KEEN 'CHASING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 118, 21 May 1945, Page 7

KEEN 'CHASING

RAMILLIES IN FORM

FINE EFFORT AT TE RAPA

..Many candidates for the Great Northern carnival were seen out at the Waikato Racing Club's winter meeting at Te Rapa on Saturday, and the Te Rapa Steeplechase, principal event on the programme, resulted in a most spectacular finish, Ramillies, a comparative outsider, just getting up in the last stride to defeat a forlorn chance, Dauber, 15-15 in the betting, by a head. Strangely enough, Ramillies has not been nominated for the Great Northern Steeplechase, but he is in the big hurdle race at Ellerslie, in which he has 9.9, and is now bound to be elevated to the favourite division. He won the Brighton Hurdles at Easter, and, in view of his success on Saturday, must be regarded as remarkably well in in the handicap. ... Ramillies gave a fine exhibition of steeplechasing, and his stamina, plus the vigorous horsemanship of J. Winder, made all the difference between winning and losing, for Dauber tired in the last few yards whereas his conquerer was galloping with great dash. Dauber would have paid over fIOO for a win. Several Horses Fall The result of the Te Rapa Steeplechase did not throw much light on the chief cross-country event at Ellerslie, as Albino, .Rockery, IChurja * and Lockheed, four fancied -horses for the Auckland event, failed to get round, the best performance among the visitors being - that of Sir Percy, the favourite, which was always one of the vanguard and finished third, within a length of the winner. Sir Percy should have no difficulty in running out the Northern distance,: as he Is by Sir Simper from French Raid, by Raid, from Moulin Rouge, by Kilbroney from Directoire, by Wairiki-Queen Anne, by St. Leger-Anna, by Musket from Florin, by Traducer. . Approaching the. second to last fence, Albino was setting his own pace in the lead, just clear of Rockery, and it then appeared as though he might prevail from the latter, which, however, was also going well on a nice rein, but the Fates Were against both horses, as Albino hit the obstacle and crashed, while Rockery failed to clear the fallen horse, and also came to grief. Khurja was then left in front with Dauber, but he fell at the final Lockheed, which gave a fine display to win the Autumn Steeplechase at Auckland on April 2, was going exceptionally well in front in the early part of the last round, but the sod wall proved too much for him. He appeared to be all right'when he pulled up.

Hurdlers in Action The two hurdle races were won by Moderate (Hamilton Hurdles) and Brantome (Seddon Hack). Moderate, a winner at Te Aroha on the previous Saturday, gave a nice display, going to the front about three furlongs from the finish, and winning comfortably from Hunto, which took up a good position five furlongs from home, and followed Moderate into the straight. Hunto had 11.9, 51b more than his Northern handicap, and 81b more than he carried when he won the big hurdles at Ellerslie last year. Epping, Expellant and Gold Cape ran fairly well. Brantome, the half-brother by Broiefort to Beau Leon, made an exhibition of his opponents in the Seddon. Hack, winning by 10 lengths after being about double that distance in front opposite the stand. He is a dashing jumper this fellow, with more than the average amount of speed, and he gained many admirers for the Great Northern. He :s only a young horse, rising five years, and has not had much racing, but if his owner, Mr. E. H. Cucksey, of Te Awamutu, decides to attempt the Northern with him, the opposition will know they have been galloping ere the straight is reached the last time. The track was very heavy, following persistent rain throughout the week, but the sport was well worth while, even though most of the events were won very ea The" totalisator handled £72,243, compared with £73,551 last year, a decrease of £1308. Late results were:— SFnnnN HACK HURDLES of £300, one mile and three-quarters.—3-5 BRANTOME, 10.12 (P. M. Brady) 1: 8-6 BALLYNEETY, 9.0, car. 9.1 (R. Collett) 2; 5-4 OUR NATION, 10.6 (P. Cleaver), 3. Scratched: Belsandei\ Myain. Marlnoto, ■Rr»n«;taf Whetuwhenua, Diamond King, ijana Court. Ten lengths; four lengths. Boyce was fourth. Time 3.34 3-5. Winner trained by R. H. Martin, Matamata. PRESIDENT'S HANDICAP of £780. ane mile and three furlongs.—4-3 LA FILLIOTE.J.B (G. TTntrhpsi 1: 2-2 AIR PORT, 8.10 (I. Oalvin). 9-0 SOUSA, 7.0 (C. Jillings). 3. Scratched: Orakau, Broiefleld, Hormuz, Gay Chat, Harris Tweed. Half a length each way. Royal Musk was fourth. Time 2.36 1-5. Winner trained by W. Clifton, Takanini. TE RAPA STEEPLECHASE of £1000, about three miles.—B-8 RAMTLLIES. 9.5. car 9.6 (J. Winder), 1;. 15.-15 DAUBER. 10.2, car. 10.3', 2 (M. Ritchie) 2: 1-1 SIR PERCY. 10.2 (T. Boyle), 3. Scratched: Foxiana, Epping, Valantua, The Vulture, Moko MoKo. Head: half a length. Paid was fourth.' Time. 7.4. Winner trained by J.-H. Dufty, Thames. " STEWARDS' HANDICAP of £450, seven furlonffs. —3-2 VERDANT, 7.5, car. 7.7 (G Hughes), 1, 8.10 REGAL MARCH. 7.0 (C. B. Goulsbro), 2, 10-11 GAY CHAT, 7.2 (R. Gibbs) ,3. Scratched: Findon, Gaymeer,' Plying Acre, Saludos, Lord Dink. Eight- lengths; three lengths. Lady Pay was fourth. Time, 1.34 3-5. Winner trained by P. J. Arnott, Ellerslie.

HAMILTON HURDLES of £600, two miles.— 2-2 MODERATE, 10.11 (R. Heasley). 1; 9-10 HTJNTO, 11.9 (J. Winder), 2: 3-3 EPPING, * 10.7 (E Tempertori), 3. Scratched: Town Survey. Varuna, Spring Day, Dumbo, Diamond King. Two lengths; ten lengths. Expellant was fourth. Time, 4.3 2-Winner trained by R. J. Belcher, Trenthim.

HOROTIU HACK HANDICAP of £300, one itaile and a quarter.—l-1 HIPPODROME, 8.9 (J. WilliamSS?) 1; 2-3 CRACROET, 8.3 (E. V Dye) 2; S-4 CHUNG CHONG, 8.8. car. 8.1 (R. Gibbs), 3. Scratched: Beneve, Mr. Rowl, Loch Acre, San Antone. Four lengths; head. Santa. Anita was fourth. Time, 2.24 3-5. Winner trained by D. E. Cotton. Te Rapa. JOCKEY SUSPENDED Following the running of the Otorohanga Hack Handicap at Te Rapa on the judicial committee of the -Waikato Racing Club- suspended S. Phillips, rider of Golden One, for. two i months for interference with Peria Prince.