"Never Had Doubt About Result," Says A. E. Ellis

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 192, 15 August 1941, Page 4

"Never Had Doubt About Result," Says A. E. Ellis

(Special) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. The Dozer to-day won the Grand National Hurdle race from end to end. In doing so The Dozer bore out the optimistic expression of Hector Gray, his trainer, that the horse was a certainty. This was published in the Star on Wednesday.

The only horse that ever appeared likely to trouble The Dozer in a gruelling task in quagmire—for such is what the course had been reduced to by incessant rain since overnight—was the favourite, Tidewaiter. Ihis Tidal hurdler went up to The Dozer six furlongs from the winning post, and the pair were then at least a dozen lengths clear of the rest of the opposition, whose chances appeared hopeless.

The cry went tip, "Tidewaiter's got him," meaning The Dozer, who had been in front throughout, but before even an echo could be heard, Tidewaiter went right through the second last fence, iu striking contrast to The Dozer, who cleared it perfectly to go on ami win brilliantly.

As always, post-mortems were contcrned only with what might have happened if Tidewaiter had not blotted his copybook at the second to last fence, for not one other member of the opposition over really appeared to possess a chance in running. It's a commonplace, but opinions differed, ayes favouring The Dozer. But let A. K. (Bert) Ellis, the successful rider, and Ashley Jenkins, Tidewaiter's jockey, tell their stories, and form our own conclusion. Said Ellis: "1 never had any doubt about the result. All I was worried about was how soon The Do/.or would drop the bit—he's a hard puller you know. Well, he never let go of it until we were at the fence by C'utts', and I was giving him a breather when Tidewaiter came up just before the second last fence. Tidewaiter was going well, but he was at his top, whereas my fellow was just taking a breather, as I've told you."

Well, now, listen in to Ashley Jenkins: "I think Tidewaiter would have won if he hadn't gone right through the second last fence. He went down on his nose and I lost everything, ju6t hanging on to the end of the reins. I then had to gather him together and shake him up to get to The Dozer again at the last fence. The effort was too much for him."

The fact remains that The Dozer gave an almost flawless exhibition of hurdling, and that goes a long way towards success in a National.

The Dozer gave Ellis his fifth winning ride in the Grand National Hurdles. He had previously won the race on Penury Rose (1925), Whariu-liffe (1927) and Padishah (1938 and 1939). Ellis also won the Grand National Steeplechase ou Snowfall (1931) and Thurina (1933). In 1929 Eliis won the Great Northern Hurdles on Mister Gamp and the Great Northern Steeplechase in 1939 on Survoy. When the president, Mr. A. S. Elworthy, called for cheers for the winning trainer and jockey. Hector Gray shot his right fist into the air and cheered as lustily as anybody, so excited was he.