TAKAPUNA'S ALISON CUP

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 128, 27 November 1934, Page 6

TAKAPUNA'S ALISON CUP

(Speoial to the "Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, November 26.

It is not often that a Cup contest of any sort resolves itself into a race all the way. Usually there is an early scramble for positions, then the field settles down, with another rush to improve his mount's chances on the part of each jockey when the home turn comes in sight. But there was a vastly different sort of affair at Ellerelie last Saturday in the Alison Cup. At the very first there was a sensational incident, for King's Knave, who proved stubborn at the barrier when asked to line up, refused to do so, and stood facing the wrong way. Nothing that jockey L. J. Ellis or the assistant starter could do would make the horse change his mind. For an instant he did deign to turn round and take a glance at the barrier, which went up immediately; but he merely turned round again with supreme contempt, and did not even condescend then to take a look where the other horses had gone. In fact, Kllis had difficulty in getting him round to return to the birdcage.

Fortunately King's Knave was not heavily backed, although he carried £453, three otliers being much better supported. That £433 went into the air without investors getting a run for their money, but the salve to the financial blow was provided by the humour of King's Knave's supreme contempt for everything and everybody. When the field had settled down entering the back stretch Gay Blonde, the liberal-priced favourite, was left in charge on the rails, pulling hard, but Carfex and then Gay Broney rah up on the outside of her, while the other eight horses began to bunch on the heels of the leading trio. Passing the six-furlong peg, with half a mile gone, those three were racing together in the van, with Royal Artist (rails), Kiltowyn, Gay Marigold, and Baroscope in line on their heels, and right up were Lord Val (rails), Master Norval, Monanui! and Killadar abreast. So there was the unique spectacle of the eleven horses running in three rows, with not four lengths separating the lot ol them. , In this order they raced right round to the three-furlong peg, where apparently every rider had orders to "go, for most of the field moved forward at this juncture, with the result that eight horses were spread across the track making the home turn. Gay Blonde was on the rails still, Kiltowyn handy,- with Gay Marigold well out and Killadar on the extreme left Hank, as far as eight horses out from the rails. It was a brilliant sight, with every horse in the race having a chance, and the crowd calling for their fancy to "come on." Of course, with so many horses running wide to set an opening, Gay Blonde, on the rails in front, had a tremendous advantage, and for a brief space she drew out from the bunch to gain a length s lead. Kiltowyn was the first to challenge, and ho ranged alongside the filly just below the distance. Taking up the challenge, or probably tiring, which is the more likely, Gay Blonde went out from the rail* to meet Kiltowyn, and she began to veer towards the centre of the course. In the meantime Gay Marigold, Master Norval, Royal Artist, and Lord Val were making their efforts further out, and it was Gay Marigold who did best of this lot. At the half-distance Gay Blonde had carried Kiltowyn out into the centre of the track, and Gay Marigold ran up on the outside of the pair. Carrying them both out still further, . Gay Blonde was making it decidedly awkward for Kiltowyn and Gay Marigold, with Kiltowyn getting all the squeezing, for he was the ham in the sandwich. This fighting trio ;il»o interfered with Master Norval, who had to change his course and go in»idc them, although he never appeared likely ever actually to head them off. The three leaders continued their Ftruggle right up to the judge, where they finished near the outer fence, Gay Marigold's head being in front of Kiltowyn, with Gay Blonde another head nwa'y, and Master Norval half a length behind the filly, just clear of the promising northern performer Monanui. Thus ended a race that was a thrill over the lnst six furlongs, with the field packed into a short space all the way. The judicial committee considered that T. Green, rider of Gay Blonde, had failed to check .hid mount when she veered out on to Kiltowyn and suspended him for the remainder of the fixture. This action is important, as it was a direct indication that, in cases where horses change course and thus interfere with other horses, the offending horse should be checked at once and not be allowed to continue to obstruct others. There have been innumerable cases of tiring horses changing -their course, and causing interference to others without ' the riders of the' offending horses taking measures to prevent them. The decision of the Takapuna Jockey Club's judiciary makes it plain that in such cases the onus is on the rider concerned immediately to check his mount, even if it means pulling it up. Few can dispute such a ruling.