CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1939, Page 9

CURRENT TOPICS FROM STABLE AND COURSE

Remarkable Versatility of A. E. Ellis 100 PER CENT AVERAGE IN LEADING FENCE EVENTS INSTILLED OWN SUPREME CONFIDENCE IN SURVOY (BY “CARBINE.”) With something like 42 wins to his credit, A. E. Ellis ranks sixth on the iockeys’ list this season, but by reason of his remarkable versatility he has overshadowed all his rivals. His wonderful exhibition of horsemanship in the Wellington Steeplechase was the highlight of his outstanding run of successes. After Survoy returned to the scale on the first day at Trentham the riding tactics during the race were such that considerably different views were held by critics in summing up the value of form. Supporters of Gold Wren, Power Chief and Slayer all claimed that their horse would have won if handled differently. All, however, we ' unanimous that it was only the superb horsemansnip of Ellis that won

Survoy the race.

Jumping in slovenly style Survoy made three particularly bad attempts any of which would have been fatal for most horsemen, but Ellis simply would not be “punched” out of the saddle. After each mistake, Ellis just sat on Survoy not in the least perturbed and allowed his mount to bowl along quickly at the next fence. He seemed to almost instil his own supreme confidence into Survoy, who gradually commenced to jump better and better. This, coupled with a perfectly judged run, was the deciding factor of the race.

This was the fourth ride over fences Ellis had had this season. All have been in leading events and he has a 100 per cent average, having won the lot. At Riccarton last August he won the Grand National Hurdles on Padishah and the Beaufort Steeples on Valpeen. This winter his two mounts on Survoy have credited him with the Great Northern and Wellington Steeplechase.

Ellis made his early fame as a crosscountry horseman back in 1923 and again in 1924 he won the Otago Steeplechase on Pamplona. Also in 1923 he piloted Penury Rose to victory in the New Zealand Grand National Hurdles, and he rode Warncliffe to win the same coveted event of 1925. •In 1931 he was in the saddle when Snowfall accounted for the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, and in 1933 he cleverly stole a march on his rivals to win this race for the second time with Thurina as his mount. In his home province he won the Riverton Great Western Steeplechase on Pamplona back in 1923 and 1924.

Ellis served his apprenticeship under F. D. Jones at Riccarton, and one of his successful rides for Jones’ stable was in winning the Invercargill Cup on Amythas in 1920. His leading cup successes include: Auckland-Cup (Fast Passage), Avondale Cup (Prodice), Wellington Cup (Loughrea and Vintage), Dunedin Cup (Loughrea), Awapuni Gold Cup (Vertigern, Nightmarch and Wild Chase), Riverton Cup (Loughrea and Ravenna), Timaru Cup (Loughrea and Arikiwai), and Invercargill Cup (Ravenna). He has also ridden two Great Northern Derby winners,-Silver Scorn and Red Manfred, four New Zealand Oaks winners, Korokio, Sweet Agnes. Lady Graceful and Peerless, one New Zealand St. Leger winner, Beaupartir, and numerous other classic winners, though the New Zealand Derby has so far eluded him.