STIPENDIARY STEWARD ACTS

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1931, Page 10

STIPENDIARY STEWARD ACTS

Action taken over tyrium. It is a rare occurrence for the V.R.C, stipendiary stewards to order down, a jockey or substitute another -in a race, and the fact that the name of the former West Australian horseman, N. Percival, was removed from the board and that of W. Elliott posted as the rider of Tyrium in the Two-year-old Handicap at Sandown Park on January TO, caused a mild Sensation on the course, according to advice from Melbourne. ■ It apepars that when wagering opened on the race in- question Tyrium was quoted fairly short, but, as time went on the filly receded' to double figures. The' stewards, observing. the drift, interrogated Percival, who protested that, as far as he was concerned, everything was above board. Tyrium, he maintained, was a fair trier for him. As the filly did not subsequently firm in the betting, although well supported by her owner, the stewards again questioned Percival, who, becoming rather upset, said that, as things were, he would sooner not ride Tyrium at all. “All Right,” observed one of the officials, at the same time hurriedly proceeding to. the. jockey’s room with the trainer, B. Price, to search for another rider. The substitute jockey* was W. Elliott.. As soon as Percival’s name was taken from the board and that of ( W. Elliott placed in position, there was a rush to back Tyrium. In a very short space of time Tyrium’s price was reduced to almost the original quote, and, if further time had elapsed, she doubtless would have started favourite, which honour’ fell to Coo.lac, a sturdy son of the Tracery horse Dunottar. In the actual race Tyrium was one of the first to leave the barrier, and she won in excellent style from Jacomalt and Coolac. Tyrium, of course, might have won with her original rider in the saddle, but her drift in. the betting, and the fact that she firmed again quickly when the change of riders was announced gave some justification for the stewards’ inquiry. It was subsequently intimated to the bookmakers operating in the paddock that their books would be examined on the following Monday, but the investigations had not been completed at the time of writing. Bred in New Zealand, Tyrium is by Paper Money from Brayton, and on her form at Flemington on New Year’s Day, when she ran a close third to Semitist and Viol d’Amour, she was entitled to rank among the most fancied, ones for the Sandown race. It was fortunate for the owner, Mr. D. Stanley, that, the episode took place, as his commissioner placed over £lOO of his money at the drift odds of double figures.