THE THORN’S IMPROVEMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 103, 22 July 1927, Page 6

THE THORN’S IMPROVEMENT

AMAZING REVERSAL. BUT NO TRICKERY. SAYS SYDNEY CRITIC If The Thorn had been ridden in the Moorefield Mile as he was ridden when he won the Rosehill Handicap recently, no hooting would have greeted his victory, comments a Sydney writer. Beyond doubt he would have won the Moorfield event. A hot favourite, The Thorn, was taken to the front at Moorefield. But sufficient use wasn’t made of his pace, and Glad Shot swooped down on him at the finish and defeated him decisively. But there was no doubt about The Thorn’s bonafides in this vast improvement of form. He belongs to an owner, G. M. Currie, and is in the team of a trainer, J. Williamson, who are beyond suspicion on the turf, and obviously was out to try on both occasions. IN TWO MINDS The jockey, McCarten, did his best in both races, too, but probably being caught in two minds when a rival tried to relieve The Thorn of the lead at Moorefield resulted in his not quite getting the best out of his mount. This The Thorn proved when, differently ridden, he so decisively defeated his Rosehill field. Having failed to stay the Moorefield mile, many people discarded The Thorn’s chance in the mile and aquarter race. Being by Absurd further discouraged support, for so few of the breed stay. If he had dropped back into the field to wait on the leaders, or if he had more vigorously pursued the role of pacemaker, he could have beaten the Moorefield field.

This seems obvious now from his victory in the Rosehill Handicap. There he led for a time, but gracefully gave way to Bagpipes half-way through the race. He remained in the field until

the straight entrance. Then he ran past the opposition to win with utmost ease. , TAKEN BADLY It was a striking victory, and no der some of the crowd began s. monstration as the horse returned scale. The Thorn had badly let them down the week before, and to see suca amazing improvement stirred Dll thoughts in the minds of many puners, and a section gave expression these thoughts in hoots and cries “rub him out.” The Thorn struck a weak field. Nevertheless, he registered an i * pressive performance, and is hkeiy _ find a big following next time he run in any race from a mile up. The striking thing about the ra was the fact that the books were a 1 to force punters to take small ° a about unreliable Bagpipes. It. know that trainer Fred William* keenly fancied him, and money wen on in thousands. v Bagpipes took the lead half-waj through the race, but was bea quickly in the straight, and failed get into the first six.