Race is Not Lost Until it is Wort

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 993, 9 June 1930, Page 12

Race is Not Lost Until it is Wort

Exciting Hurdles Contest

At a jumping meeting racegoers are always prepared for the worst The horse they are financially interested in may fall, or be brought down by another horse. But on Saturday at Ellerslie they were offered some choice entertainment. This was in the Campbell Hurdles, an open event. There were only half a dozen acceptors, and one of these, Kamehamelia. took on the Steeplechase. It seems almost superfluous to say that he baulked before the end of that race. The public appeared to be right in plumping solidly for Taumai, who had won his two races on the preceding davs in impressive style, and yet he was at a remarkably liberal price, everything considered. Ridden Into Trouble The excitement commenced early. Taumai was on Prince Lu s quarters at the second fence, and the latter pecked on landing. At the next hurdle Taumai blundered badly and went down on his nose, both horse and rider recovering cleverly. This left Prince Lu well clear of the field, but there was little pace on, and it was obvious that Prince Lu had been unsettled by Taumai running with him. Coming to the fourth obstacle, just beyond the winning post and right opposite the members’ stand. Prince Lu was not far in front of Taumai and

Mangani, and Mister Gamp had been ridden into an awkward postion just behind Taumai. with Mangani on bis outside and slightly in front. It looked bad. and the crash duly came. Didn’t See the Fence Mister Gamp didn’t sight the fence until he was right on it, and he put in a couple of short ones, but hit the top heavily and down he came. Daylight fell over Mister Gamp, performing a most spectacular somersault. Fortunately there was no seriotis injuries reported. This left only three in the race. Going down the back Prince Lu was bowling along half a dozen lengths ahead of Mangani, with Taumai dropping back. No doubt that blunder at the third fence was still having its effect. Prince Lu was tiring as he led across the top, and Mangani ran up to him as they took the penultimate hurdle. At this stage they were the best part of a dozen lengths in front of the favourite, and this gap had only been reduced a couple of lengths -ns they negotiated the home bend. Mangani and Prince Lu approached the final obstacle still on terms. Here the former displayed his wayward tendencies by running the fence down badly, whereas his opponent got over safely. H. Dulieu managed to g?t Mangani to scramble over, and then the horse slipped and sat down, and his rider stepped off. In the meantime Prince Lu was making for the judge, but so tired was he that the gelding adopted the tactics of a windjammer sailing into the wind —he commenced tacking! Taumai was still standing after clearing the last hurdle, and his chance then was well nigh hopeless, although he was assured of second monev £IOO. Suddenly there was a wild roar from

the crowd when tliev saw * tiring badly. FTlnc * U Not a Forlorn Hop. Even 300 yards from the post it still looked as if Taumai wooS not do better than finish a mm, v second. His rider. H. Turner ££ had the whip out. and he commttol to overhaul the leader. Prince I.u hung out. and when Ta„ mai got close enough to go past h.2 on the inside Prince Lu tacked the rails, and Taumai came on tl.. outer. Twenty yards from hom. i, still was a good thing for the leader. A few yards farther on Prince Lu almost stopped dead for a soliln quoy! While he was ponderin, the why and wherefore of thii racing game the unexpected ha„. pened. Up flashed Taumai, and although v. did not get to Prince Lu till alm 0 „ on the post, he won by a length. Thai will give some indication of how hadlr Prince Lu had stopped. The hor» was done to a frazzle, and over th* final little bit of the two-milo trio was barely walking. p ne Cheers for Victor The success of the favourite was no doubt all the more welcome to the public, not only his backers, because it was so totally unexpected, and it was only the gameness of horse and rider that carried the day. Taumai, after his early blunder, did not jump at a’l well, and it was surprising to see him complete the course. The position was well put by one commentator, when he declared that had Taumai been ridden by a more experienced horseman We would have been pulled up during the race. And represents the opinion of the majority. Mangani. after lie fel. was immediately remounted an-1 cantered homt from the last fence to collect the £5« that went to the third horse. Had li*> not completed the course this £;« would have remained in the Auckland Racing Club’s treasury, for the conditions of all its races nowadays are that stakes for first, second and third horses are to go only to the horses finishing in those places. For instance, for years it has been the custom for the winning horse to take the third prize money in addition to fi-st if r*» horse finishes third. Saturday’s race was one of the most interesting and exciting ever seen at Ellerslie, and it proved a. triumph for grit, a refusal to acknowledge defeav That is how Taumai won. Probably the most sorrowful individual after the race was W. J. Bouden, Mister Gamp’s rider. His horse had only to stand up and the race ws* a gift to him. judging by the final result. Instead his impetuosity got him into trouble.