"Watch Random closely, stick to him all the way. I do not think you can
beat him, but I want to find out what Lucky Boy can do with him."
"Is there any other horse in the race to fear?" asked Jack.
"Only The Spot, and perhaps Tell Tale."
It was Jack's first appearance on an Australian course, and he was
naturally anxious to create a favourable impression. Joel had told him
that colonial riders had a very poor opinion of "new chums" in the
saddle, and added--
"But I think you will cause them to change their opinion before the day
is over."
Although Joel thought Lucky Boy had but a poor chance of beating a horse
like Random, with a clever jockey in the saddle, he was not without hope
that Smith would hold Jack Redland and his mount too cheap, and perhaps
throw the race away. Dick Smith had one bad fault, he loved to "snatch
races out of the fire," make a close finish of it, when perhaps his
mount could have won by four or five lengths. It was for this reason
Joel never put him up if he could help it, and when one of his patrons
insisted upon it he told him he did it at his own risk.
Random dashed down the course, moving with such freedom that backers
were content to lay slight odds on him, and before the flag fell he was
a six to four on chance.
Smith thought the race was all over bar shouting, and at the post he
smiled sarcastically, as Jack rode up on Lucky Boy, and said to the
rider of The Spot--
"Old Joel's going a bit balmy if he fancies that thing has a chance."
"They say the chap on him can ride."