AJ.C. HURDLE RACE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 141, 17 June 1930, Page 12

AJ.C. HURDLE RACE.

1 CrROSVENOR IN RECORD TIME. SONGIFT'S COSTLY MISTAKE. Sustaining a long run from the half- , ' mile, Mr. P. 11. Osborne's robust gelding Grosvenor Avon tlie Australian Jockey Club Hurdle Race on June 9, in the record time of 4.19 A, which was three-quarters of a eccoiul better than the previous best Randwick time recorded by Bronzillet in April, 1924. This was Grosvenor's second win in the Australian Jockey Club Hurdle Race, his first having been recorded in 1927, when he beat the Yiptorian, Micronesia, and Piratic. ' Grosvenor ,was ridden by O. Carter, who had the mount on the gelding in his earljcr. successes over hurdles.'Carter resumed riding at the Warwick Farm meeting-, and when the winner and his smiling rider returned to the enclosure they were given a great ovation. Songift, who had a clear lead into the straight, did not jump cleanly for the first mile. He lost the race at the last jump, for ho was practically at the obstacle before he rose. , As a result heblundered very badly and his rider was almost dislodged. The horse and. rider each, made a spectacular recovery, but Songift was so weakened that he was unable to display any light oy.er the last half furlong: . , The betting was not the least interest- . ing part of the race! Songift and Anori- •■ ent- opened favourites, with '. Grosvenor at a good' price, but the last- ' named always had a tendency to harden, ', whereas Anorient receded, Grosvenor having, in the meantime,-come to favouritism. /There "was also outstanding support, for Praetor. • , ■'Kjng Elysian, Perides, Songift, and j Doctor dtrace were the first to show out i from a good start. There was not any < inclination, to slow down from the out- ] set, and when the horses .turned,into the < straight the first time there was not.a I great deal between Perides, Anorient and Doctor Grace, with Songift, i Grosvenor and King Elysian close up. 1 Passing the stanri practically the same I order was - maintained'; Grosvenor w£te '.{ hard : to hold, his, position, jvhile i Anorient and Song'ift were each jumping t slovenly.■-. At the'nine furlonge, Anoa-ient t inad'e another faulty effort and Songift 1 raced .lip to him and Perides. Songift had sole control at the inile post, and led i along the back from Perides, Anorient, ? Doctor Grace and King Elysian, .with Paul T. and Grosvenor 1 a good Way .back. !* Perides fell five 'furlonge froin home and ' Scudalong lost his rider. Songift ap- ■; pearled to be only cantering when he > ]>assed the half-mile'in front, of Doctor '$ Grace arid Kinross. Anorient. dropped } ■back very suddenly, as if he had met with a mishap. At that stage Grosvenor -.* and Paul T. began to gain ground rapidly, but they were a great way f , behind Songift, who had. a three lengths advantage of Doctor Grace entering the j straight. Grosvenor, however,, responded c very gamely,' arid approaching the last £ ob'stacle he was within striking distance ]■ of the leader.;. Songift lightened t Grosvenor's task by taking the jump t very awkwardly, and shortly after the ] -recovery he weakened quickly, Grosvenor coiriing.on to a two and a quarter lengths victor.y r Paul T. beating Doctor .Grace r for- the minor place. - . I JSFotwithstanding his failures in Msl- G bourne Grosvenor has.done'well over the d jumps. His foi-m eai-'Jier this year was I hard to follow, but he showed his appre- t ciation of Carter's understanding by i finishing a very close second to Songift X at Warwick Farm, after being left r almost half-a furlong-.at the start. •* Grosvenor revealed his best form in 1927 when his victories, in addition to the Australian Jockey Club Hurdle Race, ° included the Warwick Farm Hurdle Race, Tattersall's Hurdle Race, Randwick J Hurdle Race, and a Second, Hurdle Race fi at Randwick. /.' ; ,; ; . . . -