drove the winner of four of them. An artistic driver McDonald is most certainly not. But he’s a mighty vigorous one, who gets every ounce out of a horse when it’s a question of pushing him along, and punters don’t really worry about the polish of a rider or driver as long as he can get there. With Alaska an odds-on favourite for the first event, a great price was secured about McDonald’s first starter. Western Derby, who eventually went out at good odds. Hard On the Driver | With Western Derby—or even Mci Donald—out of the race the favourite j would probably have won. As it was he finished second, a length and a-half beI hind Western Derby. I Next winner was Tallimba, at even ' i better odds. Jumping off fast, Tallimba ■ gave nothing else a chance, winning easily from the Victorian John MarI vin, and Flittergold. i Once again something started better backed than McDonald’s charge in the Tramway Handicap. But, despite the fact that Golden Bubbles was a short favourite, Lee Huon, at a price half as much again, was one of the heaviest backed horses in the race. And again McDonald gave nothing else a chance. He just cleared out—taking Lee Huon with him. of course—and won as he liked by four lengths from the favourite. Great Display But if McDonald was seen to advantage in his first three wins he went one better with his own horse. Marble | Ridge, in the Epping Handicap. Two Victorians, Vin Direct and John ! Marvin, were better backed candidates, and, going out of the straight the last time round, it seemed as though McI Donald had been caught napping. With a terrific burst, Vin Direct ranged up alongside him at the post, | trying to race to the lead on the turn ' out of the straight, but with a frantic | burst of energy McDonald simply hurled j Marble Ridge forward again, and, ; keeping up his vigorous attack, he j came on to victory by a length and a- ! half. i The driver received a great ovation i,—and he deserved it.