HOW NADADOR WON THE NATIONAL.

NZ Truth, Issue 216, 14 August 1909, Page 2

HOW NADADOR WON THE NATIONAL.

Told by the Rider.

. Nadador's rider, Jack Hall, related O\c story of the National to a tew friends ■ <*>n the night of the battle, and the tale is worth repeating. He said : — "Ever since she ran at Trentham the opinion has become rooted mmy mind that as 'soon as : the old mare got on top of the ground she would perform a /lot better. Friends have continually chaffed me when I held that she would win the National, 'and persisted m my statement. When do-, ing her- preliminary canter the old girl" I moved very well • and seemed to understand what was wanted of her. We jumped of£ well, but of courso I could not go with El. Dorado and' To Arai at that pace, so I ' just dropped m behind. With one round completed they all swung out pretty wide and it gave me a beautiful chance to cut o5 a lot of ground. This came off so much m my favor that passing the stand far the second time 1 was within striking distance of the leaders. With a mile to go, the front division were tiring, so as my • mount was very fresh and a good stayer, 1 decided to send ' her along to the front, fearing that if I. stopped behind- -they would reserve their energies for a late run and then have more pace than me. At the halfmile post I was five lengths to the good after jumping the gorse, so a breather seemed only a fair thing for my mount. El Dorado's rider had evidently been adopting the same tactics, for he came at me again, but I rattled up Nadador, and the way she left him made it clear that his was only a dying effort. We won very comfortably at the finish, though I kept her going m case of an accident. She jumped as well as ever throughout, and never put a foot wrong. Her running proves beyond doubt that she was unlucky to miss the same race last year."