ADVANCE IN AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2454, 27 March 1901, Page 43

ADVANCE IN AUSTRALIA

So much has appeared in these columns during the last week or "two under the above heading that readers have probably had a surfeit of it. However, the following, taken from "'Reginald's" comments on the V.R..C. meeting, will, I think, bo read with some surprise, for the opinion is not a general one in this colony that the son of Advance is a "quitter." The writer above-mentioned has this-- to say on the subject: — Our New Zealand friends went right through the piece without a success. They deserved better lucb after coming sc far. It must be said, however, that those who had the management of Advance and Boreas showed rather poor judgment in reaching Flemington with only about a weak to spare. This is not playing the "after game." It was pointed out in this column when the much-belauded black landed that there wa3 scarcely sufficient time to give the visitors the needed prepara tion, and now it is plain enough that the horses had to bo hurried. While, lv.wever, making excuse for Advance in so far os it ia reasonable to go in that direction, it is at the same time but fair to say that the black is not so good as his New Zealand friends thought. "They'll never get him galloping," said his most enthusiastic admirers. But our lot stretched him out right enough over all distances, and you may be sure that Flem/ugton is the place where the best of them are tested, and tested properly. Last week, it may be recollected, a hint was given in this column that Advance shifted rather suspiciously in the Newmarket. In his later essays it was clearly noticeable that the Vanguard horse has i;o particular fancy for a hand-to-hand encounter. He stopped in a stride while apparently going well in the Cup. In the Champion he Uirned it right up when La Carabiue tackled him the second time, and on Saturday he ducked -to the rails in unmistakably curiiih fashion when Jenkins asked him to take on Malster in earnest. His friends may say that all this was due to Advance not being quite himself, but the apology can scarcely be accepted. Some allowance can, of course, be made for his preparation being so necessarily short, but his antics in finishing last week suggest that the Maorilander crack, even when perfectly trained, would be liable to quit when a good game ono "hook 3 on" to him near the jud^e. A horse of very fine speed and beautifully even action. Advance might easily make a mess of a field if allowed a good deal of his own way, but with something to go out and "feel" him when the btrain is on, he is not, the sort to cause s, man to stake a lifo on him fighting; his way out of a corner. It might be said that this is a little too harsh on Advance, consider.'na; nil things ; but the truth i 3 that the New Zealander ran uncommonly like a "shifter " on more than one occasion la*t week. All sorts of things have been paid about the rider of Advance. His handling of the horse in the Cup especially brought Jenkins under seveie criticism. But it may Ix 3 that he was not so much to blame after all. In his present condition at least, Advance is by no means a satisfactory horse to ride. It was thought that too much \i=e of him was made in the Cup under his weight, bul it is explained that he has always been used to being light up in front iv his races in New Zealand. It is Eaid that Advance acts more kindly uhen allowed to sail along in or nea'' the lead, and that is the way he has generally been successful wheie he comesfrom.