PROSY BOY'S HUNT CUP

Evening Post, Issue 50, 27 August 1935, Page 6

PROSY BOY'S HUNT CUP

(Special from "Early Bird/)

AUCKLAND, August 26. ■•■■■' •Prosy.Boy has.been to the races four times and on each occasion . he has-brought home a cup," said Mr. C. E. Twist, the owner-trainer of the Pakuranga Hunt Cup winner .at Ellerslie on Saturday, in acknowledging receipt of the handsome trophy from the hands of the Master of the Pakuranga^Hunt (Mr. H. Bullock-Webster). The recipient also said he had received such' good treatment- that he wanted to come again: '. -, . .

Speaking loudly, and gallantly to the well-filled benches- in the members' stand, Mr ; Twist was heard by everybody, ah • unusual occurrence in the history of racecourse presentations, which are usually purely formal affairs. The' owner of Prosy Boy certainly'set a standard and;the occupants of the-members' stand gave him a great cheer for his fine speech. This was the concluding; incident in a thrilling contest for the Pakuranga Hunt Cup, and those who were well content, to accept a short-price about the Greenmeadows 'chaser had many thrills before Prosy- Boy was awarded the decision.- In fact, although the race took nearly six and a half minutes to run—it was three miles-Lit was only in the last three-fifths of a second that that little extra bit that .means all the difference bejtween victory and defeat was pulled out by Prosy Boy. It was only in the last stride or. two that he became the winner of the Dominion's most valuable Hunt Cup contest, and few knew that he had actually won until the numbers went «P. ..-.■.

It was easily, the best field that has ever contested the Pakuranga Hunt Cup and the finish was one worthy of the occasion. The twelve acceptors for the race went to the post, and just half 9f ;them completed the course. Sandy Dix fell on-the hill the first time and brought Illuminagh down, causing Kahunoke also to stop, and Miss Pango' fell "down the back the second time. Prior to this Gascille created a sensation . when holding a lead over the double of a dozen lengths by trying to run off the course up the training entrance alley, and 'when he was pulled back to head due north again he was level with the then leader. Meanwhile King Rod disappeared from view, haying been pulled up,,-and when making a run while in- third place Zane ■•> Grey, a .winner earlier in- the day, stumbled over the stone wall, the second-to-last obstacle, and ;sent I. Tucker for a nasty fall vulgarly, known as a "sevener." So it can be imagined that .there was plenty to interest in the tussle from first to last.

While all; this: was happening, Prosy Boy, well back early, had made Up his ground and by : good jumping and pace had run up handy to the leading division; He'did not take the first fence in the race, the sod bank, the simplest jump on. the course, at1., all. well, but it has been'Tniown to.-trap a good jumper,; one such making 'history by jumping to-the top of this bank, looking round -while he stood there a moment, then-jumping off and continuing his way. .. :, .. . :. . .' ■-:'

On the. hill the last .time Gascille and Ardmanning .were just: in front, with the former weakening, and Ardmanning was clear at the second ;fence there, with .Zarie Grey and Prosy Boy. Ardmanning came do\yn ; the hill clear of Prosy Boy, who was making a goodj run. and was only a length, behind at the stone wall;' Then they got together on: the flat and they raced neck and neck to the final obstacle, the brush hurdle,: taking off ,at this like two cavalry horses, in perfect unisoiv and while Ardmanning did not land according to ■ the book, he made , a'j splendid repoyery and did not lose' ground.. So home -they came, stillrj locked ■; together, and Prosy Boy, as'1 :preyiously .stated, got >the nod at the* critical moment. > • There is no doubt that Prosy Boy is -a ; very promising•■ 'chaser, and next winter he^will be■'■a-V.vfbrce" to':'. ilo&\ reckoned.1 with, in' better than Hunt.: ..Cup ..company.:. .cThat. he, .could .only just," defeat Ardmanning .may '."'■'hei pointed to as a' mediocre performance, ;but; the: •latter' was' supported by "his owner, who considered that he would! be all the better for his race earlier*j -m the : day,", in -which'he had been asked-to cover a tremendous lot of unnecessary ground the first time round, and also because he was down 121b I in the Hunt Cup, being in receipt of 181b from the favourite. Ardmanning's owner obviously summed Vit up just about' right. :-.,■■. :<K: ■■:■ -...■■•■

Valpeen, and Beau Cavalier both won; the Pakuranga.Hunt Cup prior to setting out'in ooen company and capturing the triple 'chasing crown, and Pfpsy Boy niay not be far behind this pair, allowing for improvement, for as yet he is still in the/ making. His .first win .in a contest was in a point-to-point race at the Jlawke's Bay Hunt, andavweek later he won the Hawke's Bay Hunt Cup, following this up by capturing similar events at the Manawatu and Pakuranea Hunt- Meetings. Now heis to go to New Plymouth this ,week,;.travelling in his..'owner's '■ own floaty and: then perhaps :Mr'. Twist will call it'a • day: arid giye his promising jumper a' let-up'until next winter. But ■that partrof the.programme-is; still in .the.auMr- :.v: ,' V-j^:.;;;:, . :A :.■••': :...-> . '. ■