GREAT CHANCE LOST

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 453, 7 September 1928, Page 6

GREAT CHANCE LOST

BIG COUP MISSED

LADY’S BOY MIGHT HAVE WON TWO RACES

An excellent chance of bringing off a great coup at Marton was lost on Wednesday through • the failure of those connected with the gelding to obtain the services of an accomplished rider. His track work at Wanganui was such as to ensure solid support for him in his engagements on Wednesday, so that it could hardly be claimed that his price at starting would have been affected to any extent by the giving of the ride to a fashionable jockey. Why do they do it? is a question that is often asked after what should have been a certainty gets beaten through lack of horsemanship. On Wednesday K. Robinson—who by no stretch of the imagination can be called a first-class horseman—was entrusted with the handling of Lady’s Boy on each occasion he saw the post. Made it Too Hot At Wanganui a few days previously the Some Boy II gelding had run a slick six breaking fifty for the first four on a dead track. That made him look the goods for Marton. He was saddled up in the Spring Hack Cup, run over a seven furlong course in holding ground, and although he has not shown any great form beyond six furlongs he was well backed to beat Pangolin. Before they had gone a furlong Lady’s Boy was out clear, and he made such a welter that at the home turn he was four lengths clear. Once straightened up he tired, and then Pangolin, ridden a characteristic waiting race by Reed, went after him and soon had him beaten. Stole the Race In the open sprint Lady’s Boy was again produced, and he was a solid second favourite. On this occasion he did. not get near the leaders until half the journey had been covered, the boy probably riding to instructions. Once in the straight, however, he put in a good run and had the pacemaker. Oration, beaten half a furlong from the judge, and the jockey was content to keep half a length in advance of the Taranaki horse. Fifty yards from the post Biimp put in an appearance, and young Murray pushed him up between the two in front. Lady’s Boy met his challenge, but the race was over and Blimp had won by a neck. It really looked as if Robinson had been caught napping; in any case, he took a chance and lost through not keeping him with Oration, for had Blimp had to run round him it is just possible that he would not have got up. Should Win Soon Lady’s Bay is engaged at Wanganui next week, and if he is taken to the front there as in the Spring Hack he should have more than a sporting chance of bringing off a win, for ne is in rare fettle, and in addition the turning track will be all in his favour. On the other hand, some of those he met in his two races at Marton will be improved considerably as a result '’of their race, and therefore Lady’s Boy will not have such an advantage in condition.

Mr. W. Henderson’s five-year-old failed in the Spring Hack because he was made altogether too much use cf in the. middle stages. In the open sprint he was beaten apparently by carelessness on the part of his pilot, who did not keep a weather eye open on his inside. Probably, however, the hard race earlier in the day robbed the gelding of some of his vitality for a dour stable; but all the same, Blimp should not have been allowed to pokeup on the inside as he did—it was cheeky, and came off. A clear case of an apprentice seizing an opening left by an inexperienced horseman.