No Offence, Outstays ’Chasers At Auckland

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30153, 10 June 1963, Page 4

No Offence, Outstays ’Chasers At Auckland

"The Press" Special Service

AUCKLAND, June 9.

No Offence, from Otaki, followed a pattern set by Blue Rock in the Great Northern when at the very first time of asking over the Ellerslie country he won the McGregor Grant Steeplechase yesterday. He thoroughly out jumped and outran 11 opponents to which he was required to give amounts upward of 101 b in weight. . ,

A seven-year-old gelding by Peak Halyard from Regret, No Offence was on his first visit to Ellerslie among a particularly strong team of visiting horses. Now trained by B. A. V. Preston, he was prepared to start with by H. A. Anderton, at Wingatui, and more recently by J. P. Carter, who trains Blue Rock.

Last year. No Offence won the Hawke’s Bay -Steeplechase and was second in the Lincoln Steeplechase at Riccarton. Just the other week he came second over the country at Riverton and in his only attempt meanwhile he finished well out of the money in the Great Northern Hurdles.

For a newcomer to Ellerslie, No Offence put on a display that won everybody's admiration. Held nicely together over the first mile or so, he measured his fences cleverly so as to keep up easily. When his rider, B. J. Langford, let him go for the pace-making he ran to the front in no time.

Over the last mile, only Valuation, a light-weight, was able to try No Offence At the last jump be looked likely to make the visitor go hard but' in the run home he tired and No Offence was let in for a four lengths victory.

No Offence’s win brought his owner, Mr A. Clouston, of Upper Hutt, £1950 and Valuation, with his second placing, earned £6OO. The £3OO far third came the way of Yardigar, the Great Northern runner-up, by about a length and a half from Braemar. No Offence was the third favourite off-course, but was the seventh favourite over-all. Outsider Valuation, which failed to get two miles and a half in lesser company on the first two days of the meeting, was the rank outsider and Yardgar was 5/4. The runners carrying the most money were How Much, Sabre and Ascotella and each was a big disappointment. Sabre and How Much were outpaced and Ascotella had neither speed nor his usual jumping ability. Bargoed completed a double of £B3 5s 6d for £1 with No Offence when he won the second leg, the York Handicap. On the middle day Bargoed was a trifle unlucky not to get closer than fourth

over seven furlongs. In the York Handicap he swept to the front almost as soon as they began the run home and stayed there. A five-year-old entire by Blueskin 11 from Soeur de Beau, Bargoed has now won two of the big miles at Ellerslie this year, having taken the Caltex Mile at the Auckland autumn meeting. His form after a series of disappointments is a credit to the Takanini trainer, C. M. Jil'lings. G. F. Hughes managed his mount with the greatest skill. Bargoed was the third favourite each way. Dry Martini ran him closest at the finish and Sweetnotes came third. Foxskin. the each-way favourite, came fifth and Mantovani (2/2) was fourth.

The weather was fine but the ground was very holding The attendance was 15,729 against 15,951 on the third day last year. Total investments for three days were £1,108,641 10s, compared with £1,021,446 last year. Out Quickly County was quickly ahead tn the McGregor Grant Steeplechase. Going to the water jump after a furlong and a half he was out by three lengths from No Offence, Johnny Dee, Triple Score and Valuation. By the tune they approached the hill his lead was six lengths from No Offence, which had three lengths on Johnny Dee. Valuation and Triple Score were the next two, King Ora tailed off.

After the first round County continued in front, although with a shorter lead on No Offence, which was jumping well and galloping freely.

Near the , mile post No Offence joined County quickly. Jchnny Dee. Valuation and Yardgar also made ground on the pacemaker Triple Score and How Much were next fairly handy. Braemar, after blundering at the stone wall opposite the members’ stand, and Sabre, headed the others, looking very faint chances. No Offence cleared away from the others over the next two jumips. Taking the hill again he was in front by a length from Valuation and Yardghr, which drew away by three lengths or so from how much.

Down the slope to the flat No Offence kept clear. Coming to the last bend he was just ahead of Yardgar and Valuation.. There was a fair dap to How Much, which led the others. At the last jump No Offence and ‘Valuation rose just about together.'. Once they landed No Offence went away again and hb won nicely by four lengths. Two lengths and a half after Valuation was Yardgar (tlilrd). Braemar was fourth a length and a half further back and three lengths ahead of How Much (fifth). There was a further big gap to Triple Score and another to King Ora. The tail-enders were Saibre, Hanut, Johnny Dee County, and Ascotella. Last Away Sweetnotes, Otara and Firenze were the last three after half a furlong in the York Handicap, Dry Martini led from Anywhere, Lucky Lu. Khoringa, Foxskin and Simca. After a furlong Khoringa was out by a length from Jovic, which had about a length on Simca. Foxskin. Lucky Lu, Dry Martini and Anywhere, which were closely packed.

Supreme Gold and Waipari came next, then Spunysm. Gay Parade, Enuue and King's Cove. Bargoed was at the rruddle and already Sotog well Khoringa and Jovic were the first two past the halfmile. Coming to the straight Jovic went ahead by about a length. Khonnga was handy on the inside. Dry Martini became prominent and so did Count Filou and Bargoed out toward the centre.

jovic and Khoringa tired. Count Filou and Bargoed came ahead. Bargoed shook Count Filou off w-ith a furlong to go. He was then pressed hard by Dry Martini but he kept command by nearly a length. Behind Dry Martini, Sweetnotes was a close third and Mantovani came feat into fourth, almost in line. Fbxskin came fifth, then Count Filou.

Waipari was seventh, followed by Anywhere, jovic, and Supreme Gold. The last group were Marwon. Spunyarn and King's Cove. Results:—

HUTT CUP, £800; amateur riders; about 2Jm.—l/2 HESITATE (2) 10-12 G. Tims 1; 2/1 RINGLOCK (4) 10-10 T. Brown 2; 5/5 KING FILOU (7) 10-7 car. 10-12 R Robinson 8. Scratched: Angus Junior, Fair to Fine, Prejudice. Fourteen lengths; two length* and a half. King's Host fourth •Time. 5:13. Win: £2 6s Place*: £1 6s 6d. £1 51 6d. £2 17*.

VISITORS' HANDICAP, £1000: 61—1/1 PRINCE MANU (10) 8-1 G. R. Edge 1; 11/11 YOUNG RAY (14) 8-0 B R. Andrews 2; 10/10 BROWN HAIR (2) 817 A. M. Dulieu 3. All started. Three length*; length. Tormod fourth. Time, 1:18 2-5. Win: £2 ss. Places: £1 8s 64. £6 8s 6d. £5 13* 6d. McOREGOR GRANT STEEPLECHASE, £3000; about 3m. 7/7 NO OFFENCE (1) 10-7 B. J. Langford 1 12/11 VALUATION (12) 9-0 car. 9-0 J P. K Cathro 2 5/4 YARDGAR (8) 9-3 J S. Humphries 3 2/3 Sabre. 6/6 Triple Score. 9/8 County, 4/5 Braemar, 8/9 Hanut, 1/1 How Much. 3/3 Ascotella, 10/10 Johnny Dee, 11/12 King Or* also atarted Four lengths; two lengths and a half. Braemar fourth. Time. 6:11. Win: £9 9s Places: £3 3*. £9 I*. £2 Ils. ORAKKI HACK HURDLES, £800; l|m and 60yd»—1/2 GOA (1) 10-8 R M Hastings 1; 11/11 ROYAL COUNT (13) 9-0 B. L Hilli* 2: 2/1 KINDLING <2) 10-3 B J. Langford 3. Scratched: Solid Gold, King’* Mill. Six lengths: length and a quarter. Redex fourth. Time. 3:31. Win: £3 Ils 6d. Places: £1 16s. £8 11*. £1 14* 6d.

YORK HANDICAP, £1250; Im. 2/3 BARGOED (8) 8-7 G F. Hughe* 1 8/9 DRY MARTINI (12) 7-11 .. W. J. Mudford 2 10/10 SWEETNOTES (21) 7-8 D. A. Raklander 3 5/4 Waipari, 6/7 Dashing Star. 4/5 Firenze, 9/8 Jovic, 7/6 Supreme Gold, 18/19 Marwon. 1/1 Foxskin. 11/11 Anywhere, 12/14 Kings' Cove, 17/18 Chrisan. 2/2 Mantovani. 16/16 GayParade, 20/20 Gullfax. 15/12 Otara, 18/12 Simca, 10/10 Count Filou, 12/15 Emsle. 12/15 Lucky Lu, 13/13 Taxpayer, 13/13 Khoringa, 19/17 Spunyard a.so started. Three-quarters of a length; neck. Mantovani fourth. Time, 1:46. Win: £5 10*. Places: £2 5s Bd. £5 5* 6d, £5 12a. PARNELL HACK HANDICAP. £800; 7f.—l/1 MALI PETEK (1) 9-11 P. K. Cathro 1: 3/4 CABALLERO (9) 8-1 A M Dulleu 2; 7/7 CLARENDON (13) 8-0 G. R. Edge 3. Scratched: Amigo, Astarito, Princes* Clare, Grand Return, Royal Lift. Master Lewis. Nose: head. Nilda fourth. Time, 1:32. Win: £2 7s. Places: £1 9s. £2 7s. £5 4s.

CAMPBELL HURDLES, £1500; 2m—3/2 PIN MONEY (8) 9-2 P. K. Cathro 1; 7/7 LORD OMAN (5) 9-3 B. L. Hillis 2; 5/5 DAYBUN (3) 9-8 J. H. Hely 3. Scratched: Flying Meteor, News Flash. Teddy. Half a length; 25 lengths. To Rrign fourth. Time, 3:54. Win: £4 7s. Places: £1 Us 64. £3 6s. £2 10s 6d

FITZROY HACK HANDICAP, £800; Im.—7/6 SHAHGEN (131 8-1 R C Lang 1; 10/10 FIERY LAD (3) 8-8 J F Grylls 2; 3/4 OBRANA (1) 8-12 G. R. Edge 3 Scratched: Master Goodwin. Ngairo. Neck; two lengths and a half. Time Payment fourth. Time, 1:46 2-5 Win: £l3 15s Places: £3 I3s. £6 15s. £3 0s Bd.