WHOSE FAULT?

NZ Truth, Issue 1175, 7 June 1928, Page 12

WHOSE FAULT?

McDonald Unfairly Criticized 1 (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland ; . Rep.) [ It is just possible that Alan Mc- , Donald may be unfairly criticized m some quarters over his riding of Mister Gamp m the Great Northern Hurdles, but there are two sides to every story. THE, adverse criticism came about 1 over Alan allowing Mister Gamp [ to run up alongside Beau Cavalier - when nearing the seventh fence, thus 1 having to take off with such a great fencer as the winner. ' It is true that an indifferent jump . on the part of Mister Gamp at that ' stage commenced the undoing of the • Manawatu' gelding's prospects. It certainly seemed' that Sam Henderson, on Beau Cavalier, was "pitch- '■ ing" for something of the sort when he eased his horse up, g-oing- over the i rise past the stewards' stand for the final circuit. At that stage, Mister Gamp was lying second and pulling hard. : The argument m McDonald's favor ■ is that it was just as equally objec- . tionable to try harder at his. mount to keep him back as it was to make head- ■ way. , i i Mister Gamp was certainly doing his i work impressively up to his failure to clear the seventh fence as cleverly as Beau Cavalier, but the loss of a few lengths there — and still three hurdles to clear — did not allow for any further delay. ; . ■ -, It was a case of keeping Mister Gamp up to it, but he was not equal to the task of getting through without mishap. Had he stood up, it looked like a battle between himself and Beau Cavalier for the thick end of the purse, but opinions will always differ as to which of the pair would have won.