TRAINER'S BAD LUCK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 218, 15 September 1930, Page 11

TRAINER'S BAD LUCK.

F. SMITH LOSES ANTONIA ■ DIRECT. ' 1 'HORSE DIES, ON' SATURDAY.. The Epsom - trainer,' F. Smith,' had a stroke oi had luck oh Saturday when he lost' tlie ' smart five-year-bid pacer, Antonia -Direct, the cause of death being stoppage. ' : ' \ : - ' ■ Smith came out; to the Dominion in the spring of last season .bringing with him Linnet" the. Great, and subsequently lie imported the pacer Dan Direct, afterwards sold to Mr. A. Newdick. With Linnet the , Great; the trainer did well, and then sold her to the Messrs McKeridrick Brothers. Last June he imported the four-year-old English pacer Mussolini, one of- the best to ever race in England. The roan son of Wellington Direct —Antonio Stout was landed in good order, but Smith was in ho hurry to get him to the races, and was content to allow him to settle down in his; new surroundings before asking him to do any work. Mussolini's name was then changed to Antonia Direct. Lately he began to -send the horse along and it was his t intentioii to race him at tlie,approaching,Waikato meeting next month. On Thursday last Smith noticed that"; Antonia Direct , did not. appear to be himself, and the horse exhibited signs that. he was not well. Two veterinary, surgeons were called in but the horse did not improve and.died on Saturday. An examination • made subsequently' revealed a' ball of sawdust about , the size of : a cricket ball which had' caused a stoppage.* Tlie horse had apparently eaten the, sawdust in his box while . on. board ship on the trip from England to Auckland. -