Elrey Triumphs Again In Grand National Hurdles

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30147, 3 June 1963, Page 4

Elrey Triumphs Again In Grand National Hurdles

"The Press' Special Service

AUCKLAND, June 2. Elrey joined El Gallo and Solar Mist in their winning of the Great Northern Hurdles twice in succession when he ran away with the big race at Ellerslie yesterday. A year before he led the Great Northern field over the last mile. This tune he went clear in front after oifly a mile or so had been covered.

There remained a mile and a half to run and six flights to take. At each of the jumps Elrey was very quick and with lus rider, J. R. Potter, holding him together nicely he kept galloping freely, winning by four lengths.

Blue Rock, making his third attempt to win a Great Northern, was third to Count

Lin and Pin Money in the chase over the last fence. On landing his rider, J. A. Gibbs, set about him and it seemed for a bit that Elrey might be all out to keep clear. But toward the finish. Blue Rock could not raise an extra yard of pace His big effort had taken him right away from the others but Elrey kept well out of bis reach and In fact put further distance between them In the last 50 or 60 yards Blue Rock was second al! the same, by five lengths from Pin Money which took the £3OO for third by about a k ngth from Count Lin The rest straggled home with the tail-endens. Peacemaker and Lord Oman. 25 lengths or more behind the first four To Reign was the most notable failure and Chef was another disappointment Improved Time The previous year, while carrying 9-1 J. Elrey went 4min 57sec in his winning gallop This time, under 9-8. which included a pound of over weight, he ran 4min 48sec which is the best since Meresun won six years ago in 4min 45 3-ssec. A nine-year-old black gelding of quite spare physique. Elrey comes from Awapuni. where he is trained by R L Dulieu for Messrs W. B Connors, who bred the horse, and J L Muir Dulieu. who is 31. had been training on his own account for not much more than six months when he 1, won the Great Northern with Elrey last year. Previously he was in partnership with his father L W Dulieu In between the Great Northerns. Elrey was placed well and managed very carefully altogether so as to be right at his peak for his second try at the big event Potter, for his part, was in fine form, gathering his mount ’expertly for each jump and allowing him a nice rein all the way O the £156.910 10s bet on the Grea’ Northern Hurdles Elrey carried £18.783 The amount he carried on the win and place was £4021, making him 2/4 in the order of favouritism On To Reign the 1/3 favourite the win and place betting came to £418? 10s

The dividends on Elrey were £6 17s and £2 15s 6d and on Blue Rock and pin Money they were £3 ()s 6d and £3 Is respectively To Reign, in his defeat, made the company of the other many Waikato Hurdles winners which have been failures in the Great Northern.- But he was nowhere n r the best of them Half a mile from the finish he looked well spent and he ran wearily to the post in sixth place

£354 12s Double Nearly 60 000 doubles tickets (5s unit) were taken on Elrey and 1115 were reinves'ed on Dashing Star, which won the second leg. the Cornwall Handicap and paid £354 12e tor £l.

Dashing Star, the fourteenth favourite each way on the win and place, overcame the disadvantage of a wide barrier position to beat her 18 opponents very thoroughly

A five-year-old mare by Star Performer from White Dash. Dashing Star came fourth the time before over a middle-distance at Rotorua on May 25 Early in March she won the Taranaki Cup and her form taken all round has been pretty sound This time she Improved fas: » a forward position on the outside when making the bend into the straight. In the next furlong her rider. G. N. McLiesh, urged her to die front and she then did % not look like being over- ' taken.

Dashing Star is trained at' Te Aroha by her owner, Mr Royce Townsend. Her win and place returns were £35 12s and £8 Ils 6d. Conditions were favourable, the weather being fine and he going pretty soft, but not too bad. The attendance was 21.790, against 19,648 last year. On-course investments were £287,330 15s, including £55.665 5s on doubles, agaippt £199,813 5s on the first day last year. Hurdles Running Lord Oman and Peacemaker led the rush to the first fence in the Great Northern by a couple of lengths from Elrey. Pin Money, To Resign and Daysun, which ran in close order two lengths ahead of No Offence. There was a further gap of two lengths to Count Lin. Chef, and Bfbe Rock. Fly Home tailed off. After two furlongs Peacemaker took over the pace clearly from Lord Oman. A little further on Lord Oman went to the front with a big jump and he was joined in no time by Elrey. which was also jumping fast and cleanly. Peacemaker kept third and To Reign ran fourth ahead of Pin Money and Tawhiti Rabi, which were together. Daysun was next in the clear, followed by No Offence, Count Lin, Chef. Blue Reck, and Fly Home.

Coming to the straight El■ey and Lord Oman were together and five lengths clear >f To deign, which had a ength on Peacemaker. Two engths further away, Pin Money and Tawhiti Rahi were eading Daysun. Blue Rock vas tenth.

Elrey jumped fast to get clear in front after another furlong. With a round to go he led by two lengths from To Reign, Tawhiti Rahi (inside), Lord Oman, Pin Money, and Daysun, which became closely bunched.

Near the mile post Daysun made an effort and improved as far as ELrey’s quarters, but with fast big jumps along the back E'.rey easily ra, clear again and he took the rise

near the five furlongs thre lengths in front Elrey stood off the hurdl near the half-mile and kej well clear. Count Lin at Pin Money were the next tu as they came to the straigh with Blue Rock getting cb«< To Reign was done with

Approaching the last fiigh Elrey was out by a length < so from Count Lin. Pin Money Blue Rock (wide), and T.. whiti Rahi. Tawhiti Rahi fell heavily Elrey landed well with handy lead and kept c

< strongly to win by fou - lengths from Blue Reek, whic ended a battling run five lengths clear of Pin Monet There was a length to Cou: ■ Lin (fourth), then a big gap to Chef. To Reign was sixth tv. lengtlis further away ard three lengths ahead of Day sun. No Offence was next a long way in front of Peacemaker, and Lord Oman was last. Fly Ho<ne fell with seven furlongs to go. Start Delayed The Start of the Cornwall Handicap was delayed through Red Luca and Dry Martini breaking out of the gate. Bonnie Dee began fast at I Captain Lancaster. Dry Martini and Jovic folic wed her closely to the first bend • Bonnie Dee dashed to < good lead and went past mile three lengths aheal of Captain Lancaster and Dry Martinf. A couple of lengths further back were Harrier and Jovic in the clear by a length from Anywhere and Dolamars There was a further gap to Craddock and Waipari. Red Luca was last, and Royton was well behind. Near the six furlongs Bonnie Dee steadied. Passing the five furlongs she led by a length from Dry Martin;. Jovic, Captain Lancaster. and Surging, which were together ahead of Harrier, Craddock. Dolamars, Anywhere, and Uppercut • Bonnie Dee had hardly anything to spare at the halfmile. By the time they reached the three furlongs she had been overtaken by Jovic. Dry Martini. Craddock. Blue Beard (wide), Jim's Count, and Surging. Dashing Star also improved strongly Craddock was momentarily in front Dashing Star then came ahead going well. For the last furlong she was dear in front and she won by two lengths.

In a close finish for the rest of the money, Waipari shaded Craddock. Jim's Count, which looked a chance at the furlong, Firenze, Red Luca, and Anywhere.