FEW GOOD ONES

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 531, 7 December 1928, Page 6

FEW GOOD ONES

NEW ZEALAND JOCKEYS FRANK CORRESPONDENT The following article was written under date November 23 by a New Zealand correspondent of the Sydeny ‘•Sun’’: After doing a good round of the meetings in New Zealand, since returning from Australia, from Auckland to Christchurch, including three major metropolitan fixtures at Ellersile, Trentham and Riccarton, the unpleasant fact is forced home that the standard of horsemanship in the Dominion is many degrees below that of Australia. Whereas in Sydney and Melbourne, there are quite a number of jockeys good enough to bet on with confidence, in the whole of New Zealand there are not half a dozen. In reality A. Tinker, R. Reed and ! It. S. Bagby are in a class by themselves, and of these Bagby and Tinker are heavyweights, with limited opportunities. Bagby is a great horseman, perhaps a trifle harsh, and his mounts may take some getting round again after a gruelling finish in his hands: but he can be depended upon to “bring home the bacon” if the horse is good enough. Tinker is a different type, and a heady rider, but strong and vigorous, if occasion demands. Reed’s value is underestimated by Australians, and he is better’ by far than most over there think. A trifle temperamental, he takes some getting balanced, when luck is running against him, but when riding in his best form, would bold his own with Australia’s best. A BIG DROP There is a big drop then to a bunch of moderates. One is tempted to ask the reason why there is so much bad riding in New Zealand, and why racegoers at times see good chances thrown away by bad horsemanship. Perhaps the Australian jockeys have some advantages in that they do not have to travel round the countryside so much with a continual change of course, and that they are able to get completely acquainted with their courses. In New Zealand jockeys, even the prominent ones, travel thousands of miles in a year, and often ride on one course only once or twice during that period. Further, the Australians are able to keep themselves in better form, for they get more opportunities. This applies in an even greater degree to the ponyjockeys in Australia. The leading lights on those courses would be regular Archers on some of the small courses in the Dominion, and if some ut' them elected to try the Dominion they could soon work up a good and lucrative connection, one even that might compare favourably with that in Australia. At least it would bo a pleasant and certainly not unprofitable change. Some of their finishing efforts would be appreciated by New Zealand racegoers of to-day, specially those with debit betting balances.