SPORTING NOTES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 25, Issue 3757, 18 May 1936, Page 8

SPORTING NOTES

JIM PIKE’S BOOK OF REMINISCENCES. "A BATTLE OF WITS IN ALL AGED STAKES.” (By “Backwood.) The Western Australian jockey, James Pike, has announced his definite retirement from race riding, and thus is removed one of the very best horsemen ever to grace the turf in the Pritish Dominions. He has a wonderiful record, not only of wins in important races, but also as a clean and respected rider. It is perhaps natural to expect him to write a book. Other prominent jockeys have done so. But Jim Pike's book will be of exceptional interest, and is sure to be a classic,' enjoyed and appreciated by every lover of the so-called “ sport of kings.” Certain Australian papers have been publishing the book chapter by chapter, and the one published here (from the Brisbane Courier-Mail) is an example of the style—sufficient to justify the claim, surely, that the book is every bit as readable as claimed for it. Pike had many notable experiences in the All Aged Stakes, including a monumental winning plunge on Fuji San in 1927. But 1930 will live long in his memory because of the way he rose superior to New Zealand tactics that were planned to beat him. Curiously enough, every starter in the race was ridden by a New Zealand jockey, but although it wasn’t a generally premeditated plot on their part one of the riders made use of the way the race was run to pocket him but of the race, and Pike tells with the greatest glee how he outwitted him after believing himself hopelessly involved. The horses most concerned were two mighty champions, Amounis and Nightmarch, and this was one of the few occasions when Pike rode Amounis. The All Aged Stakes has , always been one of the outstanding weight-for-age races of the Australian racing calendar, coming at Easter, when all the best horses are available each autumn at Randwick. Most of the champions have won it, and, besides many thrilling battles, it has witnessed many fast run miles.

You can guess that with so many notable speedsters engaged in almost every contest and generally at least two good ’uns to make a match of it. tlie race has been a test of wits for the jockeys, and I'm not saying that because I won it so often. These were the starters for the 1930 All Aged Stakes, with their riders, and these details will help Cour-ier-Mail readers to appreciate the fine points of the contest: Nightmarch (N.Z.), 9.0, R. Reed (N.Z.). Amounis, 8.12, J. E, Pike. Greenline, 8.12, M. McCarten (N.Z.) Cimabue (N.Z.), 8.12, A. Reed (N.Z.) I first started riding Amounis in the St. George Stakes, at Caulfield in February, 1930. When I met Harry Telford on .arrival in Melbourne that year he wanted me to ride Phar Lap for the George Stakes, w.f.a., at the Caulfield autumn meeting, but I had engaged for Amounis, so of course I had to stick to him.

Harry didn’t worry though. He told me that he didn't think Phar Lap was ready to win it, and, in fact, had little

(.r no chance because he. was a bit backward in condition, and I needn’t worry. I was to ride Phar Lap in the Leger a fortnight after, and he thought the ride might be useful.

THREE WINS IN ONE DAY.

But he said there was no need if I had a good mount, and so I took the ride of Amounis, and starting at 6 to ■1 on he won it from Parsee and Phar Lap. Amounis also won the Essendon Stakes, 14 miles, at Flemington at the V.R.C. autumn meeting a fortnight later, and by the way I had a great day that day, for I landed the three principal races, the Essendon on Amounis, the Newmarket on Greenline, and the Leger on Phar Lap. I earned a lot of money that day. Ariiounls also won the Lloyd Stakes 1 mile, on the third day at 4’s on, and of course it was no race; he won so easily. It was a curious coincidence that. I had to get off Amounis for the Futurity between these races, to ride Greenline, and Greenline started favourite, but Amounis beat him. However, the coincidence was that I turned the tables when we got back to Sydney and met at Warwick Farm a few weeks later. I was then on Phar Lap. and he started at sto 4 against, but Harold Jones rode Amounis and he was at 2 to 1, but of course Amounis was then no match for the rising champion over a mile and a quarter, end Phar Lap beat him in a dog trot by two lengths. Then came the great tussles at the A.J.C. autumn meeting in the Easter of 1930, a week later, Nightmarch was at 10 to 9 on for the Autumq Plate of a mile and a half, and Amounis was at evens. Nightmarch won by a head. THE TABLES TURNED. 1 knew that Amounis wasn’t a really great mile and a half horse in those days, so I was not disappointed at defeat in this race, and looked forward to a real chance of turning the tables the next time they met a few days later in the All Aged Stakes over a mile. Nightmarcb had won the Epsom and was good at a mile. But it was Amounis’ pet distance. So of course I built up my hopes bn this belief, knowing that old Amounis was in quite the most brilliant form of his caret.'. I suppose the public and the books were in grave doubt that day. At any rate the betting proved it. It was II to 8 against Nightmarch .and Amounis, and I believe there has never been such level betting on events at any kind anywhere for two favourites in a field of four, two of whom had no chance, to start at level prices. But 1 believe the reason for this was the books were gambling according to their views which would prevail, and so they bet over the odds against themselves. And here’s the most curious coincidence in connection with the race.

I was sitting on my box in the jockey’s room all by myself. Over on another set of boxes, all together gossiping, were the two Reed brothers, and Maurice McCarten, who were to ride my rivals in the race. Just at the moment of this curious tableau, Mick Polson, trainer of so many horses I handled came into the room to make some arrangement for a ride later in the day, and when'he looked round he remarked, jokingly, “Look out, Jim, they’re framing something on you.” We both laughed, of course, and enjoyed the joke, for that’s all it was. PROPHETIC WORDS. It certainly looked funny, at the time, but neither of us realised that later on in the race his words might

prove prophetic, not that the New Zealand boys, of course, were putting their heads together. Anyhow we jump out of the barrier and Cimabue goes to the front. Greenline lies behind him slightly, followed a little wide by Nightmarch. I am behind Greenline and between Nightmarch and the rails. After we have gone two furlongs the field bunches up, and Greenline is barely ahead of me, while Nightmarch is on his quarters, with me pinned on the fence, and I realised that Roy Reed has me in a pocket. Just to test it. though, I slow Amounis and drop back a .little. Reed eases Nightmarch and back he comes, still covering me. Somehow the field keeps bunched, for those ahead no« doubt slowed down when they heard us dropping back. So there I am at the half mile, snowed in like an Esquimau. And I'm starting to get a little anxious for it’s getting near home. So I make a forward move and get as close to Greenline's heels as I dare without courting disaster by galloping on him and bringing him and my own mount down. But up comes Nightmarch. He has the pace of me, and wherever I move he can follow. I drop back, and Reed knowing I am trying to get out of the jamb and go round him, drops back quickly too. I go forward quickly, believing by a •■u.rst that I might be just one jump cltead of him and get out but Nightmarch responds readily to his demands and he comes on, too. WEDGED ON THE RAILS. If I rush forward he follows closely, and if I drop back he, too, lets Nightmarch fall back alongside of me, keeping me hemmed in all round. I ■an t move out because he is beside me. I can’t go forward because Greenline is directly ahead of me on the rails, and if I try to drop out of the race Nightmarch drops out alongside and wedges me on the rails. What a game it was! I am fixed all roads. I tried it six times.' But Reed was there a wink behind me, whether I went back or forth. By this time we are getting to the turn. I could see the situation was desperate. I knew Reed wo'uld keep me there until, say, a furlong and a bit from home. Then he would dash oil, and while I was strafed getting round the others ahead, he would win (he race. I wouldn’t be able to overtake him because I knew that in brilliance there was nothing between our mounts. It was just the run of the race that could decide the issue between two champions so evenly matched.

Realising this I got desperate. I must get out of this or die. So just as we were coming to the turn I pulled back suddenly. It left a clearance between me and Greenline ahead. Nightmarch was quick enough though, in coming back alongside me to cover me- But not quite quick enough. Old Amounis must have thought I was drunk, pushing him and pulling him like a madman. As soon as I got him back and saw Reed hadn’t been quick enough, I shoved him forward once more at his top speed. Reed tried to cover that move, but here, too, he was a little slow. I poked Amounts’ head through between him and Greenline’s quarters, and then the gallant fellow pushed his neck forward. ELBOW WORK USED. He seemed to know what was afoot. Reed came over. But I got in first, and when the elbow work began I pushed over his way. We had a great battle, but nobody has anything on me for that. For one thing, I am built long for that sort of thing, and leaning out of the saddle I fairly el-

bowed Reed away from me, and that, of course, was making the opening for Amounis to go through.

But then the worst possible happened. I was riding that day at 8.12 in the very lightest of saddles. Two pounds was all it weighed, and Amounis, being a big round-bellied fellow my leaning over to the left towards Nightmarch gradually loosened it and pulled it down round his belly. So I know that when I want to get back am going to have the greatest difficulty. By this time I have an elbow resting on Nightmarch's wither. Actually I’m just as much on the New Zealand champion as Reed is, and he’s carrying both of us.

T have succeeded in pushing Nightmarch out of Amounis’ way, but with the saddle round his flank my trouble is to get back. Round the turn there isn’t much hope for me. We are going wide off the course. But then Reed straightens Nightmarch. That brings him right slap up against Amounis, and that provides the leverage for me to raise myself. I get back, the saddle fortunately rising with the pressure of my body into its right position, right on the horse's back. Witli a sudden wrench I’m sitting “pretty” again on Amounis, and at the same moment I spurted him. Cimabue lias petered out, and the tiring Greenline was all I had to head, and he couldn’t stay a mile. So I get a break before Nightmarch can be balanced again, and after being relieved from his tandem team of jockeys. And Amounis responds like the champion he was. Reed get Nightmarch going. But it was too late. Amounis won by a length from Nightmarch and Greenline was third, three-quarters of a length away. NO ONE SQUEALED. Then we pulled up to return, and I couldn’t help pulling over alongside of Roy Reed, on Nightmarch, and remarking, “Well, it was a well thought out plan, and I congratulate you for thinking it out. I’m not going to crack a lay about it. I’m glad though it didn’t work. It deserved a better reward, but it just wasn’t quite good enough. I hope there’s no ill-feeling between us. I bear none towards you, so I hope you're the same. You did your best. So did I; we’re quits.” Of course nobody squealed. Each of us was equally to blame for any naughty tricks that went on. I wort. And to save his face Reed has to keep quiet. And so did I. But I can’t help thinking that Reed overstayed his welcome in attending to me. Now, if I had been doing that crowding and pocketing business to him, I would have left off suddenly at about the 2 J furlongs, and streaked for home, it would have taken some time to get Amounis going in pursuit and a horse like Nightmarch, who had the brilliance to win tlie Epsom, would have gained three lengths on me, and I knew that Amounis, good as he was, couldn’t have bridged that gap.

It was just a tactical error. Instead of doing this he stayed to fight that elbow battle with me, and I don’t care who it is no jockey would beat

me at that. I'm built too long in the funny-bone.

I had great pleasure from that win, as you might imagine. But I had greater fun when I met Mick Polson after the race, and began to tell how nearjy his prophecy before the race had come true. When I explained the circumstances I thought he would take a fit, he laughed so. Of course he had backed my mount heavily, and could sense the battle himself that was going on. I never saw a man’s face so contorted with joy as we went over the race together afterwards. Of course I have won a lot of All Aged Stakes, and other races. But that was the one I had to truly fight my way to success in. And perhaps it was one of my best riding feats, I leave it to you.