M'CARTEN’S RECORD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22911, 19 June 1936, Page 5

M'CARTEN’S RECORD

OVER 500 WINS HIS AUSTRALIAN SUCCESSES Maurice M'Carten has ridden more than GOO winners since he settled in Australia in 192(5 (writes “Vigilant,” in the Melbourne Sporting Globe). A check of the records reveals 447 in : Sydney and the nearer provincial courses. 1 More than 50 successes in Victoria and Queensland bring the total, which M'Carten thought was 400, to more than 500. M'Carten has now been riding for 20 years —the first decade in New Zeaj land and the second in Australia. | He is having a great season. Al- ■ though suspension put him out of action 1 for one of the most important months, I he has to date won 77 races since August ! 1 last. The value of these events is : just on £19,000. In addition; there is •; the money secured by his mounts which have gained minor placings. This must reach a considerable sum, for in Sydney this season M'Carten has been on 49 seconds and 38 thirds. M'Carten has won 23 races for two-year-olds since October 1. Asked if he had any comment to offer on the opinion held by Sydney racegoers that he was a wizard with two-year-olds, M'Carten said with a smile: “Really, I think it is very largely a question of l«ing fortunate enough to be on the right ones at the right time. I remember, a few years back, another Sydney rider being in the limelight through his great success that season on youngsters. He rode just as well the next season, but his mounts were much inferior and the limelight moved.” This brought up the subject of Gold Rod. “He is undoubtedly a very good two-year-old,” remarked M'Carten. “Of course, that does not necessarily mean that he will maintain such a high standard next season. Yet I think that this colt will go on. He impresses me that way. He has such a nice disposition and is so easy to handle. “In those cases,” added M'Carten, “ where good-class two-year-olds fail to justify expectations in their next season, I think that probably the explanation often is that their superiority at two years has been due to physical procociousncss. In other words, they are better developed and more robust than the other ‘ babies.’ ”