BOUGHT AT TWENTY GUINEAS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1931, Page 11

BOUGHT AT TWENTY GUINEAS

WINNER OF THE METROPOLITAN. OWNER'S LUCKY SPECULATION. • (By “Musket” in the Sporting Globe.) Nobody wanted the imported gelding Strength when, about three years ago, he was offered for sale by auction; he did not bring a bid. Shortly afterwards he was offered to J. J. Hansell for 20 Tuin-eas. That owner closed the deal, but was told that he had “fallen in,” because it had been found impossible to train Strength. Hansell cured him of any complaint the gelding might have had, and now has won more than £6OOO in stakes with him. On Monday Strength won the Metropolitan. . Strength is an American-bred gelding, and is well named, -being by- Sandow. He was a maiden performer when brought to Australia, and his first victory was in a maiden event at Victoria Park pony course. Another event at the ponies he won, and it was after that that he came into the possession of Hansell, who thought the gelding was suffering from rheumatism. The joints and tendons being unscathed, Hansell set about treating the gelding for the complaint mentioned. A good deal of swimming was included in the treatment, and Strength soon was all right. He is taken to the beach practically every afternoon, and stands in the water for some time.

It was not long before Hansell found out that he had secured a bargain. The gelding began to win races. Prior to going over to the A.J.C. courses he scored in 12 events, including the Rosebery Cup of £lOOO. On registered courses Strength has won five races, and prior to Monday his stake earnings were £3300. He won the Newcastle Cup. More than £6OOO in stakes alone is not a bad return for an outlay of 20 guineas! Strength holds three time records—six and a half ' furlongs at Rosebery, six furlongs at the same course, and six furlongs at Canterbury. “I don’t know what people thought was wrong with Strength when I bought hinT, but it was not much,” said Hansell after the Metropolitan. “I treated him for rheumatism. Even now I don’t know whether he suffered from that complaint. At any rate my treatment did him good.” Hansell has only been connected with the turf for about five years. Prior to that he was an asphalt contractor to the Rockdale council for 10 years. He is assisted in the training of his horses by his son, Len. When the Hawkesbury meeting we«s postponed recently from -Saturday until Monday, he could not work the gelding owing to the heavy state of the tracks. ° Strength did not have a gallop from the Friday to the Monday before the Hawkesbury meeting, and that accounted for his poor form there. 1

Strength is a rather common looking gelding, and the wonder is that he had not been tried over hurdles prior to coming into Hansell’s possession when he was such a failure. He looks an ideal type of hurdler. He has hair off his hips, and that adds to his common appearance. Prior to Monday he had not won over a longer journey than 11 furlongs, but his owner-trainer was confident that if bis rider gave him time to tret on his legs early in the race, he would run out the distance. This is just what happened. Bartle had him well back early. He timed his ran well and just lasted long enough to win. ' The is eight years old, and that fact does not say much for the younger horses — Veilmond, Chide, Carry On and Talkie. It was only last Wednesday night that E. Bartle was engaged for Strength. Efforts were being made to secure the services of W. Cook, but that rider preferred the mount on t , Chide, who started favourite. Bartie had previously Avon on Strength in his only mount ou the gelding.