NATIONAL FINALE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 193, 17 August 1931, Page 12

NATIONAL FINALE.

THE RICCARTON RACES.

COPEY SCORES AT LAST. HEATHCOTE TO RASCAL. PRINCE LU'S SYDENHAM HURDLES. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. The Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National meeting was concluded to-day. The weather was fine, and the track was in fast order. The attendance was good. The totalisator investments were £31,603, compared with last year £42,724, the total for tthe meeting being £90,650, a decrease of £30,194 on the 1930 figures of £120,834. Thurina Again. The programme opened with the Aylesbury Steeplechase, for which the French Fleet—Calham bracket was favourite. Silver Light and Taramoa led French Fleet over the poet and rails, but at the kennels Silver Light drew clear. She had a lead of a dozen lengths at the first fence of the stand double, where ehe blundered, but made a good recovery. French Fleet was in second place at this stage, and Taramoa and Pangolin next, Umtali being in the rear. Pangolin and French Fleet jumped past Silver Light at the post and rails, and at the kennels French Fleet' was showing the way to Pangolin, Silver Light, Taramoa and Thurina, who were following in that order. Thurina was just behind French Fleet and Pangolin at the top of the straight, and Thurina then moved up and led over the last fence, beating French Fleet easily by three lengths. Pangolin, wae two lengths away third, with Diamond Jack, finishing fast, three lengths further back. Croupier All the Way. For the Longbeach Handicap Croupier (£1494) was a strong favourite, while Moorbird carried £595, and Royal Amphora £503. Croupier began smartly, and soon crossed over to ithe rails, leading Gold Pit on to the course proper, with Moorbird and Full Crop also prominent. Moorbird took eecond place, a little further on, but Croupier beat her easily by two lengths. Full Crop wae three lengths away, while a length further back Night Flyer just beat False Scent, with Acis, Actaeon and Babel next. Prince Lu Never Headed. Landmark carried £903 in the Sydenham Hurdles, the next best fancied being Prince Lu (£595) and High Pitch (£476). Prince Lu took charge at the start, and at the stand he was four lengths in front of Nukumai and Conjurer 11., with Overhaul and Membo next, Landmark being last. Troilus fell at Cutts' hurdle, where Prince Lu had Conjurer 11., Overhaul and Amorist as his nearest attendants. Turning into the back stretch High Pitch made a forward move, and at the sixfurlong post Prince Lu was six lengths in front of Overhaul, Conjurer 11. and Amorist, with High Pitch heading the others. A furlong further on Amorist was in second place, and he followed Prince Lu round the home turn, where he dropped out again. Prince Lu was well clear of Nukumai, Overhaul and High Pitch at the last hurdle, and he won easily by three lengths. High Pitch finished best of the others, beating Nukumai by a length. Overhaul was two lengths further back.

An Exciting Finish. Aladdin "was favourite for the Styx Hurdles, with £957, next in order being Rameses (£630) and Apache (£573). Apache, Rameses and Huntley were together over the first hurdle, when Huntley took charge, leading Rameses and Apache out of tile straight, Paquito being a long way in the rear. Huntley_ and Apache.were together at the mile post, just clear of Rameses and Gallivanter. Two furlongs further on Rameses moved up and joined Huntley in the lead. Ramesee then took charge, and at the home (turn was showing out from Huntley and Apache, with Gallivanter next. Aladdin was a good way back at this stage, but was starting to move up. There was not much to choose between Rameses, Huntley and Apache at the last hurdle, Gallivanter and Aladdin being next. Apache faded out in the run home, and an exciting finish resulted in Huntley beating Ramesef by a head. Aladdin, finisnmg strongly, was a length away, Gallivanter being a similar distance further back, just in 'front of Apache. Aladdin was disqualified, the stewards "being! of the opinion that the horse was not doing his best. The Favourite Falls. Lucess was favourite for the Lincoln Steeplechase, but fell. The others well backed were Snowfall and Dark Prince. Dark Prince and Paris snowed the way over Cutts', with Snowfall and Tunamoe leading the others. TuEamoe Joined Dark Prince in the lead at the kennele double, Wiltshire, Paris and Bon Ayran being next. Bon Ayran, after joining Tunamoe in second place behind Dark Prince at the sod wall, lost his rider at the next fence'. Omeo fell at the fence near the carriage paddock, bringing Tuki down. Dark Prince, Tunamoe and Wiltshire' were in line at the stand double, with Lucess, Copey and Snowfall two lengths away. Wiltshire led this bunch over Cmtts' fence, and round to the sod wall, where Lucese fell. Paris, who had dropped back leaving the straight, moved up again at the post and rails. Snowfall joined Wiltshire in the lead after jumping the kennels double; Paris, Copey and Tunamoe being next. Dark Prince lost his rider at the sod wall, and Paris went out at the straight, where Snowfall and Wiltshire were just clear of Copey. Copey and Wiltshire led Snowfall over the last fence, and an exciting finish between the two leaders resulted in Copey beating Wiltshire by half a length. Snowfall was ten lengths away, with Matu, the only other to finish, some distance back. Tunamoe was pulled up at. the top or the straight. Rascal Wins Easily.

Ranelagh, Ephialtes and Red Boa carried most money in the Heathcote Handicap. Shatter wae smartest out. followed by Starshooter, Red Boa and Raecal. After going a furlong Shatter lost his place, and a little further on Rascal took charge from Starshooter, with Gustavo and Red Boa handy. At the half-mile post Rascal was three lengths in front of Starshooter, Gustavo, Red Boa and Shatter. There wae no change when the straight wae reached, and Gustavo then took second place. Rascal held his place to tll . e nnieh, beating Guetavo by two lengths, with Shatter a similar distance away a head in front of Red Boa, with Royal .Love Another head away. The Redollffs Handicap. In the Rcdcliffe Handicap Jaeon'e ihimt, Bhootifit and Owlefllght were the first to tthov/ out, but at the ead of a inrlong OwUflight took charge from Shootis*, am Railor'n Love. A little further on Water Power ran to the front, being iolU>w*sd round the turn by Bailor'« Love, Pakltere, OwUfllghf; and Hounelow, with Mwti&n Cbwrf prominent in the next humh. Water I'owic and Bailor's Love k4 to Ihtt (straight, Martian Chief then rtuyt<tft up from th* inuidc. Hβ w«* out *tea* at th* <3ietan.ee, wiatre Hounelow

and Owlsflight were most prominent in the next bunch. Martian Chief went on to win by two lengths, Hounslow beating Owkflight by a head for second place. A little further back came Jason's Quest, just in front of Pixie Gold, with Sailor's Love, Locksley and Spearful close up. Historic In Form. In the Selwyn Handicap Quantum was the first to break the line, followed by Limited, Mahora, Jumper and Great Star. At the end of two furlongs Limited was in charge, with Mohora, Great Star and Quantum in the next bunch. Limited led Mahora, Arrowmir, Quantum and Great btar around the home turn, but when the straight was reached Meprisant and Historic put in an appearance. Historic and Meprisant drew away at the distance, Historic winning by a length. Mahora was two lengths away third, and Mount Boa, finishing fast, was fourth, a neck in front of Great Star. Results: — AYLBSBURY STEEPLECHASE of 200sovs. About two miles and a half. 3—THURINA (Mr. J.' R. B. Bell). 10.10 —Beale 1 I—FRENCH FLEET (Mr. W. McCarthy), 10.2— H. Dulieu 2 S—PANGOLIN (Mr. H. A. Rhind), 10.8—Miles 3 Also started: 2 Taramoa, 11.9; 4 Umtali, 11.3; 1 Calham, 9.11 (bracketed with French Fleet); 6 Silver Light, 9.10; 7 Diamond Jack, 9.7. Three lengths; two lengths. Time, 5.12 3-5. LONGBEACH HANDICAP of 200sovs. Six furlongs. I—CROUPIER (Mr. J. J. Corry), 9.2 —Wiggins 1 2—MOORBIPiD (Mr. E. S. Luttrell), B.lo—Kirwan 2 10—FULL CROP (Mr. E. W. Spencer), B.ll—L. Dulieu 3 Also started: 7 Acis, 8.0 ; f> False Scent, 4 Gold Pit. 3 Royal Amphora. 8.6; 5 Actaeon, 8.1; 6 Babel, 8.1 and Fast Passage, 8.0 (bracketed); 11 The Quorn, 8.1; 16 Jordan, 12 Tauroow. 14 Night Flyer, 8 Chief Light, 15 High Tor, 13 Lady Noel. Two lengths; three lengths. Time, 1.13 2-5. SYDENHAM HURDLES of 350sovs. Two miles. 2—PRINCE LU (Mr. A. Coubrough), 10.10—O'Connor 1 3—HIGH PITCH (Mr. J. Irwin), 10.2 . —Campbell 2 7—NUKUMAI (Mr. S. D. Davidson), 10.8—Miles 3 Also started: 6 Conjurer 11., 10.4; 4 Amorist, 9.13; 8 Ovarhaul, 9.12; 1 Landmark, 9.11; 5 Membo (fell), 9.8; 9 Troilus, 9.1. Three lengths; a length. Time, 3.41 1-5. STYX HURDLES of 200sovs. Once round and a distance. B—HUNTLEY (Mr. G. G. Holmes), 9.0 -VTilson 1 2 —RAMESBS (Mr. J. Lindsay). 0.7— Cooper 2 4—GALLIVANTER (Mr. R. C. Keeper), 9.3—Trillo 3 Also started: 1 Aladdin, 12.9; 3 Apache, 11.9; 7 Paquito, 10.9; 5 Gueress, 6 Gold Mint, 9 Gourmet, 9.0. Huntley won by a head from Rameses; Aladdin, a length awav, was disqualified. Time, 2.57. LINCOLN STEEPLECHASE of 350sovs About three miles. 6 —COPEY (Mr. J. Fryer), 9.s—Tucker 1 S—WILTSHIRE (Messrs. T. C. and H. W. Wilson), 11.8—Syme 2 2—SNOWFALL (Mr. M. Mount, jun), 11.0—O'Connor 3 Also started: 4 Paris, 11.3; 3 Dark Prince, 10.9 ; 3 Omeo, 10.7; 1 Lucess, 10.3; 11 Tuki, 9.7; 7 Bon Aryan,-9 Matu, 9.1; 10 Tunamoe, 9.0. Half a length; ten lengths. Time, 5.52. HEATHCOTE HANDICAP of 25050 v& One mile. 6—PASCAL (Miss E. D. Robinson), 8.10-—Coveny 1 12—GUSTAVO (Mr. J. R. McKenzie), 9.5 —Pascoe 2 4—SHATTER (Mr. H. A. Knight), B.B—Morris 3 Also started: 11 Gay Crest, 10.11; 5 Comprls, 10.3; 1 Ranelagh, 3 Red Boa, 9.5; 2 Ephialtes, 9.2; 8 Starshooter, 8.8; 7 Royal Love, 8.2 ; 13 Black Mint, 9 Topere, 10 Night Maid, 8.0. Two lengths each way. Time,. 1.39. EEBCLIFFS HANDICAP of 200sovs. Seven furlongs. 2—MARTIAN CHIEF (Mr. R. J. Murphy), 9.5—8. H. Morris ... 1 B—HOUNSLOW (Mr. E. Hay), 8.13 :—Pascoe 2 9—OWLSFLIGHT (Sir Charles Clifford), B.o—Cotton 3 Also started: 7 The Smuggler, 9.5; 1 Pakitere, 9.1; 3 Spearful, 8.12 ; 4 Locksley, 8.11; 14 Quinopal. 8.10; 12 Water Power, 8.8; 10 Pixie Gold, 8.5; 11 Riri, 8.3; 5 Ramo, 8.3; G Jason's Quest, 15 Spanish Maid, 17 Jael, 9 Sailor's Love (bracketed with Owlsflight), 13 Elude, 16 Shootist, 13 Eclair, 19 Decisive, 20 Invictus, 8.0. Two lengths; a head. Time, 1.27. SELWYN HANDICAP of 250sovs. Seven furlongs. 2—HISTORIC (Mr. V. Riddiford), 10.11 —B. H. Morris i 9—MEPRISANT (Mr. G. Murray AynVley), 9.s—O'Connor 2 6—MAHORA (Mr. A. C. Plummer), 10.6—Didham 3 Also started: 1 Charmeuse, 10.5; 5 Great Star, 10.4;; 10 Palermo, 10.3 : 4 Red Boa, 7 Mount Boa, 9.7 ; 8 Quantum, 9.4 ; 3 On Top, 9.1 ; 11 Arrowmir, 8.9 ; 13 Limited, 8.8; 14 Royal Game. 8.2; 17 Miss Mercia, 12 Juniper, 15 Smithereens, 16 Thorndale, o.U. A length each way. Time, I.2CJ.

Two 1.13 2-5.