A GLORIOUS VICTORY
Grey Bird being a thorough stayer, Willie determined to make the most of
his light weight, but the horse was not a quick beginner, and when
fairly in his stride half the field was ahead of him.
Tatters, a six-stone chance with a smart light-weight named Jones in the
saddle, made the running at a great pace, and so had a lead of many
lengths. In a cluster came half-a-dozen more, then Defiance and Target,
with Grey Bird on the rails behind them.
At the end of the first mile Tatters still held the lead, and was going
so well that some people thought he might retain it to the end.
At this distance Defiance crept up closer with Target, and Willie kept
Grey Bird near them.
As they passed the stand Tatters led, the bright orange jacket showing
out distinctly.
The favourite was going well, pulling Ashton out of the saddle.
'Willie's on the rails,' said Mr Dauntsey. 'I hope he will not be shut
in next time round.'
'It is good going there,' replied Jim, 'and he'll manage to get through,
never fear.'
Dr Tom was excited; he had never stood a chance of handling such a lump
sum before. Six hundred pounds! It seemed untold wealth to him.
He fixed his eyes on the grey horse and did not see any of the others.
Round the turn and past the road they swept, the orange jacket still in
the lead, but the others were gradually drawing nearer. It was a fine
race so far, all the runners being well together.
Willie was anxious for an opening, and it came sooner than he
anticipated. As they entered the back stretch, round the bend, Target
ran wide and bored Defiance out, and this gave Willie a chance.
With marvellous quickness he shot Grey Bird through the opening and went
along at a great rate after Tatters. It was a good bit of horsemanship,
and recognised as such on the stands.
'That up-country fellow knows how to ride,' said someone at the back of
Jim Dennis's party.
'He does indeed. It was a fine move on his part to squeeze through;
there was some risk in it. Won't Ashton be mad! He fancies he is the
only man can do such things,' replied the gentleman with him.
Jim Dennis was in high spirits and so were his friends.
'He must be as cool as iced water,' said Dr Tom, 'to slip through like
that. What a run I am having for my money.'
'And you look like winning it,' said Mr Dauntsey.
The yellow jacket was fast drawing nearer the orange, and a couple of
lengths behind Grey Bird came the favourite, and Target, followed by
Hova, Baby, Warfare and Walwa, the remainder going well.
Past the top bend they went, and there was a great race for the home
turn.
Willie 'hugged' the rails with Grey Bird, and he felt his mount was
going better than he had ever done. The horse seemed to feel the
excitement of his surroundings and the exultation of being at the head,
or nearly so, of a Sydney Cup field.
Grey Bird was not a 'shirker' at any time, but he was surpassing himself
on this occasion.
Jack Ashton was very wrath when he saw the grey shoot past him on the
rails, and he was now making up for the ground he had lost.
Defiance, despite his big weight, held his own, and as the turn into the
straight was reached Ashton sent him along at top speed, and drew
alongside Grey Bird as they rounded the bend.
Willie saw the white jacket, and recollected what Hurley, the rider of
Target, had said to him.
Jack Ashton closed in upon him until Defiance seemed to bore Grey Bird
right on to the rails.
The riders' legs actually touched, but Willie kept his head and sang
out,--
'Ride fair. Give me room!'
Jack Ashton made no reply, but tried his best to head Grey Bird.
This was more than he could accomplish, and he set his teeth and vowed
vengeance on Willie Dennis.
Neck and neck they raced together, with Tatters a couple of lengths
ahead, and Target, Warfare and Walwa close behind, Bung Bung coming fast
on the outside.
The crowd on the stand and the lawn was seething with excitement.
The favourite was drawing ahead, the white jacket looked dangerous, and
visions of spoiling the bookmakers arose in the minds of his backers.
'What a pace!' exclaimed Dr Tom.
'It's a terribly fast race,' answered Jim; 'but Grey Bird is as fleet as
the wind.'
'If Willie can hold his own with Jack Ashton he's a young wonder. Ashton
has frightened many a lad out of a race. Look there! He'll have Grey
Bird over the rails,' said Mr Dauntsey, the latter part of whose remark
was caused by Ashton boring on to Jim Dennis's horse.
'That's not fair riding,' said Dr Tom.
'It's foul riding,' said Jim, 'and Ashton ought to be reported for it. I
hear he is fond of cutting things fine.'
'The rider of the favourite, I suppose, thinks he may take liberties,'
said Dr Tom.
'He'll not take them with my horse,' said Jim.
The excitement was rising every moment; it was evident a desperate
struggle was at hand, for Bung Bung and Warfare, not to mention Target
and Walwa, were all dangerous. It was an open race three furlongs from
home, and the pent-up feelings of the people at last found vent.
At first there was a rumbling sound, which grew and swelled into a sort
of roar, and culminated in loud shouts.
'The favourite!' 'The favourite!' 'Defiance wins!' 'Go it, Ashton!'
'Bravo, Jack!'
Then a momentary pause in the din, and again!
'Grey Bird!' 'Grey Bird!' 'Bung Bung has it!' 'Walwa!' 'Walwa!'
according to the wishes of the backers of these horses.
Tatters had run himself out, and although Jones managed to hold the lead
he knew his mount was beaten.
As Tatters fell back it became necessary for Willie to pull out and pass
him, but Jack Ashton did not mean him to do so.
The crack jockey took in the situation at a glance.
Tatters was falling back beaten, and he raced Defiance level with him,
completely blocking Grey Bird, unless Willie Dennis risked going round
the leaders.
At this critical moment Willie almost slipped out of his saddle, his
left stirrup's leather having given way. He swayed to one side, and for
a second thought it was all up with him, but by a vigorous effort he
righted himself.
They were all in view of the crowd on the stand, and a terrific cheer
went up as he made his clever recovery. It was a marvellous bit of work,
and lovers of racing are not slow at recognising skill and pluck.
'Wonderful!' said Dr Tom; 'but it will lose him the race.'
'If Grey Bird wins now it will be the most sensational finish I have
ever seen,' said Mr Dauntsey.
Jim Dennis made no reply. He saw what had happened and he felt his hopes
of securing Cudgegong were extinguished for some time to come.
His disappointment was, however, mitigated by his son's superb riding,
and he felt proud of 'the little chap' and hoped for the best. Tatters
fell back beaten and Grey Bird passed him on the outside.
Defiance on the rails was a length or more to the good, and Willie was
handicapped by the broken leather. He stuck to his work, and Grey Bird
quickly made up the lost ground. Jack Ashton was certain of success now
and took matters easily.
He little thought Grey Bird and the 'up-country imp' were coming on the
outside at a great rate.
Bung Bung had put in a brilliant run and was close up with Jim Dennis's
horse. Target was not beaten, and Hurley was riding him out for a place.
Willie heard the deafening shouts, and so did Grey Bird, and horse and
rider were encouraged by the applause which many affect to despise but
secretly rejoice at in their hearts.
Jack Ashton received a shock when he was sure of a win.
He suddenly saw a yellow jacket on his left hand, and then he caught
sight of the pink-and-white of Bung Bung's jockey.
Had these horses dropped from the clouds? That country chap too, was he
a good rider, a worthy rival after all? He could hardly believe it, but
the indisputable evidence of his eyes convinced him. That yellow jacket
was not only visible, it was level with him for a moment, and then he
had not to look sideways to see it, for it was slightly ahead, and the
pink-and-white was level with him.
Seldom had Jack Ashton received such a startler. He rode Defiance for
all he was worth, and got every ounce out of the horse. The gallant top
weight ran a game as his name indicated he would. Defiance defied defeat
until his strength was exhausted. The great horse was giving away 'lumps
of weight' to Bung Bung and Grey Bird, and he did his level best to
enhance his reputation.
Amidst a tornado of maddening cheers and cries the trio raced neck and
neck. The white, the yellow, and the pink, seemed hopelessly mixed
together, and they could not be separated.
Jim Dennis held his breath and caught hold of Dr Tom's arm.
Dr Tom emitted a sound somewhat resembling a groan, so intense was his
anxiety, and to relieve the tension grasped Mr Dauntsey's arm, until the
worthy magistrate winced in spite of the excitement he was under.
So great was the struggle, such a powerful effect had it on the dense
mass of people that they had barely enough breath left to shout.
Willie saw the judge's box, he saw the head of Defiance on one side, his
red nostrils glowing like coals, his eyes starting out, his neck
outstretched, and heard the gallant horse's breath coming in sobs and
gasps.
On the other side was the head of Bung Bung, who was equally done up,
and whose eyes had a dull, beaten look in them.
He saw the head of Grey Bird was slightly in front of the other two
heads, and, by a great effort, he lifted the grey forward and shot him
past the post--a winner by a neck; and Bung Bung just beat Defiance by a
head for second place.
The scene which followed baffles description.
As Jim Dennis led in the beautiful grey tumultuous cheering rent the
air.
'Bravo, young un!' 'Well ridden!' 'He's lost a stirrup!' 'Great riding,
by Jove!' 'Hurrah for the little chap!' this last from the excited Dr
Tom.
Smiling in triumph, Willie dismounted, unbuckled the saddle-girths and
went to weigh in.
The scale _would not go down_.
'Fetch the bridle,' said Willie.
In an agony of suspense Jim Dennis waited for the bridle. He seemed to
live weeks in the short space of a minute. As for Willie, he went very
pale, but retained his nerve with wonderful coolness.
The bridle was handed to him and the scale turned.
'All right.'
What a welcome sound! The cheers broke out again, and Willie Dennis,
Grey Bird and the little party from 'up country' were fairly mobbed.
'I never want such another couple of minutes as I had when the bridle
was sent for,' said Jim. 'It seemed like a lifetime.'
'I don't know how I felt,' said Willie. 'I seemed dazed, but when the
scale went down I could have yelled for joy.'
Jack Ashton was cut up at his defeat, and it did not improve his temper
when Willie remarked as he passed him in the paddock,--
'What about the "up-country imp" now?'
Ashton scowled at him and made no reply.