How Reed Stalked Vallar and Won with Benzora

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 649, 29 April 1929, Page 12

How Reed Stalked Vallar and Won with Benzora

From their boyhood days most sportsmen remember the skill adopted by the Red Indians in trai"ng their foes. A well-known jockey at Te Rapa on Saturday emulated with considerable success the stalking methods of the Redskins. It was Sitting Bull Roy Reed that became the hero, for there he was sitting as still as a mouse on Benzora , at the bottom of the -straight. He was certainly entitled to add R. McTavi ish’s scalp to his belt when he crept j up on Vallar unawares. It really looked as if Vallar was more than a shade unlucky not to have won the President’s Handicap. He missed the jurnp-out and was in the middle of the field for the first furlong, but his superior pace soon carried him to the leaders, and his head was actually in front at the straight entrance. He had the pacemaker, Subdivision, well beaten at the distance, and was just bowling along nicely, having too much pace for the horse on the inside, Subdivision, and those nearest on

the outer. It was this latter bunch that obscured the fast-finishing Benzora and New Moon, and they were right up with the chestnut before being seen by the latter’s rider. Vallar was beaten a couple of necks, but he should have won. His rider was more unlucky than negligent, for Benzora and New* Moon were hidden from him by a bunch of horses nearer, whom he had already beaten. Those on the members’ stand could see what was coming, but not so the jockey. Benzora is right at the top of his form. He was admirably ridden by R. Reed, who was patience itself. It was not until the half distance had been reached did he ask the Bisogne horse to go up and win, and he answered with courage. He might have been a bit lucKy 10 win, but over the last couple of furlongs he was conceding weight and a good start to Vallar. Benzora was in a bit too light at the weights, although this fact must not be allowed to prevent recognition of a sterling performance in capturing the sprint.