RACING FAIRHOME WINS GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLES

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26800, 4 August 1952, Page 4

RACING FAIRHOME WINS GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLES

Field Chief Beats Rustler In Winter Cup PAPARUA HANDICAP TO PHEROZ GIRL

. Ncat “d <re»t Stamina carried Fairhome to a convincing m the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton on Saturday Well ridden by Garry Jenkins, son of the Foxbridge gelding’s Opaki trainer, Fairhome mastered the lightly-supported Free Gift early in the run home, and after that he did not have to do his best to win by two lengths.

First Act made a renewed effort in the straight to take second nlace but Free Gift beat him by half a length. ’ P >

Fair home, the eighth successive North Island-trained winner of the race, became the fourth horse to complete the Homeby-Grand National double in one year. The other three were Clarion Call (1938), Padishah (1939), and Bandmaster (1951).

Clarion Call won the Grand National Steeplechase twice, and each time he was ridden by Fairhome’s trainer, A. Jenkins, one of the outstanding cross-country jockeys of his day.

Fairhome’s win on Saturday gave Jenkins special pleasure. It was his first success as a trainer in the race and Fairhome gave his son his first Grand National success as a jockey.

The Christchurch Hunt Club’s Braba-1 ton Handicap a week earlier proved a! sound guide for the Winter Cup. Tm-i proved by his earlier race, the Winga-' tui-trained Field Chief won by a head' after a great struggle from the furlong ' with the favourite. Rustler. Silence was' a length back third. Rustler and Field Chief were the I minor place-getters behind Silence in l the Brabazon Handicap. Bought less than a year ago by a Southland Owner, Mr T. Skinner, Field Chief soon won his way into open company and raced well against some of New Zealand’s best sprinters last sum-

Field Chief is trained by A. E. Did-, ham. who prepared and rode Royal! Flight to win the Winter Cup seven: years ago. N. A. Crombie, the success- - ful jockey on Saturday, started his 1 career as an apprentice to Didham.

The Winter Cup was the second leg of the double. The first leg was the Paparua Handicap, in which Pheroz Girl mastered top weight of 9-5 to beat Snuffbox, the favourite, by threequarters of a length. There were 478 tickets. 166 of them on-course, on the Pheroz Girl—Field Chief- combination, which paid £ 170 6s for £l.

None of the favourites was successful. Knight’s Romance, the shortest- i priced favourite of the day, was unplaced in the Avonhead Handicap, and' the jockey, K. Nuttall, was questioned by the stipendiary stewards about the running of the horse. Nuttall said that the horse was definitely lame, and his view was confirmed after the horse was paraded for examination in the birdcage. The attendance was just over 19,000. about 6000 fewer than last year. The on-course totalisator turnover was £174.979 IDs, including £15.496 on the double, compared with £207,739 10s on the corresponding day last year. The National Running

Tabor Islet, showing his usual keenness, pulled his way to the front inside the first furlong of the Grand- National Steeplechase, but Mr Thunder and First Act were right up with him jumping the

stand double for the first time, and Owenga, Gildchase, Roman Ned, Free Gift, Fairhome, and Count Minerva were close up with Young Prince, Master Patrick, and The Swagger following a short distance back. I*ator Islet had a clear lead from Mr Thunder and First Act going to Cutts’s. and there were few flaws apparent among all the runners in their jumping of the I big brush. Tabor Islet led down the back straight, jumping every fence well, and Mr ThunI der was closest to him, with a length I and a half to First Act, five lengths to ' Owenga, two to Free Gift and Roman i Ned, and a gap to Fairhome and Gild- ; chase, arith another gap to the favourite. . Count Minerva. Master Patrick and Young ; Prince were on terms and The Scotchman ' had tailed off. With a round over Tabor Islet was leading Mr Thunder by two lengths. The Ringmaster gelding’s jumping had been good, but he was not to remain in the long. The Wellington Steeplechase winner did -not treat the first of the stand ' doutle with enough respect and he > crashed heavUy. For a moment a pile-up ' looked likely, but Owenga and Gildchase, j though checked, remained on their feet. I I The Scotchman, still well back at this i stage, ran off at the same fence. First Act, Mr Thunder, and Free Gift ! were the first three leaving the straight, ' and Owenga was following there lengths ! back. Gildchase. Roman Ned, end Fairhome were handy, and Count Minerva j and Young Prince were three lengths ’ back, clear of Master Patrick. Cutts’s did not trap any of the runners, but the next fence, the sod wall : near the nine furlongs, put Mr Thunder , cut of the race. The Arvakur gelding, ! going well at the time, made a bad lean and bumped W. Barr out of the saddle. At this stage of the race G. Jenkins | was moving Fairhome forward, and the t Foxbridge gelding, with two neat leaps, j led over the kennels double from Free I Gift and First Act. None of the others ; was going well enough at this stage to , be considered. Free Gift regained his lead on the . flat, and going to the brush at the top ' of the straight he was a length and a I half in front of Fairhome. First Act was three lengths away and clear of Gild- , chase. Fair home joined Free Gift early in the run home and had the Southland jumper's j measure before the carriage paddock j brush was reached. After landing safely

Fairhome kept galloping strongly to win comfortably by two lengths from Free Gift, which had a sharp tussle with First Act from the furlong. Half a length separated the minor place-getters, and Count Minerva followed them home 12 lengths back. Then there was a gap of 10 lengths to Young Prince. Gildchase and Owenga were the only others to finish, and they were well back.

Master Patrick and Roman Ned were pulled up during the last round. Thrilling Winter Cup Finish Field Chief gamely stalled off a strong challenge from the favourite, Rustler, to win the Winter Cup.

Field Chief, which was in a elose trailing position on the home turn, ran to the front near the furlong, and Rustler, which made his run outside him, failed by a head to reach him. In a great finish for third Silence narrowly beat Desperado, King's Command, and The Wake. Field Chief began smartly fronj one of the inside barrier positions, and after a furlong he was in the trailing position behind The Wake. Field Chief was following The Wake, Stella way, and King’s Command going to the five furlongs, where Meravia, Lord Fort, Desperado, and Rustler were handiest of the others. The Wake led round the home turn just ahead of King’s Command, Field Chief, Rustler. Lord Fort, and Desperado, which were closely bunched. There Silence was showing up wider out on the tgpek. Field Chief soon headed The Wake, and his only challenger inside the furlong was Rustler, which failed by a head to close his lead. Silence was a length away third, a neck in front of Desperado; King’s Command, which did not keep straight under the whip from the furlong, was a neck away fifth, and The Wake was sixth ahead of Lord Fort, which did well to finish so close after beginning slowly. Meravia was next, followed by Poetical, Stellaway. Golden Coronach, Coral Arc, Ngapunawai, and Spectral.

Top-weight’s Convincing Win Pheroz Girl carried top weight of 9-5 to a good win in the Paparua Handicap. The Hastings-trained Pherozshah mare had the run of the race behind thejeaders, ran to the front outside the furlong. and beat the favourite. Snuffbox, by three-quarters of a length. Quarry, one of* the pacemakers to the straight, was two lengths back third. Black Briar, which started from the outside of the field, was last away, and Lord Milling, Reformed, Platonic, and Greetings were also slow. Quarry was in front when the field settled down and was followed to the half-mile by Dashing, Pheroz Girl, Bosky, What Next, Shar Bian, and S!r Abbot. Quarry and Dashing were on terms at the straight entrance half a length in front of Bosky. Snuffbox was a length and a half back just shading Pheroz Girl, and Western Winner and Gold King were leading the others. Pheroz Girl took charge outside the furlong, and though Snuffbox challenged gamely the Hastings mare won decisively. Quarry beat Dashing by a length for third. Bosky was fifth, and was followed home by the fast-finishing Black Briar. Argonaut was next to finish, and was followed in by Winning Gem, Shar Bian, and Lord Milling. Results ENFIELD STEEPLECHASE, Of £6OO. About two miles and a half. 6, 6—G. V. Shannon’s RHODESIAN GOLD by Rhodes Scholar—Colac 7yrs 10-10 .. .. J. P. Carter 1 7. 7—R. F. Taylor and Mrs Taylor's Happy March Byrs 10-8 G. Jenkins 2 4. 3—W. E. Hazlett's Gay Music 9yrs 10-11 .. W. J. Hillis 3 2,2 The Swagger (ran off); 1, 1 Montanic (fell); 9. 8 Dinner Time (fell); 5, 4 Sea Dog; 10. 10 Cloister (lost rider); 3, 5 Contravene (baulked); 8, 9 Master Mishna; 11, 11 Puck (lost rider) also started. Long neck; two lengths. Master Mishna was fourth. Time. smin 9 l-ssec. Winner trained by J. J. Waller, Awapuni. Dividends—Win: £lO 13s. Places: £2 19s 6d, £3 Bs, £2 Is 6d. CASHMERE PLATE, Of £5OO. Three-year-olds. About seven furlongs. 2. 2—T. C. Lowry’s ARAB by Neptune —Sudan 8-5 C. H. Mackie 1 6. 6—J. Dwyer's Mulberry 8-5 car. 8-5 J L. W. Hare 2 10. 10—J. M. Samson's Sun Goddess 8-0 N. E. Eastwood 3 8, 7 Argument bracketed Relinquish; 1, 1 Beaverbrook bracketed Royal Purple; 16, IS Blue Flash; 5, 5 Denominate bracketed Finir; 18. 17 Harken; 17, 16 Inspire; 3. 3 King Willow; 21, 21 Prince Crusader; 20. 20 Rois du Bois: 4, 4 Roue: 15, 15 Russley Lad; 14. 14 Spring Night; 9. 9 Square Dance; 19/19 Whitby; 11, 11 Compactum; 10, 10 Princess Finis bracketed Sun Goddess; 7. 8 Red Hand; 12, 12 Shirley Mac; 13, 13 Tyro also started. Half a length; head. Argument was fourth. Time, Imin 29 2-ssec. Winner trained by G. W. B. Greene, Hastings. Dividends—Win: £4 6s. Places: £1 13s 6d, £4 4s 6d, £lO Is 6d. TRIAL HURDLES HANDICAP, Of £6OO. Hack conditions, a About one mile and three-quarters an" 60 yards. 7. B—E. C. Ford’s PREFECT by Royal Chief—Schoolgirl 7yrs 10-2 * H. J. Ford 1 8 7—H. Halliday's Fine Art syrs 9-1 B. R. Thompson 2

13. 13— -J. F. Burt and A. J. McLaughW. Pentrip eyre M car. g 5, 4 Cargill; 6, 0 Kleve; 10, 10 Profane; 3. 3 Night Ruler; 11, 11 Coxswain; 4, 5 Glenlivet; 1,2 Chaaemlnt; 12, 12 Magical (fell); 2, I Conrad; 9, 9 The Piper also started. Head: three lengths. Cargill was fourth. Time, 3min 21 l-ssee. Winner trained by H. J. Ford, Riccarton. Dividends.—Win: £ll 18s od. Places: £4 7s, £3 14s 6d. £l7 14s. PAPARUA HANDICAP, Of £7OO. About seven furlongs. 7. 7—E. C. Loisel’s PHEROZ GIRL by Pherozshah—Rosandra syrs 9-5 C. H. Mackie 1 1. I—W. G. Deyell’g Snuffbox 4yrs 8-4 C. McDonald 2 10. c * Tomkinson’s 6, 4"°What Next; 20,* 18 Reformed; 6 9, 9 Winning Gem: 13, 13 Dashittg; 3. 3 Lord Milling; 14. 19 Gold King; 18, 15 Platonic; 2.2 Shar Bian; 12, 13 Sir Abbot; 5, 5 Detective; 19, 17 Airwork; 21, 21 Argonaut; 4, 6 Western Winner; 15, 14 Black Briar; 10, 10 Bosky; 8, 8 Greetings; 22, 22 Roving Robin; 18, 20 Royal Monarch; 17, 16 Show Mist bracketed Viewfield also started. Three-quarters of a length; two lengths. Dashing was fourth. Time, Imin 28 3-ssec. Wmner trained by G. W. B. Greene, HastinDividends.—Win: £l3 0s 6d. Places: £4 17s. £2 3s, £8 Is. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, Of £3555. Three miles and, a half. 3. 3—Mrs H. W. Lvda’s FAIRHOME by Foxbridge—Nfght Spi 10vrs 9-6 G. Jenkins 1 10. 10—W. E. Hazlett's Free Gift by Sir Simper—Sisterena 7yrs 9-5 W. J. Hillis 2 8. 9—G. S. Walton's First Act by Ringmaster—Missal llyrs 10-13 W. Reid 3 I. I—K. Carter's Count Minerva by Defaulter—Princess Minerva Byrs 9-11 ..- J. W. Harris 4 3. 3 Tabor Islet (fell); 4. 4 Gildchase; 7, 8 Master Patrick (pulled up); 9, 7 Roman Ned (pulled up); 11, 12 Mr Thunder (lost rider); 6, 5 The Scotchman (ran off); 12, 11 Owenga; 5. 6 Young Prince Two lengths; half a length. Young Prince was fifth. Time, 6min 54sec. Winner trained by A. Jenkins, Opaki. Dividends.—Win: £8 17s. Places: £2 12s 6d, £5 Ils, £4 10s. WINTER CUP, Of £2OOO. About one mile. 4. 2—T. Skinner’s FIELD CHIEF by Royal Chief—Janefield 4yrs 8-6 N. A. Crombie 1 1. I—Sir John McKenzie’s Rustler 4yrs 9-6 .. K. Nuttall 2 6. 7—J. P. O’Brien's Silence 4yrs 8-13 F. H. Skelton 3 12, 13 Golden Coronach; 17, 16 My Hero; 16. 17 Spectral: 21, 22 Cogitation; 18, 18 Diablo; 9, 9 Ptolemy; 22, 21 Coral Arc; 3, 4 Special Script; 8, 8 Lord Fort: 2, 3 King’s Command; 20, 20 Sanford: 10, 11 Royal Voyage: 14, 12 Danger Point: 7, 6 Brutus bracketed Desperado; 11, 11 Poetical bracketed Formation; 4,2 Vitalogy bracketed winner; 13, 14 Taj bracketed Abba: 19, 19 Journalist; 5. 5 Meravia bracketed Stellaway; 23, 23 Ngapunawai; 15. 15 The Wake also started. Head; length. Desperado was fourth. Time, Imin 40 4-ssec. Winner trained by A. E. Didham, Wingatui. Dividends—Win: £9 Is 6d. Places: £2 Ils 6d, £1 17s 6d. £3 17s 6d. JUMPERS’ FLAT HANDICAP,. Of £6OO. About one mile and a Half. 12. 12—J. N. Morton’s GAY SPION by Battle Song—Enchant 7yrs 9-6 r G. Jenkins 1 11. 10—C. Bourke and S. Gray’s Peter Ora 6yrs 10-1 .. W. E. Carter 2 18. 17—J. C. Earnshaw and C. E. Howard’s Boniface Byrs 9-0 G. W. Mein, 3 3. 2 Personality; 15, 14 Aquelio; 6, 6 Belgravia; 1, 1 Revolte; 8, 8 Infatuate; 7, 5 Robin Redbreast; 10, 11 Great Bid; 2, 3 Nionyx; 13, 13 Song of India; 9, 9 Dennis O’Kelly; 14. 15 Redlo; 17, 18 Gay Prince; 5. 7 Stylish Fox; 19, 19 Kirkella; 16, 16 Prince Coronach; 4, 4 Ryeland also started. Half a length; half a head. Belgravia was fourth. Time, 2min 38 3-ssec. Winner trained by owner. Otaki. Dividends.—Win: £27 Bs. Places: £8 19s 6d. £6 19s, £lB 2s 6d. AVONHEAD HANDICAP, Of £5OO. Hack conditions. About one mile. 2. 2—R. B. Selbie’s ROYAL MAIL by Royal Chief—Paper Wings 4yrs 9-7 A. J. Stokes 1 4. 5—M. Dentice and Mrs Dentice’s Gallant syrs 8-13 W. J. Broughton 2 5. 4—A. M. A. Englebrecht’s Grand Boy syrs 8-1 A. C. Peake 3 6. 8 Master Mariner; 10, 11 Gardez; 3. 3 Dan; 1, 1 Knight’s Romance; 7, 6 Memories bracketed Wealthy; 8, 7 Mar ar oy al; 11, 12 Reuter; 17, 19 Connair; 16, 15 Calm Voyage; 14, 13 Evening Shoes; 20, 20 Gold Stage; 12, 10 Elsie Mary bracketed Double Paper; 15. 15 Golden Orb bracketed Hermes; 18, 18 lona Isle bracketed Jacksons; 9. 9 Lady Dalefield; 13, 14 Millrace bracketed Morse Code; 21, 21 OronteS; 19, 17 Tiger Tim bracketed Weewyn also Two lengths: nose. Millrace was fourth. Time, Imin 42sec. Winner trained by R. E. Humphries, Invercargill. Dividends.—Win: £7 2s 6d. Places: £2 6s 6d, £3 3s 6d, £2 18s.