THE GREAT NORTHERN

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 130, 4 June 1931, Page 6

THE GREAT NORTHERN

WON BY AN OUTSIDER (By Teleqranli.) (Sueoial to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, 3rd June. The Auckland Racing Club's .Winter Meeting was opened at Ellerslie to-day in line weather, but the going was veiy heavy. The racing proved-interesting, but it was a bad day for backers, To llomai and Gay Lap being the only favourites to win. Prince Lu's ■ victory in the Great Northern Hurdles was a great surprise, and he returned the second largest dividend of the day, the, best being paid _by Cateh'ein, who; won the .first race. The attendance was'good, 'and the totalisator investments wore £51,504 10s, compared with £70,0-14 '10s on tno first day last year. A GREAT SURPRISE. There was a great surprise in the iirst division of the Jervois " Handicap when Catck'em, twelfth choice in a field of fifteen,, just got up.to win from Vandyke. After Vandyke had received the best of a walk-in start, Full Measure and Valreina assumed command, and they made play into the straight from King Ford, Vandyke, Valcuir, and Catoma. Vandyke had charge at the distance, but Catch'em just wore him down at the end. Taurua came from the ruck with a good run to get •third ahead. of • ,Catoma, King- Ford, and Valcuir, who pulled up lame. Catoma,. a scorching hot favourite, was always Avell up, but came, very wide in the straight. Hq may do,bettcr next time out, as a race should improve him. ... DARK PRINCE'S DASHING DISPLAY. Pangolin and Dark Prince were, the favourites for the Greenlane Steeplechase, but.Pangolin did not get fur on the journey, falling at,the first feneo'oii the hill,1 where Senora fell also. "-Dark Prince, however, gave'a'dashing display of fencing, and really.gave nothing a chance, as he estab'lishcd'aiiood.lcad in the first round,*' and eventually won comfortably from Wako Kiup. Lupin Abbey was a poor third, and Paris was plodding on in fourth position. The winner is a good jumper, but is not the best of stayers. Wako King went one of his best races, while Lupin Abbey and Paris, just plodded on at the end, Paris being very careful at the fences. Quiusilia was pulled up in the first round, his gear having broken.

GAY LA? WINS HANDSOMELY. With H. Gray/itf the. saddle, 'Gay'Lap' was backed down to .odds-on in the Second: Division-.'of ■ tlie Jervoia Handicap,' and he duly .materialised!/"' AYaiting on- Te Ngera and-Raffllight-to the turn, G-ay Lap was in cotanand. at, the.distance, where Emancipation issued a strong ...challenge. Momentarily, Gay Lap did'riot appear to have much in hand,'.but he'came.'away at the end .to win handsomely, from Emancipation, an improving'three-year-old l>y; Sir Dighton, who returned double • figures' lor second.'■ Lord Val was half a head away: 'th'frd' and Grand Talk fourth. Next",to* finish were Grand Spirit, who came from; a long 'way back, Eafflight, Valmarie,' Bronze Tray, and Jaeldy Karo. The winner is not a big one, but he is good. Jaekly Karo was unsighted until near the linish, and may do better next time. Grand Talk and Valmario arc also likely improvers.

ANOTHER SURPRISE. There was another surprise in the Penrose Hurdles when Christobel, at double figure odds, went to the front at the first fence and never gave anything a chance, eventually winning by six lengths. Owairaka chased her for a mile and a half,' and then retired, leaving Patutahi and ;Loving Gup to fight.for ' ; second position, Trfhich Patutahi "■' secured ' by> staying on better th^n : L6ying;Cup.: The winner is a full-sister jfcd-.'Boom'efday and Gala Day, and;has improved considerably in the last -couple,of -months. Landmark and Marble King were the favourites, but Landmark' fell at the first fence and Marble King cut up badly,, fiuishing last. Patutahi and Loving Cup both hit a.couple of fences hard, but the others failed badly.

THE GREATEST. SURPRISE. .....: -Last year, only 'four "of the eight ■.r.un-;] tiers completed-the course iir this Great'": -Northern.. Hurdles, and vth6- i)erco;iitagit"bf .mishaps was'even .higher this Jyear when only-sis of-the fourteen candidates got round.,! The; .'result -proved I,'one of llio jgreatest surprises in-/the history of the race when .-Prince Liy the ..'outsider but one of the field, led from end-to end 'to win from . Lucess> ; who v ;\vas * the favourite. Prince Lv and'Lue.ess are both .trained by W. J. M'Lean,'who'"is i>lalso'"thb owner of Luccss.

The falls commenced early when Master Lv fell at the first fence, Mister Gamp and Easterly at tlie second, and Spalpiko at the third.. Prince Lv was six lengthsclear of' Apache-before going a mjle, but was then steadied, and with a round to' go he was just leading from Singleton, High Pitch, and Apache, with Make Up, Lucess, and Niikirmai also handy,1 and Carinthia'. closing up. High Pitch,:.fell at the fence by' the five-furlongs post, and interfered with Make Up, whose rider was unbalanced and came off about thirty yards further on. Running to the second to last fence Prince Lv -just led from [Singleton, Lucess; -Nukuinai, Carintbiaj and Apache, but Singleton and Apache fell and Prince Lv was left clear of Lucess and Carinthiu. Prince Lv more than, held his own from this'"on; and won by four lengths from Lucess, who defeated' Carinthia by .six lengths. Niikumai was a poor fourth, with Claremorc and Pcrle dc Leon a long way back. Hitherto, two miles has always : becn plenty far enough for Prince Lv, but he was assisted by. his perfect jumping and physical fitness and stayed on remarkably well at the finish. Lucess had every chance,''but could not muster up ouite enough dash when Foster called upon him for a final effort. Singleton had a ereafc winning chance when ho fell, and High Pitch was also a possibility when he wont. out. . Caiunthia went a great race under his big weight, but the others were well beaten. CORNWALL TO SEATOWN. That good mudlark Seatbwn won his second Cornwall Handicap when he finished in great style on the rails to win handsomely from Standfast and Gay Cockade, who dead-heated for second. It was a 'great betting race, and there was heavy support for Tanoriri, Merry. Damon, and Seatown. Standfast was responsible for most of the running, and he led into the straight from Gay Cockade, Tancriri,'' Sattown, and Flying Prince. Once in line for home Seatown slipped through on the fence and won handsomely from Gay Cockade and Standfast. Taneriri was right up. fourth, followed by Mervotte, Black- IJuke, and Flying, Prince. Sentown's performance was a good one, while Standfast, Gay Cockade, and Taneriri all ran fine races. Merry Damon Tailed badly and was never dangerous. HUNT CLUB HURDLES. There was a poor iield in the Hunt Club Hurdles, and the race resolved into a. duel between the favourite, To Homai, and Billy Hoy, who wore practically together over the-last six furlongs. Billy Boy gained an advantage at each fence, but To Honiai's condition stood to him in the ■run-home and he won fairly comfortably at the end. General Lu'was :i poor third and Gleu Maree was fourth. Town Beauty fell on the Hat after going two furlong::, and brought down Fair Abbey, Distress, and Nassone. . . MEMBERS' HANDICAP. Awaken, Gold Money, and Refresher were the favourites for the Members' Handicap, but the only one to reach a place was Gold Money,' who finished second. The winner was Manawhenua, fifth choice at a good price, who hopped out smartly from No. 1, and led all the way. Manawhenua, Lady's' Boy, Awaken, Refresher, Gold Money, and Prince Val all had chances at the turn, but Mana whenua stayed on well to win from Gold Money, who also came home strongly. Lady's Boy was close up third, and Awaken was fourth. Next- to finish were Refresher, Lucy Rose, Prince Val, and Puriri Park. Manawhenua and Gold

.Money rovclleil in Uic going, and Gold : Moneys performance was one of her best Awaken liiid every chance, but Pnriri Park \ could never do better than ' get in the middle oE the Held. Lucy Hose, wide out at tlie,iiuish, might do better bcl'ore Hie meeting concludes. ■ Details:— Jcrvols Hnnilicai). of 200 soya; seven furlongs. —First division: 32 Cutchcnt, 7.0, carried l.'Vh (Hornc), 1; 4 Vandyke 10.0, 2; 3 Taurua, 8" 3 Also started: 7To Hoia i).C, 5 Vnlctilr I S'.l", 2 Ji'"U Vmtl s-33' 1 Catoma S.y, 9 Indolent 5.5, 10 Good Idea S.O, 12 Principal 730 11 Full Measures 7.4, S Valrclna 7.3, (i Gold l^ily 7.3, 14 British Princess 7.0, 15 Valacloro 7.0. Time, lmin 31scc. Urccnlano Steeplechase, of 350 soys; about two miles and a- half.—2 Dark Trincc, 10.3 (Oiivo), 1; -1 Wako King, 9.0, carried 9.3, 2; S Luiiln Aliliey, 0.3, carried 9.4, 3. , Also started: 5 Paris. 10.3, 1 . Pangolin lO.ii, 9; Quinsilia 10.2, tl Scaramoucho 0.0, 3 Senora. 9.0, 7.Kaokaoroa .9.0. Timci Cralu 15sec'. Jervois Handicap/* of 200 soys; seven fur-, longs.—Secoiid division: 1 Gay Lap,- 9.0 : (Gray) 1; If Emancipation, 7:0, 2; 10 Lord Val 79, 3. Also started: S Pewa 9.6, 2 Jaeldy Karo 9.2, 12 Itafflight 5.12, 17 Koyal Survey S 9 13 First Lap S.G, 9 Valmarlo 5.2, 4 Grand Spirit-.8.2. 7 Bronze Tray 7.9, 13 Alloy 7.9, 3 Tc ■ Moiioy 7.0, 11 Grand Talk 7.3, H To Ncoru'-7.3, (i Wild Country 7.0, 11 Lady Court 7.0. Time, lmin Slsec. renrose Hurdles, of 350 soys; one milo and tlireo quarters.—B Cristobol, 9.0, carried 9.3 (Smith), 1; 6 Patutahi, 9.G, 2; 3 Loving Cup, y 0 carried 0.4, 3. Also started: 5 Pendavics 10 5 2 Jlarblo Kins 0.12, 1 Landmark 9.3, 4 Kairuri 9.0. 7 Owairaka 'J.O. Time, 3min 23 sec. .. GKEAT KOItTHEKN UUKULES, of 1400 soys; two miles and a naif. 13 Trincc Lv, 9.4, carried 9.6 (Hennie) .... 1 1 Lnccsa, U. 2 (Foster) 2 U Carinthia, 11.0 (Thompson) 3 Also started: 5 Slistor Gamp 11.0, 2 Make Up 10.13, 9 Nulaimai 10.9, 3 Claremoro 10.3, 11 Easterly 9 -1, 4 Apacho 9.2, 12 Perle do Loon 9.2, 7 High Pitch 9.1) ilO Spalpiko 9.0, 8 Master Lv 9.0, 14 'Singleton;. 9.0. : '~ :, Time, 4mln 57 3-ssec. -..•. ! ; ' Cornwall Handicap," of 150 'soys; 'one milo and a quarter.—3 Seatowh;--9.0 (Green), 1; 11 Standfast; 7.0, carried 7.l,''and.i-7 Cockade, 7 0, carried' 7A'Ai, dead heat, 2.'. Also started: ■I . Black , Dufco 9.3, '.5 Eaglet ' 5.13, ' 2'- Jlerry Damoh"S.l2, 10 Corinax B.S, 8 True Blood B.S, 13 Sir 31'ond S.O, 1 Tancrirl 7.12, 9 Llancludno 7.10, 6 Mcrvcttc 7.4, 12 Flying Prince 7.0. Time, 2inin ISsec. Hunt Club llurdlcs, of 300 soys; two miles.— 1 1 To Ifimai, 9.10 (M'Rae),- 1; 5 Billy lioy. 9 4 a;'.l2 iGeneral Lu,9.0, carried 9.4, 3. Also started! 3 Jin Jazz 10.5, 10 Fair Abbey 9.12. ■1 Jlashoor 9.1 U. 2 Xukuterc 9.4, 8 Laud Measuro ..9.0, '9 Nassone .9.0, 7 Distress 9.0, ' U Town' fieauty 9.0, lll.Glenjl Marco 0.0..^ Time,' 4miii 2 2-usec. MoiDbors' Handicap, of 430 soys; six furlongs. —5 Manawhenua., 7.1.1 (Parsons), lj 2 Gold Moncv, 9.0, 2; 13 Lady's Boy, 7.3, 3. Also : started: ;! Itct'rcsher 5.3, G Inevitable S.I, I Awaken S.O, 8 Lucy Kosc 7.10, 9 British Kinni 710 10 Kozan 7.9, 4 Puriri -Part 7.3, 7 Princo Val 7-3, 11 I'a.Wtero 7.2, 12. Tctrachate 7 n 14 The Jack Jumper 7.0. Time, lmin 17