Astral Flame Ran Unplated In Front To Break Family

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 193, 16 August 1941, Page 5 (Supplement)

Astral Flame Ran Unplated In Front To Break Family

mh W. /• Byrne at the Grand National

The victory of Astral Flame in the Grand National Steeples last Tuesday marked the consummation of years of endeavour by members of the Hazlett family to win what is regarded as the principal cross-country race in the Dominion.

Once again the event was touch and go Astral Flame had three "lives" during the running, but his greatest "life" occurred in the earfy morning when he was being plated, and the incident nearly gave his part-owner-trainer heart failure. Mr. Hazlett was having a hath at the Clarendon and his ablutions were disturbed by a telephonic communication that his horse had been badly hurt and that he was wanted at Riccarton pronto.

Trouble was that Astral Flame had been pricked whilst being plated and right at the front of the hoof, too. The position was serious, but not hopeless. Representations were made to the stewards, and Astral Flame *was allowed to run barefooted in front, probably an unprecedented occurrence in the National.

i\ T D this race was a real family ft affair, if ever there was one, for not only was the winner owned, bred and trained by one branch of ie family and ridden by the stable apprentice, but the third horse, and favourite. Slayer, was owned by another branch of the Hazlett tree. In fact, three of the nine runners were supplied by the Hazletts. The other horse was the diminutive Whirr. Time after time over a period of about twenty years it appeared that ie Hazletts, or one of them, would win the event, and there was reason !or the belief, as they kept on comgig up year after year with a good chaser whose engagements included ie National. But something always mnt wrong—at least, until Tuesday last It is not my intention here to go over the family history of the Hazletts in connection with the National tat was published in the Sports Edition last Saturday), but it is forth mentioning that Pamplona, who was narrowly beaten by Mr. Tie" Bull's fine horse Omahu in the Wellington Steeplechase in 1924, hs regarded .by his owner,. JVIr. L. C. Hazlett, as the best, or at least, ie most promising 'chaser in New Zealand-

I Ryan Wanted Pamplona It is interesting to recall that Mr. Hazlett was not alone in that belief. Auckland racegoers will have no ifficulty in bringing to mind the ate "Bill" Ryan, leviathan bookmaker, and Ta mountain of a man in himself. The genial William was a rare JHfee of a horse and. having had a bird's eye view of Pamplona, he commissioned Mr. W. Hayes, a widelyaown Dunedin sportsman, to go to 2(100 for the horse. It was his Mention to send him to Australia udhave a "clean-up" there. Mr. Hayes approached Mr. Hazlett * a tentative bid of £1000 and, *tai he had raised the ante to jjjw, Mr. Hazlett remarked, we's nothing doing, Bill; I'm not Mig to sell. Pamplona will win f Wellington Steeplechase and « take the National." Pamplona we down in the Homeby 'Chase I 'week before the big event. «T. Hazlett's representatives this »were Slayer and Whirr, Slayer steady having had a second in the s « to his credit. Astral Flame was bred by Mr. W. •Hazlett, another owner of large |?ra of land in Southland, and he JMJ'by the two sons, Messrs. H. and W. E. Hazlett. the lastdoing a good job of work ".trainer.

Apprentice Jockey Makes History The story of the race has already »)een told, but little has been published about Astral Flame's rider, young Lewis Strathern, aged 18 years. This youngster first saw the light of day in Invercargill, and when he left school about five years ago he made no secret of his ambition to become a Jockey. To that end he secured apprenticeship to Mr. W. E. Hazlett, and he had not been riding long before he was kicking home winners. His total to date on the fiat aggregates 23, most important the Dunedin Cup on Sparkle a couple of years ago. He is a rosy-cheeked, unassuming lad, and he has already some of the attributes of a good horseman. He doesn't know fear, apparently, and he has a good seat and a good pair of hands. There was no reason at all for him to ride over jumps, except that he dearly likes to be on a horse, and, when the opportunity occurred to ride Astral Flame in a steeplechase at Timaru in Maj' last he vaulted into the saddle with alacrity. Astral Flame won. And so did Noko when

111-Luck

he recently rode him over hurdles ' on tjie Washdyke course. His I National was his fifth ride over, fences and the first over Riccarton. In the National the lad displayed rare judgment in one so young and lacking in experience over country. He got Astral Flame out first from the barrier, but immediately had him under a strong hold, and when he was taken on for the lead first by Whirr, then Erination, and, finally, Ballybrit he remained unperturbed, declining to be bustled into racing them for the lead. Whirr was soon eased back behind' Astral Flame, and then Erination was allowed to make the pace until he had bellows to mend. After that Ballybrit raced him into a fence, outjumped him and compounded, a beaten horse.

It was a very popular victory, and the lad received an enthusiastic reception when he brought Astral Flame back to the birdcage. ■ By the way, it was really an apprentices' day out, as D. Hamill, rider of Whirr in the National, is also an apprentice, and he rode Night Scout, winner of the other steeplechase on the day. ,