HORSEMANSHIP NO SMALL FACTOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1941, Page 10

HORSEMANSHIP NO SMALL FACTOR.

The victory of the three-year-old colt Kindergarten in the Easter Handicap at the opening ot' the Auckland Racing Club's autumn meeting 011 Saturday w ill-go down in racing history as one ot the finest effort# ever seen on ur.y racecourse. Of course, it was only what was to be expected of a horse who is claimed to be an out-and-out champion, but the manner ot its accomplishment left even keen students ot the (.port wondering just how good Kindc-rgai ten is. I'robably eveu his trainer. J!. S. Bajiby. who developed t'he champion High taste in his early two--year cjlcl career, is still in doubt. Xa small amount of credit for the success of Kindergarten is due to the horsemanship of 11. X. Wiggins. 'J he lightweight jockey rode a perfect race. He neve) covei ed any unnecessary ground, and he seized an opportunity at the psychological moment -when an opening so slight presented itself in the straight that many another experienced rider may have hesitated. Such indecision would have brought about the downfall of the favourite and verbal brickbats for the jockey. Kindergarten was a dozen lengths behind the leaders, and there were only three horses behind him wtieii a'furlong hail been covered. But the favourite was 1011 the rails, wit-li plenty of rooni for galloping. and no possibility of interference, a vitally important factor in connection with a horse burdened with 9.11. He was in much the same position half a mile from the judge's box, and. at that stage Brazen Bold. .Suleiman and'Bronwen were making the pace a cracker.J/ 1 The favourite was now tjtiftTued up, and responding to his rider's calls in tine style he moved up smartly between the three and two furlongs post to be only a couple of lengths behind the leading bunch as the straight was entered. Brazen Bold was then slightly in front of Suleiman, but Black Thread, Pirate King. Surveyor-General. Lou Kosa, Sereinata. Monte Cristo and Duvaeh were all | close lu.ndy, ahead of Kindergarten. I The. haul pace told at the distance, the I leaders, spi eading slightly, and Wiggins, j: eeing a gli.nmer of daylight ahead, drove i Kindergarten part Duvac'u. and set off after Brazen Bold, upon whom C. G. tioulsbro had callcd upon for his maximum effort. Brazen Bold responded gallantly to gain a dear lead of a length and a half from | Kindergarten. The champion, however, j would not be denied and, maintaining his magnificent run. he had the racc won several strides from the winning postWith the possible exception of Brazen | Bold, he had covered less ground thau any other horse in the race— and himself in I glory. Monte Cristo hung on well ior i third, with Surveyor-General nest. This made Kindergarten's ninth win in I succession, including the Great Northern j Derby and the Wellington Cup. one of the I principal events in the Dominion. He was j bred and is owned by the Gis borne sports- ' man, Mr. E. Fitzgerald.