HIATA’S WIN YESTERDAY WOULD BE A PROFITABLE ONE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 646, 24 April 1929, Page 12

HIATA’S WIN YESTERDAY WOULD BE A PROFITABLE ONE

Leaving Auckland a month ago as a maiden performer, Hiata will return to these shores as a winner, for he scored his first success yesterday when he saluted the judge at an up-the-line meeting from Sydney. SEVERAL, days ago—Tuesday of last week, to be precise—signs were not wanting in Auckland sporting circles that Iliata was due to go off, but for some reason or other he was scratched. They were on the job yesterday, however, and the joyful news came to hand privately that the llvllus gelding had duly delivered the goods at Gosford. The surprising part about it was the price returned by Hiata. which was about twice as liberal as would have been received from the t.otalisator had the race Ijeen run round this part of the country. It was hardly likely that anything between a five and six pound dividend could have been secured. Now that the Avondale-trained representative has broken the ice. he may go on winning, even if not in the best company, then at meetings away from Randwick, which is to New South Wales what Ellerslie is to this province. It is a feather in the cap of his Avondale owner-trainer. J. W. Cathro, that he should have his horse so thoroughly attuned when his party set out for a clean-up, for it is more than likely that some fairly big money would be handled. Jockey E. Manson went across to ride Iliata, and presumably he wa«* on the box seat yesterday. We may also presume that certain critics will slate him for riding a poor race; it’s a way some of these ahti-Dominion scribes cannot get out of. Such criticism is so hostile that it is pretty generally scorned, and thus loses its value even when apparently justified. Rightly or wrongly, it has been no secret that the Hiata had high hopes of bringing back a

whole heap of Australian coin J through the agency of the Avondale horse—£2,ooo was the sum aimed at. It is quite on the cards that that figure would be lifted yesterday, particularly if the commission was left with the city pencillers at starting price. This would account in large measure for the liberal odds laid about Hiata. for, judiciously worked, the money could be placed within a few minutes of starting-time, thus precluding the possibility of it being sent to the course and thus bringing down the starting-price. Even in this country big money is put on the totalisator by bookmakers, who have been overloaded with investments on a certain horse. On one occasion a solid £6OO in hard cash was. to. the writer’s certain knowledge, put on one horse through the totalisator at a metropolitan meeting, more than one penciller being concerned in the investment. It is immaterial that the horse was well beaten. Going back a few weeks, it will be j remembered that Hiata was made f-av- 1 ourite in the maiden affair at Rotorua, finishing third. A month later, his next outing was at Pukekohe, he was again favourite in a simila # r class, but was out of a place. His appearance on that occasion was commented upon in these columns, the gelding being referred to, on looks alone, as dominating : the field, and certainly he was a 50 ! per cent, better horse than at Rotorua. The following week he was unplaced at Paeroa. but little notice was taken of that result. A few days later he was on the way to Australia—a decision that broadcasted the suspicion that Hiata was some good. Although the stake money attached to yesterday’s race won by Hiata would be small (in all probability un- : dor three figures), the betting market | could be relied upon to provide the -inews of war, and a- little' bit extrn In the meantime, further details of j lliata/s successful outing yesterday \ ] will be awaited with interest.