Will He Race Again ?

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 858, 30 December 1929, Page 6

Will He Race Again ?

Honour s Trouble More Serious Than Anticipated

Just when the brilliant colt Honour looked to have the £3,000 Great Northern Derby in his keeping, that rich prize was never fated to be his, for Honour will be among the missing when the fields line up at Ellers.ie on New Year’s Day. Last Tuesday morning the chestnut galloped brilliantly with his stable companion, Jaleux, and on that showing it was obvious that he was in excellent fettle for the mile and a-half classic, while it was probable that he would have taken on the King’s Plate field this afternoon—and probably have won, too. When he walked away last Tuesday it was noticed that Honour was lame, and apparently this ailment developed into something really serious, although up to the last it was hoped that he would make a recovery in sufficient time to contest the Derby. But it

was not to be, and his owner’s (Mr. G. D. Greenwood) misfortune L likely to be good fortune for—Mr. i<\ Earl, K.C., or Mr. T. Fraser, junr., the respective owners of Eaglet and Hunting Cry, two youngsters that are expected to have most say now that the Riccarton candidate is out of the way. Then there is Count Palatine, and this chestnut appears to have improved as the result of his race on Boxing Day, when he ran a fair third to Vali and Richfield.

Honour won the New Zealand Derby at Riccarton last month like a good one, but the interesting feature of his success was that he was taken to the front from the start and slowed up the field, making the pace to suit himself. Taking this as a confession that Honour’s trainer was not altogether

| satisfied as to his stamina, the mcet- ] ins of Mason’s charge with Eaglet, j Huntrng Cry and Count Palatine at j Ellersiie was a delicacy that many sportsmen were awaiting with the keenest interest. Now that Honour is gone, so far as the G.N. Derby is concerned, that seems to be between Hunting Cry, Eaglet and Count Palatine. Purchased as a yearling at the Trentham sales for 2,300 guineas, has more than repaid Mr. G. D. Greenwood for going to the highest bid given ' for a youngster in the Dominion at that time —January, 1928—and there seemed many more, good stakes in view for him. The trouble with Honour has been located in a knee. Veterinary advice was sought late last week, and although nothing official has been announced, it appears that the trouble is much more serious than at first anticipated. It may be that a carti-

lage has been affected, or, on the other hand, it is probable that a small bone there has been fractured. In any case, it can be ta.ken for granted that it wi*l be a very long time before Honour races again. If there is a fracture, then Honour has run his last race on the Turf. It is to be hoped that the injury is not as serious as it is feared, for Honour is a brilliant colt, probably our best three-year-old over a middle distance, and one that later on Nvould have taken high honours in weigh t-for-age events of the future. So some other owner will bo confident of capturing the £2,000 first prize money in Wednesday’s Derby with Mr. Greenwood’s representative out of 1 running.