Biggest Plunge is Badly Upset

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 849, 18 December 1929, Page 14

Biggest Plunge is Badly Upset

WRONG HORSE WON STAR GOD IMPRESSIVE Jockey W. Johnstone landed the two races, Camden Handicap and December Handicap at Warwick Farm (Sydney) the other day, on which the big double betting rested. The right price of the winning combination would have been 330 to 1, and it is questionable which gave the greater surprise, Panola or Star God. for although there was a vast difference between prices, neither stable fancied its candidate. Panola at extreme odds beat the stable’s fancied representative, Casque d’Or, who had been announced a certainty to his friends by the owner’s husband, 'Mr. W. Gollan. Miraculous Win Believed to be nowhere nearly ready, Panola’s performance was something of a miracle, for from almost the extreme outside of the barrier she got across to the inside ahead of a fast field, fought all the way with another brilliant galloper in Luita, and then beat off the challenge of Casque d’Or, who had had two previous runs, and was considered in far better condition. The fact that his stable mate was alongside, and he was on the unfancied candidate, made no difference to Johnstone’s riding. He urged his mount home with customary vigour, and it was by a long head that he upset one of the biggest plunges of recent times. Preparatory Run Star’God, fresh back from his second in the Queensland Cup in November, had not raced for a month, and his trainer, Pat Nailon, did not regard Saturday’s run with views of prospective success, but more as an outing likely to fit him for the Summer Cup. Consequently he advised nobody to back him, and Star God’s price eased from 5 to 1 to double figures. The Banker was considered a certainty for this event, and so he looked when he had beaten off Dion’s persistent attempt to steal the lead from him, and had conquered Papatu’s challenge at the straight entrance. But the efforts to hold his own against these told when suddenly Stai •God ranged up on the outside with a final challenge. The Banker battled on bravely, but he couldn’t withstand this last tilt, and had to give way in the end. Star God won by half a length. Seen at His Best Johnstone was thus seen at his best in landing these outsiders, but, of course, the double could hardly be said to be popular with punters. It was Star God’s first win in Australia, but it may not be the last of such a good stayer. Apparently he is only galloping when a mile and a-half has been run, and his Summer Cup chance with 8.1, or two pounds less than he carried on Saturday, should be a very strong one. Star God is a brother to Star Stranger.