RAROTONGA'S GREAT EFFORT WITH 12ST 8LB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 86, 12 April 1941, Page 1 (Supplement)

RAROTONGA'S GREAT EFFORT WITH 12ST BLB.

GLEN ABB.

■"THOUGH beaten by Glen Abb in the Brighton Hurdles, all the honours of the race were with Rarotonga. Burdened with the steadier of list Sib, the Pliilamor gelding, who had won five hurdle races on end. made a great effort to day to make the e-equencc a half dozen, but it was just asking a bit too much of him to give Glen Abb. a winner at Whangarei, 4.11b.

'"What a great little horse he is," said his rider, M. Ritchie, after the race. "But what a loafer. I was kicking at him all the time trying to get him to keep near the field, but he just loafed on me. It was only over the last half mile that he really started to go. He was a good way back then, but he passed several horses to beat all but Glen Abb. He had a big weight and I suppose that just beat him."

When Don. McKinnon. rider of Glen Abb, reached the jockeys" room the boys gathered round and ".Mac"' was kept busy shaking hands. The win was as popular as any on the day with the jockeys. ''"Mac's"' previous winning ride was on Kinkee at Ellenslic in October of last year. He has been a most unlucky rider, having had many spills yince his last win. The climax came when, at the last Ellerslie meeting, McKinnon suffered a

DON. McKINNON BREAKS AN UNLUCKY SPELL ON

broken arm and collarbone when Son of Jhe Soil fell with him. For two months he was spelling in hospital.

Erination was one of the first to move and led Inness Lad momentarily, bnt then Devon went to tlfe front. Paseing the stand with a round to go Inness Lad was half a length in front of Erination, with Lapidarian, Glen Abb and Master Appellant close handy. Rarotonga at this stage was 15 lengths behind the leader. The order down the back was practically the same except that Lapidarian had run up into second place with Erination. Glen Abb assumed command crossing the top and led into the straight from Lapidarian, Master Appellant, Erination and Inness Lad. Once over the last fence Rarotonga came with a fine run to take second place from Lapidarian, with Innes Lad next and Master Appellant close up.