Stewards Might Have Acted More Drastically

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 715, 15 July 1929, Page 12

Stewards Might Have Acted More Drastically

The fact that the stewards saw fit to suspend A. Hobson at Trentham on Saturday for crossing Mister Gamp, after previously treating Comical likewise, inclines one to the view that if the offence was as serious as indicated by this result, then the stewards might have gone further and reversed the placings of Overhaul and Mister Gamp. This was the unsatisfactory feature of the Winter Hurdles contest. Here are the facts of the case. Comical drew out in the lead from Overhaul coming across the top, and led to the home turn for the run in. On the bend Overhaul cut across Comical, and then when straightened up Mister Gamp came through on the inside. Overhaul and Mister Gamp came to the final hurdle in this position, and they rose and landed together, if anything the Southerner having the slightest advantage, so little that it really didn’t matter.

Once over, Overhaul bored in to the. rails—this last fence was situated at about the distar.. e post, well inside

the false rail—and Mister Gamp (a particularly hot favourite, by the way) was right on the inside. Overhaul was about half a length in front of the favourite 30 yards past the last obstacle when he went right over on to him. Up Against It Thus cut off, Ellis had to pull Mister Gamp and come on the outside of his opponent. By the time he had done so Overhaul’s preliminary advantage had been increased to perhaps a little more than two lengths. The favourite tried hard and a chain from the finishing line had got to within a length of Overhaul, but in the last few strides, recognising that he could not make it, Ellis stopped riding, and Overhaul beat him by a length and a-half, no more. The fact that Overhaul had half a lengths’ advantage over Mister Gamp when he had crossed him, and that ho then increased this to two lengths, for the final margin to be a length and a-half, suggests that without that interference there would have been a great tussle, neck-and-neck, between them. Even so, Overhaul might have won, but it would, either way, have been a matter of inches. Taking the above considerations at their face value, it would seem that the stewards might have done worse than reverse the placings of the first two horses, for it must be remembered that Overhaul’s rider was guilty of two serious breaches in the last couple of furlongs. However, thei-e it was, and Overhaul’s name is now inscribed on the records as the winner of the Winter Hurdles of 1929. His secord over the sticks is. already remarkable. He had his first race over the battens at Ellerslio last month, on June 1, to be precise. He was going well in that field of hacks when he fell heavily with a bit less than half the distance covered. The second day, in similar company, he almost spreadeagled his field, going to the front four furlongs from home and winning with the greatest ease. On the last day of the Great Northern meeting he was going nicely when he unshipped his rider at the second fence, a horse blundering just in front of him and causing all the trouble. Puzzling Failure Overhaul’s next start was at Timaru and his failure to do better than third behind Meisler and Gala Day was a body-blow to Northerners who were interested, and it was obvious that he was much below form.

Then he was brought to Trenthatn, and there won the Trentham Hurdles the first day and the WinV?r Hurdles on Saturday. Six starts over sticks and three wins, two in the best company; a third, once fallen, and once lost rider. Quite an attractive record for a horse who made his first appearance as a jumper only six weeks ago. Now he will be in the boom for the Grand National Hurdles —and he can be said to have quite as good a chance as Mister Gamp in that old established event. But, another rider will have to be secured. Hobson’s five weeks’ suspension was made so as to cover the Kiecarton meeting, the only one to come up for decision where he would no doubt be riding had the official axe not descended on Saturday. Riccarton May Tell Mister Gamp did well, but was unlucky in bumping up against such a good one as Overhaul, and to be asked to give him 241 b. proved too much. The favourite was handily placed all the way on Saturday, but tlie sloppy ground did not suit him so much as many thought it would. Indeed, his owner is or the opinion that with the better track at Riccarton he will beat Overhaul, not allowing for the better terms he is sure to come in at. Perhaps it was that on Saturday Ellis, remembering that he had conceded the field too big a start in the Trentham Hurdles the first day, made up his mind to keep within range on this occasion. In this connection the watch tells an interesting story. On the first day Mister Gamp was standing the leader no less than four and three-fifth seconds start with a mile and a-quarter to go. He was always close up in the Winter Hurdles, and at the same point he was only two seconds from the pacemaker. That inclines one to the view that probably too much use was made of the favourite in the first mile. However, there it is, and now we will have to wait for the Grand National to decide if Saturday’s result was correct. The Beaten Ones Now for the other runners in the Winter Hurdles. Comical, at a joy price, attempted to repeat his Grand National performance of a few years ago. Then he strode to the front in the last lap and v left the opposition lamenting. On Saturday he drew out five furlongs from home, but he was not to steal the stake this way, for he was collared on the home bend. Comical secured third money, and in doing so put up a really good performance. King’s Guard was a moderate fourth, 10 lengths from the winner. That he was a firm second favourite was rather surprising, for he had had a very hard race when he won the big Steeplechase. Five furlongs from home on Saturday he was going really well just behind the leaders, but he failed to come on in the straight. Locarno was always handy to the leaders, and in the Century Hurdles at Wanganui, he failed to stay on. Red Fuchsia was made plenty of use of in the early part, and then failed to see it out. Home Made struggled on to the end without ever having had a chance, and Aberfeldy was again a disappointment. never at any stage being a possibility. Nukumai faded out in the last mile and was a long way back when the leaders crossed the lino of judge’s vision. The others made no showing at all, excepting that Prince Lu was in front for a mile, and then he drifted out of the contest, finally pulling up. However, it was a stirring contest, and one worthy of the annals of the race. The ideal result from all points of view would have been for the stewards, as a result of their deliberations, and in view of the interference to the favourites at a vital stage, to cfeclare a deadheat between Mister Gamp and Overhaul. No doubt such a suggestion will be received with some measure of surprise, but why should it? It was a difficult position for the Judicial Committee to face, but that they soon made up their minds that the result would not bo disturbed was realised when the order to pay-out was given almost as smartly as usual. Recently at a pony race in Sydney there was some interference between horses battling for the lead in the rush to the judge, and the stewards set a precedent by taking the race off the winner and declaring it a dead-heat between the next pair, who had not actually dead-heated at all. Yet it was generally regarded by the critics on the other side as an excellent way out of it. So 3*ou see the stewards of the Wellington Racing Club missed a golden opportunity of making history on Saturday!

milers at the Canterbury Park New Year fixture, and again he proved his superiority by winning in splendid st.vie. Placed on 4.32 for the Timaru January meeting, Mr. McMillan’s representative was hard pushed by an outsider in Omaha (a solid ami consistent performer), but he prevailed by a neck, and justified the handicapper’s opinion b3* covering the distance in a fraction under his handicap time. Staying Ability Mr. McMillan then decided to bring his improving pacer to Auckland, and he contested the Otahuhu Cup in February, in which he was given a great show by followers of form. Fourth was the best he could do. but as his stable mate, Jean McElwyn. finished second to Glideaway, Berry’s supporters got a return for their outlay. After his good display in the Cup. it was surprising to see the Brent Locanda gelding start at long odds in the shorter heat—Myers Handicap—in which he came home on his head to pay* a good price. When the Forbury Park winter fixture eventuated Dundas Boy, from a 2.12 mark, won the flying mile in great style, spreadeagling a good field. Then followed Canterbury Park, where the son of Brent Locanda, starting at practically the outside prico of the field, finished second to the favourite, Travis Axworthy, who was in receipt of 4Sj*ds. On the final

day Berry drove the chestnut home in the big two-mile heat, which he won in 4.29 4-5. Up to this stage Dundas Boy had won his races on dry tracks, and as he had failed on a couple of occasions when the footing was heavy, his connections did not favour him under adverse conditions. Keeping this in mind, Owner McMillan was not keen on bringing tho gelding to Auckland for the winter fixture, as the track showed signs of being anything but favourable for his pacer. Surprised His Party However, being a member of the local club and anxious to assist at the meeting, he decided to let Berry make the trip, and to the surprise of owner and trainer Dundas Boy ran a great race on the opening day, ultimately making a dead-heat for first place with Padlock. But it was on the final day that the chestnut gave the public a rare taste of his qualities, and while he failed to gain a berth, the Brent Locanda gelding displayed wonderful dash. A break put him back last with a mile gone, but before another half-mile was covered was in front, and would undoubted y have won but for leaving his feet over the final furlong. So impressive was the performance of the Canterbury-trained pacer, that many’ good judges immediately ticked him off as the next New Zealand Cup winner. This, of course, is a tall order, as Dundas Boy has yet to qualify for such £n important race, but it is safe to sav that he will do so during the Addin gton August carnival. Once he can take his place among the champion two-milers, Berry can be depended upon to get his charge ready for the gruelling contest in November, and the chestnut will neither disappoint nor disgrace his party. In Good Hands Trainer Berry* must be given a whole lot of credit for the success attained by Dundas Boy*, who has not been an easy* horse to handle, and several of his wins were attributable to the excellent reinsmanship of the ex-crack galloping jockey. Berry has no peers at the business where horses are concerned, and whether it comes to training, riding or driving, his early experience of the equine peculiarities and characteristics stands to him well. Roy possesses all the necessary qualifications for getting a horse ready for such a hard race as the Cup will prove this year under its new conditions. and should ho succeed in landing the prize with Dundas Boy’ he will not be getting anything more than he deserves.