Saddle Merchants Go Fast at Hutt Park

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 466, 22 September 1928, Page 7

Saddle Merchants Go Fast at Hutt Park

OTHERS AFFECTED BY HEAVY CONDITIONS On a holding track in which the majority of winners were overlapping their handicap time by eight and ten seconds, it seems strange that in the mile saddle heat the first and second horses should succeed in getting a shade under what the adjuster set them to do. That, however, is the position as given by the official time recorder at Hutt Park on Saturday last. It could not be that the track improved as the racing progressed, as judging by the results in the event before and after the race in question, the course was still in a state that did not favour fast time. Yet despite this drawback. Rebel and Granite City, first and second respectively in the Stewards’ Handicap of one mile, got slightly under their handicap, while the third horse, Loch Moigh, managed to stop the watch in accordance with his adjustment, 2.13. A Big Difference When it is taken into consideration that Padlock accounted for the Cup Trial event off a 2.43 mark in 2.53 3-5, and Pageant, who was sucessful in the Bollard Memorial Handicap, took 4.47 3-5 from a 4.36 peg, the feat of the saddle contestants is all the more remarkable. In running eight furlongs on such a track in 2.15 Rebel, a son of Logan Pointer and Feudal Chimes, certainly put up a fine achivement, while Granite City, another son of Logan Pointer from a mare named Lady Beatty, did not fall far short of the winner’s effort by recording 2.15 3-5. In running from 36yds behind through a good field, and registering 2.13, Loch Moigh gave further proof (if any was required) that he is the real goods. A New Starter The Stewards’ Handicap was evidently destined to be marked for special favours, as apart from the fact of the noteworthy “clock” incident, the heat was started by Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, and from all accounts the great aviator made as good a job of the business as he does of air conquests. Of course, with the excitement of such an occurrence, the timekeepers may have forgotten to start the tickers with the jump out, as it is only natural all eyes would be glued on the new starter. However, it is taken that the time was O.K. and the performances of the placed horses, under such track conditions, will cause them to b§ kept in the public mind for future engagements. Still it seems strange that there should be such a difference in the times recorded.