FOUR IN A LINE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 787, 7 October 1929, Page 12

FOUR IN A LINE

THE ELLERSLIE SPRINT VALUE’S PERFORMANCE Ono of the best finishes seen at Ellerslie for sonic time was that in the Shorts Handicap on Saturday. All the way up the straight there were about eight horses almost in line, all within a length of each other, with another bunch immediately following. They charged down on the judge like a troop of cavalry. Lady’s Boy won: there was not much doubt about that. The big outsider. Takutama (he was at slightly less odds than Catonian), was second, and High Finance and Value were ! right up. on the inside, with Value on ! the rails. 1 It was a warm proposition for the judge, Mr. R. B. Lusk, but he got the dividend-payers all right. However, he gave High Finance and Folyxena a dead-heat for third, whereas it should have been High Finance and Value. Finished Last. As a matter of fact Polyxena. who ran off the course at the home turn—a repetition of her two-year-old weakness—was actually last. she and Vallar crossing the line together at the tail of the field. While backers were not affected by the placing of Polyxena in third place, it means that when being handicapped next time the Chief Ruler filly will no doubt receive a couple of pounds extra weight. As against this the £25 stake is poor compensation. On the other hand. Value missed the judge's eye, and consequently she gets the benefit of an unplaced performance, in addition to not disclosing publicly to backers the fact that she finished in a place. At the same time it was rather a remarkable performance on Value’s part, for she was badly left when the barrier went up. She got a run through on the rails in the straight, and finishing with great determination she eventually reached a place, subsequently credited to Polyxena. It can be said that the way the horses finished made the judge’s task exceedingly difficult, for Lady’s Boy, outside, Takutama, next. High Finance and Value were in a heap, with Value almost obscured on the rails, farthest from the judge. It disclosed the interesting fact also that the judge’s box is probably not in the best position. When the Auckland Racing Club erects

a new members’and stewards’ stand it is quite on the cards that it will fall into line with many other clubs and make provision for the judge on the new structure. Wellington, Canterbury, Feilding and Otaki have had this arrangement for some time, and it appears to be a success.