ACCIDENT TO COMMENDATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 119, 10 August 1927, Page 12

ACCIDENT TO COMMENDATION

STRIKES OFF KNEE AFTER ARRIVAL —TIME TO MEND The sensation of the moment is an injury sustained by the Caulfield Cup favourite, Commendation. It happened while he was being transported from the steamer Ulimaroa to Randwick after his arrival in Sydney on Tuesday of last week, and whether it will affect his spring prospects is yet to be seen. Fortunately he has plenty of time to recover in time to proceed with his preparation. Geo. Jones, who took over Commendation, has no* been a lucky visitor to Sydney in recent years. Nigger Minstrel, after winning the Rosehill Guineas, met with injury that interfered with his Derby preparation or lie might have beaten Heroic instead of finishing a head behind that , 1,1 . the STeat struggle for the 19-4 classic. Jones declares that if he could have given his horse a thorough preparation that spring he would have cleaned up on all the big races. TIME TO RECOVER Fortunately Commendation’s trouble has come at a time when it can be given the necessary rest and treatment without fear of his not bqing ready for his spring races, and if it disappears in the next few days he will be soon at work again. The off knee is the seat of the trouble. It was struck in some way, and swelled to such an extent that hot fomentations have been applied continuously since the mishap. Commendation has also been physicked to help in the process of mending the injury. So altogether Commendation isn’t a very happy thoroughbred just now, and he walked round dejectedly in taking mild exercise at Randwick last Wednesday morning. POWERFUL CONFORMATION Nevertheless he was admired for his size and powerful conformation, and local trainers are favourably impressed with him. Trainer Geo. Jones expects that the injury will soon yield to treatment, and hopes to have the horse spinning along on the track this week. The injury sustained by Commendation showed signs of improvement last Thursday. He was on the track at Randwick, and the swelling had disappeared, but he was not extended. His work was restricted to trotting and cantering, and there was no sign of lameness. OFF TO AUSTRALIA PIUTHAIR AND CLARINDA ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TRIP (Special to THE SUN.) PALMERSTON N., Tuesday. The Woodville mentor, T. Lloyd, leaves at an early date with Piuthair and Clarinda (both being full-sisters by Kilbroney—Blackada), en route for Australia, where the pair will figure in several of the forthcoming classical races. Both mares are stated to be in good fettle, and if they conform to the general rule of improving with a change of climate, the visit across the Tasman should not pass unrewarded. Some years have elapsed since Woodville stables were represented across the Tasman, and in Piuthair and Clarinda the Palmerston North sportsman, Mr. R. A. McKenzie, has two candidates of high class. E. Manson will accompany the team, while there is a possibility of T. Green, this season’s champion horseman, also making the trip to ride Piuthair in the Caulfield Cup. It had been intended that the party make the crossing from Auckland on Thursday next, but the programme has been amended slightly to permit of the candidates for honours being shipped from "Wellington.