NOTES ON THE RACING

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 35, 10 August 1921, Page 12

NOTES ON THE RACING

COALITION'S WIN.

<lt TIIEOIUPH.—6PECUI, TO IHB POST.}

CHRISTCHURCH, 9th August. The good fortune of the Canterbury Jockey Club was once more in evidence to-day, when the Grand National Meeting was opened in ideal weathor. The course had dried up a lot from the recent rain, and it provided excellent going. iThe crowd did not appear to be quite so large as usual. That idea is strengthened by- the fact that the totalisator figures showed a drop. Good fields contested most of the events, and there was some exceptionally good sport. Proceedings opened with the Tally-Ho Steeplechase, for which there was a diaappointing field of only three. It is a race that appears to have gone very much out of favour in recent years. Petitesse was favourite, but after leading for most of the journey, she was worn down by Morning Glow, who won comfortably. The pair gave a fine exhibition of jumping, and so did Likelihood, save for the fact that he baulked at Cutts's fence. He got over at the second attempt, and finished bo close to the other pair that it looked as if the mistake cost him the race.

' The Trial Hurdles Handicap attracted a field of I.en. Sir Fanciful,' Penury Rose, Tigritiya, Blaster Boris, and Te Oro were tacked very evenly. Sir Fanciful, fell ill the second hurdle, but this was the only mistake ,in the race. Te ' Oro assisted to make- the pace from the start. J.'arifovm went with him till six furlongs from home, and then dropped out, Master Boris taking his place. Penury Rose appeared with a late run in the. straight, and had the race won after crossing the last hurdle. Te Oro hung on long enough to just beat Master Boris for second place. Then came Wild Pilgrim and Micky Free, with the others a long way back, among them being Tigritiya, who lost ground at every jump. The winner's performance was a very smart one, flnd ho was staying on well. There were seven, starters for the Hunters' Hurdles, Birkenvale being a little better backed than Grange. When the field settled down Pamplona and Birkenvale were out in front, and they stayed together for half the journey, when Birkenvale was in trouble. Ready joined Pamplona at the entrance to the straight, a desperate finish between the pair ending in favour of Ready by half-a-length. "©irkenvale was a poor third, and Grange fourth. Ready had run some decent races "in hunters' company in South Canterbury lately. Pamplona is a half-brother to Lochella, and he is a very promising young jumper*.

The thirteen acceptors lined xip for the Jumpers' Flat. Dribble, Demagogue, and Kauri King were the popular fancies. Phil May was soon out in front and led for nearly a mile, with Hyttus and Demagogue as his nearest attendants. Then Multive, Kauri King, Gladful, and, Fisher'joined in. Demagogue led into the straight, and," stalling ,off some > strong challenges, won by a length, Multive boating Kauri King by a neck, with Phil May, Fisher, Gladful, and Hyttus next. Dribble was never promient, and she finished laat. There were several Grand National Hurdle candidates in the field, including the three placed horses. All of them should run well on Thursday, but I was particularly taken with Multive's effort to-day. Fisher," Gladful, and Hyttua, on the other hand, were stopping a bit at the end, but there may be another story to tell about Fisher and Gladfu] when the Hurdles haye to be jumped. .

COALITION'S SECOND GRAND NATIONAL.

The Grand National Steeplechase attracted the thirteen acceptors. Coalition wound up a little better favourite than Corogkn, who had a slight call over ithe bracketed pair, .Luke and Sturdee. Then came First Line, with less than half as much as the bracket, he.,in turn carrying more than twice as much as Master Strowan, who was fifth choice. Gay Boy fell at the first fence, Master Hamilton falling over him. Waimai led past the stand from Coroglen and Sam Sebastian, Coalition and Crib, with Lochella bringing up the rear. At 'Oulls's Waimai was followed by Coroglen and Coalition, with Luko, San Sebastian, Sturdee, and MasUr Strowan handy. Master Strowan moved up to fourth place at the sod wall, where Coroglen had headed Waimai, who jumped to the front again at the Kennek double. Waimai was still showing the way at the sod-wall, just clear of Coroglen and Coalition, after whom came Master Strowan, First Line, .-Sturdee, and Luke. Bacing for the straight Coroglen joined Waimai in'the lead. Coroglei! drew out a few lengths going past the stand., but at the second of the stand double he was joined,by Waimai, Coalition, and Sturdee, with First Line and Master Strowan a few lengths away. At Gutts's fence Coroglen and Waimai were six lengths in front of Coalition and Stui'dee, who were followed by First Line and Master Strowan. There was no change going along the back, bxit Waimai jumped to the front again at the Kennels double. There was not much between Waimai, Coroglen, and Coalition at the sod wall, Sturdeo 'and First Line being four lengths away, with Master Strowan ten lengths further back. After clearing, the brush at the top of the straight Waimai drew clear of Coalition, who had headed Covoglon. Waimai led over the Jost. ffiaca. but slimed, ml feJtLft&M

landing. This left Coalition in front,' and he won comfortably by three lengths from Coroglen, who beat First Line by three' lengths. Then' came Master Strowan, 'Sturdee, Crib, Barrister, and Luke, with Sam Sebastian bringing up the rear. The mishap to Waimai was very unfortunate, as he appeared to have the race in hand when he slipped and fell after jumping, the last jence. He had run a 'fine race, despite the fact that he ran dowa come of his fences. Coroglen. was also considered unlucky He was gorSg well half a mile from home, but he suddenly dropped back several lengths at the secdnd to last fence. His rider lodged «,n objection against H. M'Sweeney, the rider of Coa- ■ litaon, for interference at this poimt, but ,it was dismissed. Cowjglen jumped safely, but, not so fast as some of his more experienced rivals. First Line made up a lot of ground' over the last 'five furlongs to get third place after a smooth, pei-fonmance. Sturdee failed to stay the going out, while Luke waa " done with a long way from home, being beaten by Barrister,, who jumped very badly. San Sebastian and Lochella'finished together, well_in the rear. The performance of Coalition was high-class; he was up. with the front division: all the way, and he always looked as if he was going to be in the money. No other horse ihad ever won the face twice, and it was & fine wind-up to a very successful winter" campaign. The public was not How to recognise the merit of his Win, and heaTty cheering greeted the horse and his rider at the finish, MINOR STEEPLECHASE. There were seven starters for tha Enfield Steeplechase, Fire Eater being a little better backed than Tigerland. The favourite was soon out in front, closely followed by Tigerland and Malahini. At the end of six v furlongs Malahini headed | Tigerland, .but tSere was no further change till the straight was reached, when John Bunny ran into second place. , In -the meantime Fire Eater had been striding along freely in front with a big lead, and he eventually won easily by half a dozen lengths from John Bunny, with -Tigerland finishing strongly four lengths away, well clear of Malahini. The jumping all through was good after Pokanekane had. fallen at the first fence. Fire Eater has won four races on end since the beginning of July. He is fast and a good jumper, and: there is no i reason why he should not stay. Tiger- ' land may dp .bettor later on, and Joffre is another who did not. show his best form. \ THE WINTER- OUP CONTEST. I The withdrawal of Mustard Pot and Miss Muriel left a field of twenty-one for the Winter Cup. • Heathersprig, Callaghan, and Pine Arch were the popular picks, with the R'iccarton bracket, Clean Sweep and Onslaught, best backed among the others., Killowen was the first to.show in front, followed by Callaghan, Some Kid] Prince Martian, and Royal Mac. At the'end of a "furlong Fabrinade put in, a fast run. At the six furlong post he was \with Killowen in the lead, Callaghan, Some Kid, and Royal Mac being in close attendance. Running round "the turn, General Advance and Clean Sweep improved their positions. Killowen. and Fabrinade showed the way to the straight, but Fabrinade then retired. A little further on Clean Sweep shot through on the rails, and he eventually won by over a length. Heathersprig' and Royal Star came fast on the outside, Heathersprig just beating Royal Star for second place by a neck. At an interval of two lengths came Moufcoa Ivanova, .with Pine Arch, LinkUp, Royal Mac, and. General' Advance jijst behind her. The winner lias some, fine performances to his credit, and this v,'as not the worst of them, as ho scored very-- decisively. Hoathersprig and Royal Star began slowly, and did well to . finish so close, up. Pine Arch was another who came from a lons way back. Moutoa Ivanova ran a solid race. Callaghan had every chance; but stopped in disappointing fashion. Onslaught finished last, just beaten by Vagabond. A field of eighteen hack* contested tho Avonhead Handicap. Scrimmage, Lady Lucullus, and Treso were the populal picks. The first-named pair, witn Missiand, made the running to the straight, where Lady Lucullus retired. Osterman was going well 'at the distance, but Scrimmage shook him off and won by about a len^h from the fast-finishing Cantoris, and Mirza, after whom same Osterman, BebehePd. and Happy Captain in a bunch. The winner is a sister to Onslaught. She has not done much racing, this being her first success, but she is a smart galloper o^ whom more will be heard. , Treso never got near the front*, . -

The 0.J.0. Meeting will be' continuedl at Biccarton to-morrow, when the Grand National Hurdle Race comes up for decision. Penury Rose, winner of the' Trial! Hwdles, was not entered, bu^ Demagogue and Multive, winner, and runnerup in the Jumpers' Flat, are both down to run. They are both, trained by J. Ware, although they run in dafferent ownerships. Multive failed to concede his stable mate 31'b in the Jumpers' Flat, and jn the Hurdles has to concede two atone. Demagogue failed at -Hastings, and again at Trenitham, and therefore, has to be taken on trust.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"F.H.R."—Tuesday.