A MYSTERY HORSE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 147, 24 June 1931, Page 5

A MYSTERY HORSE

RUNNER AT FLEMINGTON THE PLUNGE ON GAGOOLA. OFFICIAL INVESTIGATIONS. Received June 23, 8.20 p.m. SYDNEY, June 23. An intriguing turf mystery is engaging the attention of Victorian and Sydney clubs which concerns the unknown colt Gagoola, which went from Sydney and took part in the Rothsay Trial at Flemington on June 8, was the medium of a heavy ‘‘plunge,’’ ran second, and then mysteriously disappeared after the race. All attempts to trace the horse failed. However, Mr A. L. Yuille, of Sydney, registrar of racehorses, this week went to Cabramatta, 15 miles south of Sydney, and questioned a man, who took him to a heap of ashes in a creek-bed and said: “There is all that is left of Gagoola. He broke a leg yesterday and we shot and burned him.” The owner cannot be found and his £6O cheque for Gagoola's second at Flemington is still unclaimed. Writing from Melbourne under date June 11, a correspondent related the following story: — Flemington was the scene of a re markable plunge on Monday. Entered for the Rothsay Trial Stakes was a colt named Gagoola, who was described in the official book as being by Yetrnan from Dismay. Few people had ever heard of the horse or owner (Mr H. Graham) and there was great surprise when it was noticed that the colt had been backed down from 20 1 to 7 to 4.

“ Who is Gagoola?” everybody asked, but no one could supply the answer to the question. The curiosity of the public spread to the stipendiary stewards, but the “mystery horse” eventually took his place in the field. Those work- [ ing the commissions wont round the betting ring taking everything on offer and many thousands of pounds were invested on Gagoola. When the field turned into the straight it looked as if tne great coup would be successful, as Gagoola was slightly in front of Stephanite as the field turned into the straight. However, Stephanite finished too fast for Gagoola and tho “good thing” came undone. Graham subsequently told the stewards that tho colt was as described in the official book and that he had been registered in Sydney on Al ay 11. In a subsequent statement to the press Graham said that the colt had been train ed on a rough farm track at Cabra inatta, New South Wales, and that he had been so impressed with his form that he had decided to bring him to Melbourne. The race on Saturday, according to the owner, was the first in his career. Dismay, who is described as the dam

of Gagoola, is aged 30 years, so that when she dropped Gagoola she was 26. It is evident that Graham’s training methods aro thorough, even if they are rough, as Gagoola did not run like the average novice. Ho picked his way through the field like a veteran and Victorian racing mon are looking forward to SOeinCT fntla-wr M.fffl.in..