A. E. ELLIS'S SUCCESSES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 138, 14 June 1939, Page 15

A. E. ELLIS'S SUCCESSES

Among horsemen actively in the game in the Dominion, the for versatility must be conceded' to A. E. ("Bert") Ellis, who x recently; brought home Survoy in the Great 'Northern Steeplechase. Ellis has ridden the winners of many of the most important events in the Dominion, over country, over hurdles, in flat handicaps, and in classics, and he. has also ridden "with distinction in the Commonwealth.,' There have been few horsemen who [have ever mixed their riding with such success as Elhs has done. Though he now confines his attention ; mainly tfo the flat, he has lost none of his ability over the fences, and he can go back to the fences with the same flair for that game as if he had been riding jumpers regularly throughout the season. Between the last Grand National Meeting, when he rode both Padishah and Valpeen to victory on the second day., and his mount;on Survoy in the Great Northern, he had not -taken a ride over fences in public; Ellis made his early fame as a crosscountry horseman.." Back in 1923 and again in 1924 he won the Otago Steeplechase on Pamplona. Also in 1923 he piloted Penury Rose to victory in the New Zealand Grand National Hurdles, and he rode Warncliffe to win the same coveted .Riecarton event of 1925. In 1931 he: was in the saddle when Snowfall accounted for the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, and in 1933 he cleverly stole a' march on his rivals to win this' race for the second time with Thurina as his mount.One of his most striking feats of .riding ability was achieved last August when he piloted the novice jumper Padishah first home in the New Zealand Grand National Hurdles. In his home province he won the Riverton Great Western Steeplechase on Pamplona back in 1923 and 1924.

Ellis served his apprenticeship under F. D. Jones at Riccarton, and one of his successful rides for Jones's stable was in winning the Invercargill Cup on Amythas in 1920. His leading cup successes include: —Auckland Cup (Fast Passage). Avondale Cup (Prodice), Wellington Cup (Loughrea and Vintage), Dunedin Cup (Loughrea), Awapuni Gold Cup (Vertigern, Nightmarch, .and Wild Chase), Riyerton Cup (Loughrea and Ravenna), Timaru Cup (Loughrea and Arikiwai). and ~ Invercargill Cup (Ravenna). He has also ridden two Great Northern Derby winners,' Silver Scorn and Red Manfred; four ■New Zealand Oaks winners. Kbrokio", Sweet' Agnes. Lady Graceful,'arid'Peerless', ojie New Zealand St. Leger winner. Beaupartir, and numerous other classic winners, though the New Zealand Derby has so far eluded him.