How the Alison Cup Was Won and Lost

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 526, 1 December 1928, Page 10

How the Alison Cup Was Won and Lost

It was distinctly unfortunate that the roughest race at Talcapuna yesterday should have been the Alison Cup, the big event of the day. From the time the barrier wg.s released until the field swung round the home bend for the short run to the judge there was trouble, and plenty of it. There were 11 horses in the field, quite enough under Jthe circumstances, but had there been more than that a tragedy might well have been recorded. It is astonishing what risks riders will continue to take, and a majority of the accidents that happen can safely be put down to the incompetence and negligence of some of the boys on top. When Le Chcucas crashed two and a-l.alf furlongs from home yesterday it was not the fault of the horse or the course. It was simply that he was knocked over by another horse with an incompetent rider aboard. After the race one of the boys said it wasthe roughest he had’ overridden in—and it did not require an extra strong pair of field-glasses to discover what was wrong. Frankly it was a race full of disappointments, for there was so much interference that the chances of more than one horse were absolutely ruined. Tinokoa was literally all over the course during the contest, his apprentice rider apparently having little control. He started the trouble immediately after the dispatch; again going out of the straight, and approaching the five furlong post. To cap all his previous antics, the culminating point came when Tinokoa cannoned into Le Choucas and knocked him over. It looked an ugly smash, but fortunately a shaking and a mild bruising were the sole extent of Jockey Barry’s mishap. It was a particularly lucky get-out. Connor, the pilot of Tinokoa, was having his second ride in public, and he proved conclusively that he is scarcely conversant enough with the requirements of a track rider to be allowed to ride in public—a very different thing to riding work. Indeed, it was far from wise to have the boy participating in such an important event, although when all is said and done it really matters little whether the race is a maiden or cup class, the element of danger is always there. It will be argued that race riding is the only, actual practice apprentices receive outside of riding work. But this is only another reason why the Racing Conference should step in and require apprentices to be tried out, as in Australia, before issuing a brief. But to get back to the race. There were two big disappointments, Corinax and Royal Boulton. The former was apparently in a sulk, for he stuck his toes in and refused to gallop at any part of the trip. He was last at the end of a furlong, and he just stayed there all 4.he way.- He and his rider got a wonderful view of the race, and his backers got a splendid view’ of their fancy. It is ever so much easier to see your horse if it is miles m front or ditto at the rear The race served to show Corinax in a new frame, and now those who have had him in mind for the Auckland Cup will have something to ponder over. Not that the Magpie gelding can be ruled out for one dewas lns:lorious and stubborn that it Royal Boulton, who was well fan - cied by her owners, failed for the very simple reason that she was knocked from piljar to post, and her

1 fat© might have been every bit as bad as that which befell Le Choucas. She “got it” soon after the start, in the straight, along the back, and when Le Choucas fell a few lengths in front of her she had to step over the fallen horse. Royal Doulton stuck too 1 closely to the rails, and with her early speed and number one marble it seemed as if a good chance was lost through not allowing her to get a position well forward, as was done when she scored in the Bargaville Cup. But of course it is easy to be wise after the event. Full of Merit Although the actual winner, Transformer had the way made much easier for him through the first and second favourites performing as stated, he won sc well, and at the right end, that both Corinax and Royal Boulton w'ould have had to do their best to keep with him over the last bit. He was well back early, and five furlongs from home he commenced to move forward, and going round the field approaching the straight had the race won as soon as they straightened up. The race was probably run to suit Transformer, for a hot pace was set and the pacemakers had little in reserve at the finish. The first three furlongs and 40 yards took 41 3-5 (equivalent to 39 for the even three furlongs), 1.20 and 1.32 2-5 for the five and six furlongs plus the 40yds; but it took 53 1-5 to cover the last half-mile, with the winner’s time a couple of ticks longer, ample evidence that it was the pace that killed the leaders. A Fine Price It was rather extraordinary that Transformer, who had been penalised 61b (and it was not worth more) *.or his Te -L*.uiti Cup victory, carried another 61b overweight. That showed how confident his connections were. The dividend returned by the winner was a nice one, but it was not as good as that given by Thursby for second, this horse being at long odds. He battled on strongly at the end, and he beat the others as easily as he himself was beaten. Tinokoa’s chequered career did not prevent him from getting third money. Indeed when he ranged alongside the leaders at the home turn it seemed as if a surprise was in store. Papatu was fourth, but at no stage did he look like a potential winner. Desert Glow was a disappointment, for he was always prominent until he began to peter out over two furlongs from home. He still runs ungenerously at times. Getting Into Shape Seatown, that jaunty Taranaki customer, stripped in much better condition than many expected, and he should be in fine order for the midsummer meetings. He was always in the picture, although It did not seem good policy to make so much use of him under 9.0, un.ess his rider was but carrying out instructions. Mint Leaf hand.ed the turns better J£ an . hitnerto, and he was handy at the home turn. Le Choucas was going strongly when he fell, and he might have been difficult to beat, although the accident happened a bit too lar from heme. Golden Wedding was going nicely until he, too, got into the mix-up along the back It is quite probable that the best horse on the day won, but it was a very unsatisfactory race in many ways.