RECORD DAY AT RICCARTON

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25253, 4 August 1947, Page 4

RECORD DAY AT RICCARTON

Surpeen Wins Grand National

SONERI’S TRIUMPH IN WINTER CUP

Superb performances by the Grand National Steeplechase winner, Surpeen, and by the champion mare Soneri, which won the Winter Cup for the second year in succession and maintained her unbeaten record at Riccarton, thrilled a record crowd of more than 25,000 on the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National meeting on Saturday. Conditions were perfect.

Surpeen gave a faultless display of jumping to win the Grand National Steeplechase. He took every fence alike, consistently outjumping his rivals and when the favourite Pages Raid was dramatically eliminated at the first of the stand double in the last round, it was only a question of Surpeen standing up to win. Spanish Main made a game attempt to overhaul Surpeen in the last half mile but his effort was in vain, and Surpeen, clearing the last fence as well as the first, galloped down to the post through cheering crowds for an easy win. Spanish Main had to be content with second place for a second time. Town Survey battled on past the tiring Spirillum for third.

Soneri rose to fresh heights when she ran the race of her life to win the Winter Cup under 11-4. It was easily the best weight-carrying performance in the history of the race and when she returned to scale she received one of the biggest ovations ever given a horse at Riccarton. It was only her courage that enabled her to triumph under such a weight in a desperate struggle with Howe over the last furlong, as she was on the verge of a breakdown over the last half furlong, but galloped on to wear Howe down and win by a head. Howe ran a splendid race but had to submit to a champion. The third horse, Findon, also put up a fine performance, as he was well towards the back of the field with half a mile to run. The totalisator turnover of £173,368 10s was also a record for Riccarton. On the corresponding day last year the total was £ 168,538 10s. The previous record of £172,900 was established on New Zealand Cup day last November.

Ridden a well judged race by M. E. ■ Ritchie and displaying superior jumping ability, Surpeen was never further back than second in the running in tne Grand National Steeplechase. From the time that he shook off Red Glare clearing Cutts’s the last time he never looked in danger of defeat. Surpeen and Filibeg went to the front approaching the first fence, the carriage paddock brush, but Filibeg had a life and almost dislodged his rider. Surpeen led over the stand double from Tamerlane, Red Glare, and Filibeg •with four lengths to Pages Raid and. Town Survey. Abbey Lu fell at the first of the double. Out of the straight Red Glare pulled his way to the front and, after clearing Cutts's was four lengths clear of Surpeen with a similar distance to Tamerlane, Spirillum, and Pages Raid, and gaps to the rest. Along the back, Tamerlane was eliminated at the first of the Kennels double and Town Survey lost ground. Surpeen outjumped Red Glare at the sod wall near the five furlongs and from that point was never headed. Into the carriage paddock brush, the second time, Surpeen led Red Glare by a length and a half, with eight lengths to Pages Raid and one and a half to Roman Ned and Spirillum at the head of the rest. Pages Raid had closed on the leaders a little coming into the stand double, but fell at the first. Once over Cutts’s the last time, Surpeen got well clear of Red Glare, and entering the back straight was six lengths clear of Spirillum and Red Glare, with two lengths to Spanish Main, now starting to move up, two lengths to Roman Ned, and four lengths to Town Survey with Appeasement and Filibeg well back. Town Survey again lost ground at ths Kennels double and Red Glare was starting to drop back. Spanish Main went past Spirillum to take second place some eight lengths behind Surpeen. with four lengths to Spirillum and six to Roman Ned and Town Survey. Round to the brush at the top of the straight Spanish Main btarted to close slightly on Surpeen, but the latter continued to outjump him &nd still led by six lengths, with eight lengths to Spirillum and the same to Town Survey. Coming to the carriage paddock brush, the last fence. Spanish Main had closed to within three lengths of Surpeen but the iatter held on m the run home to win easily by eight lengths with another 10 lengths to Town Survey, which battled on to beat a very tired Spirillum by eight lengths. Red Glare and Roman Ned end Filibeg and Appeasement followed st intervals.

Always Jumping Well “Surpeen was always jumping well and never made a mistake,’ said his rider (M. E. Ritchie) after the race. He •was always going well, even at the last fence. Red Glare worried him a little in the early stages, making Surpeen pull, but once he got clear of him ne had had an “armchair” ride. SurSeen is a very game old horse and ad improved with his race in the Homeby Steeplechase. He is a great jumper and has the advantage that he can take off on either leg. R. Hawes, who rode Spanish Main, Baid that he just did not jump well enough. He would not go early, and turning for home could not close the gap to Surpeen. On the last round Hawes said that he had a life at Cutts’s •when his foot touched Roman Ned as they were clearing the fence. Spanish Main lost ground at the first of the kennels’ double and he pushed right through the brush fence at the top of the straight. J. Winder, who rode Town Survey, caid that the gelding had jumped quite well but had lost a lot of ground at the Kennels double each time. R. Heasley, who rode the favourite Pages Raid, said that the gelding was going well when he fell. He was under a good hold at the time but got in too close to the fence. Sterling Performance by Soneri In spite of the magnitude of her task. Soneri 'was sent out a firm favourite for the Winter Cup and she ran a sterling race to justify the public’s confidence by beating the second favourite, Howe, by a head, after having to change her line half way down the straight. Soneri drew No. 23 at the barrier in a field of 25, but W. J. Broughton got her away smartly and at the end of two furlongs had worked her over towards the rails to take up a prominent position behind Howe. She trailed Howe to the false rail and then Brougton went to go for a run on the inner. When the horses in front looked likely to jam Soneri up on the rails, Broughton quickly checked the mare and went on the outer. Soneri then showed her greatness by challenging Howe at the furlong and wearing him down in a hard finish when giving him 211 b.

From the start Night Blush, Pensacola, Clyde Bridge, and Howe were the first to show out from Verdant, Detain, Bridge Acre, Good Cast, Soneri and Miss Medley. At the end of a furlong Riverview, Pensacola, and Nightblush had charge from Howe, Detain. Bridge Acre, and Soneri, but approaching the half mile Clyde Bridge took charge and led into the straight from Howe. Verdant, Pensacola. Soneri, Detain, Bridge Acre and Miss Medley.

Once past the false rail, Howe took charge from Clyde Bridge, but beginning the last furlong Soneri pulled to the outer to challenge Howe, with Detain, Bridge Acre, Miss Medley and Findon most prominent of the others behind Clyde Bridge. In a hard struggle Soneri held on to beat Howe by a head. Three lengths back Findon finished fast on the rails to beat Miss Medley by half a length for third. Clyde Bridge was next, followed by Detain, Bridge Acre, Sahib, Longsword, Verdant, Sumra, Riverview, Nightblush, Hakim, Lexia and Deep Harmony. Lexia lost several lengths ar the start, and Blanket, Velvet Slipper, Matador and Hakim were slow away. Soneri Has Not Broken Down “Had it not been for the false rail I would never have won,’’ said W. J. Broughton after the race, “I just would not have got through,” Broughton said that he had followed Howe from the six furlongs. Soneri was going easily round the home turn, and he thought she would have won

comfortably had she not been saving a leg over the last half furlong. Yesterday Soneri's trainer, D. J. Burgess, said that it was not decided whether she would start in the Winter Cup until after a veterinary examination on Friday. Soneri will now be given a let up and her near foreleg blistered. Her future racing will be confined to weight-for-age events. She will go home to-night. When seen in the padodck yesterday Soneri walked tenderly on her near foreleg, but she definitely has not broken down. After another hard frost overnight, the going was cutting out a little for the first few races but, after the surface dried out a little and was rolled, it provided perfect going for a winter meeting. Results:— ENFIELD SXEEPLECHASE Of £6OO. Special conditions. About two miles and a half. 2. 2—J. D. Roberts’s FAIRYHOUSE by Day Comet—Fairness llyrs 9-8 inc. 3 pen R. J. Hawes 1 1. I—E. J. and G. J. Francis’s Bravura 10-8 inc. 8 pen. .. W. Barr 2 6. 5—W. E. and Estate J. S. Hazlett’s

Ballyaggan llyrs 10-6 T. J. Boyle 3 6, 5 Waihopi bracketed" Ballyaggan; 3, 4 Cloister; 5, 6 Paladeo; 8, 8 Troytown; 4, 3 Edward; 7, 7 Hughsotis; 9, 9 Tissue Paper; 10, 10 Real Night also started. Eight lengths; 15 lengths. Edward fourth. Time, smin 15 l-ssec. Winner trained by F. D Jones, Riccarton. CASHMERE PLATE Of £4OO. For three-year-olds. Special conditions. Six furlongs. 1. I—J. E. H. Linley’s MAGNAFORM by Salmagundi—Boaform 8-5 H. J. Ford 1 3. 2—A. N. Smith’s Coral Arc 8-5 A. J. Stokes 2 4. 3—G. R. Macdonald’s Confidence Trick 8-5 car. 8-72 H. W. Hibberd 3 15, 17 Agenda; 4, 5 Beau Bijou; 5, 7 Beaugard; 16, 15 Broie; 6, 5 Carry On; 19, 19 Count Minerva; 9, 10 Detract; 7, 8 Gold Medallion; 8, 9 Leadership; 2, 4 Liebestraum; 13, 14 Ned Kelly: 20, 22 Royal Saleve; 12, 16 All’s Fair; 21, 21 Jacquee; 18, 18 Faultrosa: 10, 12 Golden Hope; 14, 13 Lodestar; 17, 20 Paramour; 11. 11 Sally Gazelle also started. Length; two lengths. Broie fourth. Time, Imin 14 4-ssec. Winner trained by C. G. Humphries, Riccarton. JUMPERS’ FLAT HANDICAP Of £6OO. Special conditions. One mile and a half. 2. 3—F. C. Christie’s BOOLAMSKEE by Baffles—Veloce Byrs 10-2 Mr E. R. Curtis 1 1. I—H. A. Anderton and W. R. Grey’s Desert Trek 6yrs 10-6 J. Winder 2 8. 7—N. A. Rattray’s Sphere 7yrs 10-0 D. Dawson 3 5, 6 Bay Robe; 3,2 Battle Chief; 9, 9 Periwig; 10, 10 Matapan; 6, 5 Kassai; 11, 11 Royal Flash; 4, 4 King’s Ace; 7, 8 Glad Fox also started. Head; five lengths. Periwig fourth. Time, 2min 39 4-ssec. Winner trained by L. H. Pratt, Orari. PAPARUA HANDICAP Of £7OO. Seven furlongs. 4. 6—C. Holdsworth’s LORNA LEIGH by Battle Song—Lady Leigh 4yrs 8-8 .. .. L. W. Hare 1 9. 9—S. J. Newland’s Julius Caesar 4yrs 8-0 A. C. Messervy 2 2. 3—D. P. Wilson’s Frances syrs 8-11 .. N. A. Crombie 3 10, 10 Royal Tan; 16, 15 Al-Sirat; 8, 7 Whitley; 5, 5 Panope; 14, 17 Young Bob; 18. 13 John o’ London; 3,2 Zealander; 7, 8 Finalist; 15, 14 Cipher; 13, 15 Lady Chips; 17, 19 Kirkella; 12, 12 Graeme: 6, 4 Dash o’ Dink; 22, 22 Martial Note; 23, 23 Sedgemere; 19, 18 Zorro; 11, 11 Kashmiri and Rival Chase bracketed; 20. 20 Bath Slipper and All Quality bracketed; 21, 21 Legal Rose also started. Three lengths; three lengths John o’ London fourth. Time, Imin 27 4-ssec. Winner trained by J. A. Wilson, Wingatui. NEW ZEALAND GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, Of £3500. Three miles and a half. 4. 4—G. Campbell’s SURPEEN by Surveyor—dam unknown llyrs 10-5 M. Ritchie 1 3. 2—W. E. and Est. J. S. Hazlett’s Spanish Main lOyrs 9-0 car. 9-1 i R. J. Hawes 2 7. 7—W. S. Goosman’s Town Survey llyrs 10-4 .. ..J. Winder 3 1, 1. Pages Raid; 9, 9 Filibeg; 6, 6 Red Glare;’ 2, 3 Spirillum; 5, 5 Roman Ned; 10, 11 Tamerlane; 8, 8 Appeasement; 11, 10 Abbey Lu also started. Eight lengths; 12 lengths. Spirillum fourth. Time, 7min 9sec. Winner trained by owner, Okoroire. TRIAL HURDLE HANDICAP. Of £6OO. Hack conditions. One mile and three-quarters and 50 yards. 7. 7—W. C. Marchant’s DUALITY by Inflation—lngenuity 9yrs 9-13 W. Carter 1 5. 5—A. V. Richards’s Night Fighter 7yrs 9-13 .. .. D. O’Neill 2 6. 6—Mrs M. J. McGillivray’s Ruling Moment Byrs 10-2 .. R. Heasley 3 8. 8 The Crofter: 1. 1 Flying Ace; 10. 10 Aldis Lamp: 4. 2 Montello d’Oro; 2, 4 Tutere; 3, 3 Wane; 11. 9 Turf Topic: 14. 14 John Gay; 12, 12 Kosciusko; 13, 13 Knight Crusader: 16, 15 Silver Stream; 15, 16 Lord Roland; 9, 11 Fading Light also started. Four lengths; half a length. Flying Ace fourth. Time, 3min 20 3-ssec. Winner trained by K. R. Webster, Marton. WINTER CUP, Of £2OOO. One mile. ■l. I—C. Cunningham’s SONERI by Bulandshar—Lady Lyric syrs 11-4 W. J. Broughton 1 2. 2—J. H. Marshall’s Howe 4yrs 9-11 L. J. Ellis 2 3. 3—Smith Bros.’ Findon 7yrs 9-12 J. Winder 3 7, 7 Longford and Matador bracketed; 11.12 Bridge Ace; 9, 9 Lexia; 6, 5 Lord Elgin; 10, 11 Pensacola; 5, 6 Detain; 16, 16 Verdant; 15, 14 Blanket and Hakim bracketed; 20, 21 Sumra; 4, 4 Sari; 18, 18 Miss Medley; 19. 20 Good Cast; 13, 10 Deep Harmony; 17, 17 Velvet Slipper; 8, 8 Riverview: 22, 23 Eudora; 12. 13 Nightblush; 21, 22 Te-muka; 20, 19 Clyde Bridge; 14, 15 Sahib also started. Head; three lengths. Miss Medley fourth. Time, Imin 41 3-ssec. Winner trained by D. J. Burgess. Otaki. AVONHEAD HANDICAP, Of £5OO. For four and five-year-olds. Hack conditions. One mile. 3. 2—R. P. Register’s BEECHWOOD by Lang Bian—Killara syrs 8-8 W. J. Broughton 1 8. B—A. J. Tutton’s Deficiency syrs 8-1 .. .. G. Hampton 2 2. I—D. M. Tweedie’s Special Flight 4yrs 9-13 .. .. A. E. Didham 3 1, 3 Copper Coin; 5, 5 Ganjah; 13, 16 Sandy’s Pride; 7, 7 Queen’s General; 15, 12 Lady Welbeck; 4, 4 Royal Robe; 22, 22 Altruist; 11, 13 Lady Melrose; 16, 14 Robingay; 12. 11 Fort Silver; 20, 21 Quadrille; 10. 10 Penetrate; 18, 17 Young John; 21, 20 Precipitate; 6. 6 Bobby Dazzler; 14, 15 Fine Night and Blue Hussar; 23, 2? Vanity King; 9, 9 Mr Buzz and Polka; 19. 19 Wandering Minstrel and Kinrara bracketed; 17, 18 Quick Lunch also started. Neck; neck. Copper Coin fourth. Time, Imin 43 2-ssec. Winner trained by R. p. Register and F. Hanrahan, Riccarton.