THE GRAND NATIONAL

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 34, 9 August 1933, Page 4

THE GRAND NATIONAL

THURINA'S FINE VICTORY

LUNA LUX AGAIN SECOND

(From "Rangatira.") CIIRISTCHURCII, Thid Day. Thurina proved best horse in -the 1933 Grand National Steeplechase, principal event on the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club's Spring Meeting yesterday, thus accomplishing everything his fondest southern admirers hoped from him. He was the South Island's sole hope in the race (excepting Makeup, who is a southerner only by locality of training), and his success was the occasion for great cheering, which burst out long before he reached the post, and was sustained until after he was unsaddled. There were features in the victory that made it similar to Snowfall's triumph two years ago. Like Snowfall, he was an occasional steepling mount for A. E. Ellis, who has now won the race twice, and like Snowfall' he preceded his National win with a defeat into second place at South Canterbury a fortnight before the ~race. The time, 7min 2 l-ssee, was fast, but it was not a record, having been beaten by those of Peter Maxwell (record, 6min 55 2-osec), Snowfall, Beau Cavalier, and Tuki. Thurina won his National from end to end. He was the first to jump the firet fence, and he waa firet over every other fence. Going past the stand the second time with" just over half the journey completed he was eight lengths clear of Lucess and Luna Lux, with Billy Boy another four lengths away,'then Copey, Peterette, Omeo, and Makeup (who had broken down and was pulled up). Luna Lux made desperate efforts to draw him back all through the last round, and was only a couple of lengths 'away at the last fence, but once over Thurina easily held him at bay and won comfortably by three lengths. . ' It was a sterling performance by tno winner; who resumed racing after a spell of over twelve month's'only at the recent' Wellington Meeting, where he won at his first start, and was second in his other. Following those races he ran and was beaten by Quinopal at Washdyke On paper it was a very short National preparation, but he did a lot of solid work before., being sent down to Riecarton tor the final touches. • - • ■ • • ■ He is an eight-year-old bay gelding by Thurnham from the Australian-bred <*oya mare Silverina (dam also of the unsound 'chaser Gay Jim), and he is owned by Mr. ■ W J Doyle, for whom he is trained by his sister, Mrs. J. Campbell, at Riccarton. Luna Lux ran a very eolid race, and he did not yield an inch, even though under hard pressure-for all the last round. He went straight up to all his fences, and he made never a single fault. After his plucky and sustained bid to pull back his lightly-weighted rival for a mile and a half he had nothing more to draw on below the final fence, and he had to see the victory for which his owner so hoped slip away from his grasp, as it did at Trenthani. Alan McDonald rode one of '•'ltis best races on him. . : Lucess, who again finished , third, the place he'occupied; in Snowfall's National, was always one of the leaders, but he was never more than a place prospect over, the last round. He jumped well, and he deserved his placing, though he was a full fifteen lengths behind Luna Lux at the finish. ■ . ' '■ , Billy Boy again proved not up to tne tasks'he was twelve mouths ago. He was always doing it fairly, well, and he jumped, splendidly,'' not"even" 'hesitating at the. Kennels, but he did not have the required, condition to carry his -big -weight into aplace. He completed to finish fourth ten lengths away. Copey, the only other to fulfil tlie contract, was a dozen lengths further back. He jumped well enough, but was always in a rearward position. The first of the. casualties was Callamart, who v lost his rider at Cutts'a after lumping only three fences. At the time' he was in the lead with Thurina, and. looked to be going extremely well. It was a pity he did not last longer, as he paraded looking in great nick. ' ' Makeup drifted after going a mile, and. it was obvious all was not well with him. Finally he was pulled up after jumping' the stands double the second time. Omeo jumped this double badly, then almost fell at Cutts'sf, and finally tipped out at the sod wall a mile from home. Peterette, near the back, lasted two fences more before falling at the second of the Kennels double the final time.