SHUT THE GATE

NZ Truth, Issue 1152, 29 December 1927, Page 9

SHUT THE GATE

But It Opened On The Turn

"Shut the gate, the favorite is home." is a well-known racing expression.

WITH only three furlongs to go in w the Tararua Handicap at Awapuni the first day, quite a number of backers of Lady Limond were using that phrase.

For had not the favorite jumped out well in the lead?

Sure she had — and the further she went the further she went away from the rest of the field.

Passing the half-mile, Lady Limond was four lengths ahead, but coming round the turn to the straight entrance she had increased her margin to a six lengths' break. Then either the filly was tiring or the boy on top was losing control. To the dismay of the multitude of supporters of the Foxton filly, she ran off the course — nearly hitting the outside fence. This allowed Blimp to get on terms with her, and Bert Ellis must have smiled to himself at making up so much ground. But young Webster on Lady Limond did not worry — he straightened his mount up, pulled the "bat," and aAvay she went again to win comfortably. There Is a special Providence looking after some riders!-

THEY may possibly be a bit rich for *■ Air King at Ellerslie, but when the crack hacks are missing this King Lupin representative from Frank Loomb's stable will win in his turn.

He was noticed sprinting well before the big gathering.