STRANGE DOINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 365, 28 May 1928, Page 10

STRANGE DOINGS

AT SYDNEY PONIES RANSACK AND DAL EATON Two runners from the formidable J. Smith stable in the first division of the Ascot Flying at Sydney recently provided the incidents of the day’s rac r ing and though the stewards’ tasks are never enviable ones, their actions were peculiar. They changed the rider of Ransack, outsider, though the mare had the very remotest chance of winning, yet they continue to allow the more than ordinarily inconsistent running of Dal Eaton, the winner, to pass unnoticed. Because of action by the Board of Control many years ago, the stewards’ hands are more or less tied in the matter of reversals of form, but it does seem peculiar from the public point of view that it should be allowed to go on. The action taken over Ransack was one that could find very few' supporters among the better judges, says a Sydney writer, and how the stewards came to take it is hard to understand. Had they desired to take any action in connection with the once well-per-formed ex-New Zealand mare, the correct procedure would have been to refuse her permission to start, for her condition was such as to settle any chance she may have had, even apart from the poorness of her recent form. What Was the Big Idea? Injuries sustained from a trip from Richmond a few weeks back had not completely healed. She had been stripped down the near quarter almost completely, and moved from the saddling enclosure with a sore appearance.

What the stewards had in mind, therefore, in replacing the apprentice’ It. May, with Alf Stanton, is unknown. Of course, they have their duty to perform in protecting the public, who are the first to squeal at anything which goes against them, but it is safe to say that no more than £lO was speculated on Ransack throughout the whole of the ring, and consequently no one was to suffer by the apprentice being given the mount on the mare for experience. Must Learn to Ride

Apprentices must get their share of race riding to have a chance of improving their ability, and by having the ride in good company on Ransack May would have possibly learnt more in the few moments of the race than by months on the track. That the move in giving the mount on Ransack to Alf Stanton had no effect on the result of the race was shown by the mare’s position at the rear of the field at the finish. Ransack was in front early, but she is of little account in her present condition. But while the stewards were particularly active over Ransack’s rider, they were unable to take any action over the remarkable reversal of form shown by the winner, Dal Eaton, a reversal similar to many previously associated with the same horse. Not Sighted At Victoria Park a fortnight ago Dal Eaton, hot favourite for the V.P. Handicap, had as easy a race as any winner for a long time, and his success was an indication of many to follow. At Rosebery, in the first division of the Cup on Saturday, Dal Eaton, about whom not a penny was wagered, beat one horse home after not having a possible chance at any stage of the race. Yet at Ascot yesterday Dal Eaton made hacks of the opposition, a similar collection to those which had cast him to the rear four days earlier. Improved Greatly How, on that form, Dal Eaton could have been expected by his connections to reverse the decision and win yesterday is hard to follow. Y r et they backed Dal Eaton from good odds against until at one time the best offer was evens. The stewards are in an unfortunate position in such cases, for the appeal board has given them a precedent such that they cannot well overlook. Years ago Tortoise was disqualified for winning at Rosebery, after an unplaced effort elsewhere, but the board upheld the subsequent appeal. Since then the stewards have refrained from such action, realisingthat the board will only repeat its , previous action. But it is a position that, from a point of view of the public protection, apparently calls for action in some direction.

NEWCASTLE CUP DION BEATS TWO IMPORTED HORSES SYDNEY, May 27. Following is the result of the Newcastle Cup, run yesterday: DION, br h, by Demosthenes— Linaceae, 6yrs, 7.10 i BON A VENT ERE, ch g, by Billingham—Bojarin, 6yrs, 7.6 2 BAGPIPES, ch g, by Polyphonic— Corrie Inville, 6yrs, 7.8 3 Seventeen started. Won by a head. Time, 2.24 . RACING FIXTURES May 26—Am berley R.C. June 2, 4—Otaki-Maori R.C. • June 2,4, 6—Dunedin J.C. June 2,4, 6—Auckland R.C. June 16—Napier Park R.C. June 20—Hawke’s Bay Hunt. June 22, 23—Hawke’s Bay J.C. June 30, July 2—Te Kuiti R.C. July 7—Ashburton County R.C. July 11, 12, 14—Wellington R.C. July 19 —Waimate District Hunt. July 21—South Canterbury Hunt. July 28—Christchurch Hunt Club.