THRILLING STRUGGLE IN DONCASTER FINISH.

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

THRILLING STRUGGLE IN DONCASTER FINISH.

Sydney's most popular jockey. Ted McMenamin. who vas first past the post iu four oi live Hat laces at Randwick on Saturday. won the £.".000 Done-aster Handicap on -Mild-urn- because of the indecision oi the connections of a scratched horse. Ensign, sajs the .Sydney "Sun." Mildura made lacing history. Apart from breaking the Randwick record for a mile, he is the first horse lo have won two successive Doneasters and a Xewmarket. A fortnight ago McMenamin was ottered the mount ou Rimveil. who started favourite and -was beateri by .halt a head. At the time, however, he was still engaged tor Ensign, the outstanding three-year-old sprinter of last, spring, and lie refused the Rimveil mount. Ensign's form indicated that he had 110 chance in the Doneasier, but his owner. Mr. Keith Maekay, did not decide to' scratch the colt until ri'-ivefek ago. McMenamin's luck held even in the running of the Doncaster. -Rimveil, who had shown his fitness by prancing ai ound at the barrier, tried to anticipate the start. Re jumped away a fraction of a second before the starter. Mr. • .axieu, hit his ler-er. caught the lower strand in his mouth and had two teeth dragged t'lom-his mouth. .- Fighting Like Gamecocks. Both McMenamin and Badtrer thought they had the Doncaster Handicap won ,'»0 yafds from home. Mildura and Riniveil were fighting like gamecocks. First one and then, the "other had the advantage, but McMenamin gave Mildura a sharp crack with the vhip, which could be heard iu the official staud. and his mount produced that extia effort that gave hint success. High Caste Disappointed.. High Caste gave one of the worst handicap pertoiiuauces of his career, and his rider. Bartle, slated after the race that "the Strawberry Bull"' was not nearly as good as when he won his weight-for-age races in Melbourne earlier this aulunm. High Caste finished ninth, and he was the centre of close stable inspection when he returned to his stall. 1