BACKED AND BEATEN

NZ Truth, Issue 1050, 7 January 1926, Page 9

BACKED AND BEATEN

Commendation Costs Punters £13,000 In T\\^ Mes

JOY : KING THE BEST TWO.YEAM3LD (From "Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) Despite the fact that Commendation let punters down badly by refusing" to leave the barrier m the G.N. Foal Stakes," m a field of five for the Royal Stakes on the final day at Ellerslie he still carried more than half the investments. : ; >

! And, this against, two previous winners at the meeting and two others who had returned second dividends! Such was the confidence reposed m the ability of the son of Limond to outpace his opponents. He was certainly m. a more settled mood, than m the Foal Stakes, but was still a bit playful before the tapes were released, though actually m line as the signal was given. He moved off, but was soon trailing the field and halfway through the race must have been giving the leader, Joy King, at least half-a-dozen lengths. '.-■;. He came round the home turn about fourth, but was making .no real impression on Joy King and Automne (who were out m front) until the last furlong was entered upon. It was then too late to reach the^ pair, and he could get no nearer than: third,, two and three-quarter lengths from the winner, Joy King, With, Automne dividing the two-year-olds. It may be some satisfaction to admirers of Commendation to know that he gave Xiysarider a start and beat him home at level weights, while Joy King was m receipt of 'slbs from their great idol.

However, '.Lysander tdioV not meet with an. uninterrupted, passage. even m. a field' of five runners; , so that admirers of the Wanganui colt may .still be m, doubt as to whether' Commendation is Lysanders master* ■•< Take ft from "Truth." that Roy Reed was taking no risks on. Joy ; King once he got to the front. He. rode as if it was a case of dear life, his main object being to reach the deciding point on the shortest 'possible route. ■ ".'•; ■The winning post came none too early for him. ' . The victory of Jefferd's charge was always on the cards after his * previous improving form at the meeting. "•: ' As for Commendation, he cost^ totalisator investors well over* £13,000 m his two starts at the meeting. Most of those who observed him In action the last furlong m the Royal Stakes, however, will live m hopes of getting some of their cash back late m the autumn or m his three-year-old career. - It is plain that he would > be a much better proposition on a straight six-furlong course than at Ellerslie.