THE CAULFIELD CUP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE CAULFIELD CUP.

Pike's Story of His Win on Gaine Carrington. Despite his nerves of steel and the priceless gift of a temperament that refuses to be ruffled, James Edward Pike, rider of the Caulfield Cup winner (on _ October 21), Gaine Carrington, admits that after an important race, whether ho wins or loses, it is pleasant to relax from the strain and the nervous tension inseparable from his profession.

"The feeling that I need not watch my diet for a day or two, that I can keep away from Turkish baths, that if I want a drink of water I can have it without fear of putting on weight—is my pleasure to-day," he said. "I always have to waste. No film star of international fame watches her weight more closely than I do. On the morning of the race I had to reduce 4-Jlb. But lam so used to it that, with the exception of a dry mouth and a slight feeling of lassitude, wasting does not worry me. "I rode Gaine Carrington in the smallest saddle I possess. With the mountings (a towel and the saddle cloth), it would weigh about 2lb, but, after all, the jockey who adopts the fonvard seat doesn't have much to do with his saddle.

"In the Cup race I was always confident, particularly after I had gained the position on the rails at the top of the hill. From then on Gaine Carrington went perfectly. He answered every call I made on him, and finished as strongly as lie had commenced.

"He's a good little horse, and although he has a lot of weight in the Melbourne Cup he is certain to run well. I will ride him in that race, and have hopes, but nobody realises better than I do the task of confronting a four-year-old with 9.4.

"There were two things I wanted as I rounded the home turn on Saturday. The first was to hurry to the judge, and the second was a long drink of ice-cold water. Even as I raced past Highway at the top of the straight I was thinking of that cold water, and how quickly I could moisten my parched throat.

"I was sorry about that reprimand from the stewards, because I shook hands with Mr. Phillips and Cecil Godby. I could have kicked myself afterwards, as I should have known better, but even after so many years in the saddle I suppose it is natural to be just a little elated at.winning such a race as the Caulfield Cup.

"When am I going to retire? Well, that's a nice thing to ask a man after he has just won a Caulfield Cup. I'll ride as long as my nerves stand up to the strain, and at present they're pretty good."

Referring to the victory of his horse, Gaine Carrington, in the Caulfield Cup, Mr. J. A. Phillips said that he had been rather disappointed with the form of the horse, and therefore did not back him very well for the big race.

When asked about the future programme of Gaine Carrington during the spring, Mr. Phillips said he would not run him at Moonee Valley, but would start him. in the Melbourne Stakes on Derby Day and in the Melbourne Cup. Gaine Carrington had been placed, on the same mark as Rogilla, 9.4, because of the rehandicap. J. Pike has definitely been engaged to ride the Caulfield Cup winner in the great Plemington twomiler. He will, however, be needed for Chatham in the Melbourne Stakes. Mr. Phillips said the remarkable feature of the Cup was the straight manner in wbich Gaine Carrington had finished. He had hung badly in many of his previous races, and he put the change down to the fact that Pike made- the horse understand that he was master of the situation. C. T. Godby, trainer of Gaine Carrington, was aware that the horse had a will of his own, but Pike had made him do his best.