Four Horses Took The Eye

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 121, 24 May 1941, Page 3 (Supplement)

Four Horses Took The Eye

KING REY'S SUCCESS ON FLAT VIED WITH VICTORIES OF STREAMLINE, BRIDEGROOM AND GOLD SPOT

(By WILLIAM J. BYRNE) All roads led to Te Rapa last week-end, Mr. and Mrs. Auckland — North, South, East and West — hiking, by special train and motor car, for a day's sport, but more particularly on the lookout for something to be on at Ellerslie, where the Northern double and the Cornwall are to be decided not much more than a week hence. Most of the hikers came away with very definite ideas — some that King Rey is a "shot's eye" for the Northern Hurdles, others that "You can't take it off Streamline," while there was a minority who said, "Gold Spot will do me,'* or some such thing. As for the Great Northern Steeplechase — well, they were not so dogmatic, for, after all, that is a jump of another colour; and, anyway, the acceptances were not yet at Te Rapa. There was some Justification for the idea that King Rey may win the Northern after he had made an exhibition of the field in the President s Handicap, a flat race over a mile and a quarLer, seeing that he hud won the Waikato Cup as far back as November, 1935, when he was aged six.

yHE win complex was strengthened when it was learned that that fine all-round horseman Ashley Jenkins had been engaged to ride him in the Northern. He has I 0.3 in the big race, just half a stone less than he failed with in the Grand National Hurdles won by Padishah in 1939. King Rey was then ten years old. With Ashley Jenkins in the saddle, King Rey won the Sydenham Hurdles at his ease two days later, and since then he sandwiched a win in the Storey Memorial at Te Rapa. That was on February 17 of last year, so that it will be seen that the son of Kaceful and Hilmar has taken a new lease of life. For his supporters' sake, security of tenure will be necessary yet awhile. There's an old gambling axiom. "Always be with the man whose luck's in," or "Be with the strength." Right now, that might well mean, "Be with Jenkins." The little man from the Wairarapa was in his element at Waikato. He commenced the meeting well by riding his first mount —Battlegain— to victory in the first division of the Otorohanga Hack, and when he called it a day, on the Monday, he had four wins to his credit, the others comprising a double on Black Majesty and the Te Rapa Steeplechase on Bridegroom. Just the kind of thing one could expect from a chap who trains horses in his spare time. And that reminds me that at the Auckland winter carnival two years ago Jenkins just missed Sam Henderson's record of six wins at the meeting, a statement which is a good and sufficient introduction to Bridegroom, whose mission this year is the Great Northern Steeplechase Jockey's Ambition — j Not Realised It was in 1939 that Ashley thought he would win the big cross-country event on John Charles, the favourite, and when the big race came up for decision on Monday,-June 5, it looked as though his yearn would be satistied. Everything pointed that way. j He had won everytning about the Place, for following 'upon successes on John Charles, Charade, Lord Hereford and White Rajah in the Manawatu in the week preceding the Northern meeting, he commenced here by winning the first race on the programme on John Charles, taking the Great Northern Hurdles on Charade the same day, and, for good measure, the Hunt Club Hurdles on Bridegroom. On the Monday he won the Hunt Club Cup on Bridegroom— so that you will note the 'chaser knows our Hill—and completed a double on Charade in the Keniuera Hurdles. John Charles failed him in the steeplechase, Survey winning from Power Chief and Smiling Thru, but Y''hcn Jenkins returned to scale, ana 1 ventured a "Tough luck," he lomarkcd philosophically, "Oh, I don't know. My turn will come." So what! Before passing along to a further hne about Bridegroom, it is in point Jo mention that Jenkins has won the Grand National Hurdles on Calamart and the Grand National Steeplechase twice on the champion 'chaser Uarion Call. Having his second run this season, bridegroom was racing like a winner ess than half a mile from home in l he Egmont Steeplechase when he Punched a fence and lost his rider, victory going to his stablemate, itiotous. Bridegroom is a better horse now man ever he was. At Te Rapa, Jenkins was riding him confidently

at the head of the field, with Riotous and Baldric in attendance, when the second to last fence was reached, and this obstacle brought about the downfall of his two companions. Bridegroom going on to easy victory from Dozie Boy. The last-named horse is a decided possibility in the Northern. He is a good jumper, a sound stayer, and he has nothing on his back in the Northern—just the sort of a horse a punter should have on his side. He won three minor races over country last year, and is on the up-grade. "Doc." Knapp Specialises In Jumpers And now for "Doc" Knapp, trainer of Bridegroom. The "Doc specialises in jumpers, and he rarely produces one that does not win. This has been going on for years, but we'll be content to take just the past two months, and in that period we find that he has won botn steeplechases at Paeroa with Hanover, the Egmont Steeplechase at Hawera. and the Te Rapa Steeplechase—and these are the only cross-country events so far decided in the North Island this season. Of course. Bridegroom and Dozie Boy were not the only two horses in the Te Rapa Steeplechase, and it should be mentioned en passant that Baldric was going like a winner until he fell at the second to last fence, while Gar Vaals appeared t.o be travelling well within himself when he toppled when with Riotous in the lead three fences from home, j The form of some of the 'chasers ! on the second day was too bad to j be true, and a horse doctor in attendance remarked afterwards that no doubt they had been reading of the Go Slow policy so prevalent nowadays. However, among the hurdlers, it was difficult to miss great potentialities in both Streamline and King Rey in connection with the Great Northern Steeplechase. These horses are nicely treated in the handicap, but they have vet to prove themselves over the big timber. There doesn't appear to be any reason why they shouldn't. Streamline, who led all the way in the last Great Northern Hurdles, is a horse of class, and a dashing jumper. Moreover, it is certain that, bar accident, he will be a much better horse at Ellerslie than he was at Te Rapa. He was inclined to sweat a little before going out to contest the hurdles on the Waikato course, and when he returned to the birdcage he was in a lather, despite the fact that he did not have a very hard race. On breeding. Streamline has much to commend him. as he is by Day Comet from Sailor's Hope, whose half-sister. Fast Fassage, and halfbrother, Waterline, were noted performers on the flat, the former winning a New Zealand and an Auckland Cup. King Rev, a son of Raceful, by. Martian, ha~s only 10.1 in 8 the steeplechase, and it is reported from Matamata that he has been schooling in great stvle. There has as yet been no indication whether he is to tackle the double. But apropos the hurdlers seen out at Te Rapa, one cannot get away from Gold Spot's two efforts. Twelve months ago, Mrs- E. M. Sloane won both the hurdle races at the Waikato winter meeting with Jewelled Girdle, and if Gold Spot had not been jumped on by Master Appellant, after he had slipped at the last fence, there is little doubt ..that he would | have won. He was doing it easily at the time, but when the mishap occurred he was brought to his knees and his chance hopelessly ruined. It was different on the second day. The track was inclined to be heavy, and as there was a doubt about the

ability of the son of The Ace and Goldplane to handle the going, Alex Sinton. riding a perfect race", gave him plenty of time in the earlv stages. The result was that Gold Spot, gaining confidence, ran to the leaders with ease five furlongs from the judge's box and carried on the good work to win as he liked. It was a great Great Northern trial, and he may accomplish for Mrs. Slcane just what she thought was in her handbag with Jewelled Girdle last year. Remember the race? • The cry, ••They're off" had hardlv subsided when. crash. Jewelled Girdle. Chikara, Pyrenees and Knight of Australia hit the green sward at the first fence, right in front of the grandstand. Tough luck, but all in the game. Gold Spot has only started in four hurdle races for three wins. He may succeed where Jewelled Girdlefailed last June. I Tlio acceptors ;irr: —

(il'-EEN list SIEF.PLErUASE of £350. About iwo miles and n half. Jewish -Lad ... 11 2 Apr? 9 10 Dnrk Rose ... in P i.np Up .... 9 3 British Sovereign 1(1 ' Comrl" n 2 Brichr idea . . 10 1 Clansman .... 8 1 Beverley . . 10 1 i.._rida a u Ruline Star . . in 1 Beuichtrd . . . * n Pelwyn . ... 9 13 W;nc4ei ry ...90 Pertinax ... 9 li Sun Boy 9 0 JERVOI* IMNTtlfWP of £350. Seven furlongs. Ewimr" 9 13 Bamburv Cross . . S C Trl'i S'n'i.-.n ..99 Fharmlo ....80 Field? curl ..99 Bronze Ora . . . R 0 Etruscan . . B 3 Rndlo Call ...80 Radian: Van!." . . !) ?. Airport 8 0 Mayfair 9 2 Pea Easlet ...30 Aretie Dawn ..91 Bron/o 80 Clrssic 9 0 Flyhte 8 0 Calu.i Bey ... 8 n hlnkler 80 niimaha .... 8 10 i»rcity Model ..80 Fnxurar.ii 8 8 Miss Eureka ..80 Miss Jose ... 8 7 GoM Bloom ...80 l.ooii Acre ... 8 6 l.adv Arushla ..80 Strattorci ....85 No.-aio Son? ...80 Princess Val . . 8 5 Bnomps-n-Dalsy . 8 0 SScala'v 8 5 Maori Star ...80 Kara Avis . . . 8 ' (•.olden Bonnet . 8 C Fxiieilant .... 8 1 Flying March ..80 Royal Son ... 8 1 Auburn Lad ..80 Eronzc Emerald . 8 0 PENROSE HURDLES of £3."i0. One mile and three-quarters. All Irish . . . 11 8 Tavern Song ..90 Night H-.tv.lr . . 10 8 Barrister 9 0 Bisqu.lt 9 12 Hot Shot ....90 Selwyn 9 12 siokowskl . . . . 9 0 Prtval " ■' RiKht Royal ..90 Sebror 9 7 Rajanya 9 0 Very Glad . . . j . Nlthmount .... 9 0 Rival 9 4 Loval Grant ..90 General Rtske ..90 Surna! 90 GREAT NORTHERN HURDLES of £1750. Two miles and a half. Streamline . . .II S Dividend 9 9 Erjnatio.i ... in y Donegal 98 King Rey ... 10 3 Esperaucc Bay . 9 8 Aussie Ra ... 10 0 Master Appellant 9 5 Tldewal'.er .... 9 12 nien Abb .... 9 4 Gold Spot . . . 9 11 Snct-cmr; 9 4 Llmbohni 9 10 Erlick 9 0 CORNWALL HANDICAP of £750. One mile and a quarter. Foxsen 9 3 Tellsom 7 8 Kentucky .... 9 0 Tea Gong ... 7 4 Clipper 8 13 The Cardinal ..74 Gladynev .... 8 3 British Talent . 7 1 Cornish 8 8 Erlick 7 0 Te Kawitl ... 8 7 Valmint 7 0 Our Jean ... 8 5 Kilcash 70 Gold Vaals ...85 Lovaals 7 0 Royal Appellant . 8 1 Valley Maid ...70 Sir Cameron .80 Fhtlemup ....70 Bronze Moth ..80 Esquire ,....70 Greek Queen . . 7 13 Hunting Bee ..70 Silver Quex . . 7 12 Lord Waitangi . 7 0 HUNT CLUB HURDLES of £350. Two miles. British Sovereign 10 7 Brandon Hall .90 Bells of Bow . . 10 S Rod Mhor ...90 Hornpipe .... 10 1 paint 9 0 Rey Lu .... 9 13 valorous 9 0 Wharcmarica . . 9 11 Sir Frank ...90 Pertlnox .... 9 11 Gay Sheen ...90 Very Glad ... 9 9

MEMBERS' HANDICAP of £450. - Six furlonss. Arvakur 9 9 Aero King ... 8 3 Noble Fox ... 9 9 Sure Pay .... 8 3 Merry Vaals ..98 Trilllarch ....80 Marshall Hall ..97 Myslto 80 Circular Note ..97 Cheval de Batallle 8 0 Erndale 9 6 Veritable 8 0 Te Taklna ... 8 13 Royal Message . 8 0 Oold Money Song 8 12 Sunola 8 0 LlandafI 8 7 Happicoat .... 8 0 Brazilian .... 8 * SECOND DAY. GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE of £2060 About Ibree miles and three-quarters. Sireamllne .... 10 10 Rey Lu 9 0 Gar Vaals ... 10 6 Ktnkle .....90 Aussie Ra ... 10 4 Jewish Lad ...90 Bridegroom ... 10 3 Smllln' Thru ..90 King Rey ... 10 1 Beverley 9 0 En Tour .... 9 B Dark Rose ...90 Baldric .... 9 2 Clansman ...90 Doric Boy .... 9 0 Bells of Bow -.90