Mishaps Frequent at Ellerslie This Morning

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 800, 22 October 1929, Page 12

Mishaps Frequent at Ellerslie This Morning

Currajong Injured

Some men are born lucky. With others a run of ill-luck continues for a long time before Fortune's wheel turns in their direction. TN this latter category can be placed 1 the well-known Auckland f sportsman, Mr. M. J. Lynch, who is now threatened with the loss of the services of the promising three-year-old, Currajong", as the result, of a rather startling accident at Ellerslie this morning - , the brown gelding receiving severe injuries. Training operations at headquarters this morning were marked by an extraordinary sequence of mishaps, bearing out in full that old maxim, it never rains but it pours. Incidentally overnight rain had something to do with at least one of the accidents, making the grass greasy and slippery. The horses were worked on number two grass track, with the pegs midway across that track to keep the horses on the outside, and thus cramping the room for galloping purposes. An accident which gave every appearance of a nasty affair was that of Currajong, when the Lueullus three-year-old accompanied Good Idea over half a mile at a strong three-quarter pace. Currajong was inclined to hang out all the way, and lOytfls from the finishing post he swerved right out, crash-

ing heavily on to the end of the railing and turning a complete somersault over the fence, landing on to the next track, the tan. Both rider (J. Conquest) and horse lay where they had fallen, but after a short lapse of time Conquest recovered sufficiently to enable him to be removed to his home. In escaping with nothing more than abrasions to the right leg the Ellerslie horseman must be considered fortunate, lor obviously he had a miraculous escape. The full extent of Currajong’s injuries will not be known for two or three days yet, but at present the sinews and muscles of his neck and shoulder are under veterinary attention, Dr. Ring having the gelding under his care. The culminating point was reached when Bennie and Lady’s Boy were dispatched over a round on the course proper. Bennie was ridden by his usual pilot, A. Nordstrand, and consequent on making the turn into the back stretch too sharp, the horse went down on his knees, with the result thut Nordstrand, was shot clean out of the saddle. The boy retained his hold of the reins and with Bennie unable to recover the pair became entangled.

But for a slight bruise. Xordstrand escaped unscathed, and the horse, too. appeared none the worse for the incident when he was eventually caught. Shortly after the tracks were declared open, trainer J. X. Buchanan sent Patutahi. a recent addition to his stable, out to accomplish a five-furlong gallop with Red I.ion. The former had apprentice R. Mcßae as his pilot, and momentarily off his balance ran into one of the tlags staked on number two grass track for the purpose of preventing horses from using the inside running. Patutahi made instant contact with terra firma, shooting his rider out of the saddle at the same moment. However, all’s well that ends well, as in this case, and horse and rider were eventually associated in another gallop. This serious mishap to Currajong came at a particularly unfortunate time. A few days before the recent Auckland meeting he put 41 p a remarkably good gallop over s>x furlongs, and on that trial seemed certain to get in the money at the Ellerslie fixture. But Lame * Fortune is a fickle jade, and when everything might have been set for a nice coup in the hack mile the first day—the Lueullus gelding was at odds of over a score to one against—he was badly left at the start, together with a couple of others. Even then he

was flying in fourth place at the finish, a good thing beaten. This good performance might have got to the bottom of Currajong, for he was feeling the effects of that hard race, and Mr. Lynch was in two minds about starting him the second day. However, the horse was allowed to take his chance, and, well supported by the public, he went another good race into fourth place. That was his last outing. On his Ellerslie showings Currajong looked a good thing for the meetings on the country circuit at least, so that his disappearance from the race track, even if fortunately such absence should bo only temporary, represents a big loss to his owner. Last season Currajong started only a few times and raced promisingly among the two-year-olds, winning on the second day of the Ohinemuri meeting last autumn. It is to be hoped that the popular French grey jacket with its green sleeves and cap will be figuring prominently on the turf again in the near future, if not borne by Currajong, then by the same owner’s two-year-old, Spring Song. i