CLAREMORE SUCCEEDS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 14, 16 July 1931, Page 10

CLAREMORE SUCCEEDS

SENSATION AFTER RACE

CUremoie disappointed a laige aimy of suppoiters in the Wellington Steeplechase ■nhon he fell out before half that contest was ovci, but he made some atonement for those who remained faithful to him by scoring a teally meutorious victoiy in the Highweiglit Handicap. Cook set the big field thaUwent to the post a difficult task when he 'ran ont to a break of five or six lengths shortly alter the start, and, after making fice use of his pace all the way, stuck by his guns m the straight Claiemoie, howe\er, proved equ.il to the job of hauling him back, and that after not having altogether the best of the eatlj running. Two otheis who might also have succeeded with a better passage were the third and fourth horses,1 Taragona and Air Laddie. ' There was a sensation afterwards when it was announced that the owner of Claremore, Mr. S. Malone, of. Avondale, had been disqualified till Ist September, 1931, for an offence under Rule 7, Part IV. of the Rules of Racing, which reads: The stewards may fine any person at any time guilty of improper behaviour towards any steward, member of committee, or official, in <i sum not exceeding 50 soys, or may disqualify such person for any period not exceeding one jear." As a consequence, Claremore is disqualified fiom competing in the July Steeplechase on Saturday, and also from competing at the Giand National Meeting next month, unless the disqualification meanwhile bo disapproved of by the Wellington Distnct Committee, or levcised on appeal Some diversion was caused at the start of the race by Nukumai's taking it into his head to play circus, and bucking off his irider (R. Miles) thrice in short succession. When the field was dispatched, Cook, from number .four position, quickly paced to the front, and by the time they reached the back, stretch had opened a break of five or,six .lengths, nearest in pursuit being Staghunter, Warzone, Prince Lvi Cristobel, Membo, Spear Lad, Air Laddie, Llyn Dv, Taragoua, nnd The Smuggler. Staghunter and Warzone sacrjficed their, positions in the next furlong or so, anii Claremore first came into prominence nearing the half-mile. Cook was still bowling along out in front rounding the turn, and he came into the straight 'well clear of Spear Lad, Prince Lv, Claremore, Membo, ... Cristobel, Taragona, Air Laddie, and Llyn Du. Claremore, Taragona, and Air Laddie ,(wide out) made the most persistent efforts to draw in. .the ■ pacemaker, and the fixst-named, with ail advantage over, the other pair, succeeded in the' attempt, racing past Cook near the finish- to beat him by half a neck. . Taragonai was' nearly three lengths away third, with"1 Air Laddie close up, and Membo also handy. * There was a -gap of some lengths then to Llyn Dv, Cristobel, Prince Lv, Carinthia, and Spear Lad. The' Smuggler, who was favourite, probably much on account of being ridden by A. E. Ellis, who has .registered many successes. 'at 'Trentham' in such events, was never more than a remote prospect, arid he was not persevered with when the task was hopeless. Spear Lad was unexpectedly well supported, but he failed at the finish after making iip a lot of ground over the middle . stages. Claremore was also in good demand. • He had previously been successful in highweiglr events, having scored at Franklin in March and been second at Takapuna in January. His price for a third favourite was nevertheless la very lucrative one. Cook has been racing in good form lately, and he saw out the eleven furlongs better than many expected when he tore away as ho did early. Taragona and Air Laddie (who covered a lot of extra ground) were probably the unlucky horses in the race, and are worth remembering. Warzone, not to be out-, done by Nukiimai, tossed his rider off' at I the finishing post. , , i