RAPID RISE TO FAME

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 41, 16 August 1941, Page 14

RAPID RISE TO FAME

NATIONAL WINNERS

FRESH HISTORY WRITTEN

(By "Binocular.") The 1941 Grand National Meeting will go down as one of the wettest fixtures staged, by the C.J.C. Surrounding the winner of both the big crosscountry event and Grand National Hurdles there is a wealth of the un- • usual that will furnish writers with topics for a long time. When Astral Flame carried off the steeplechase on Tuesday it signalled the first big success of a jumper carrying the colours of Mr. W. E. Hazlett, of All Black Rugby fame and member of a Southland family that has won a proud place for itself in racing in the Dominion. Then, in addition to bringing Mr. Hazlett into the list of owners of National winners at his first tilt, it gave his jockey, J. L. Strathern, a winning mount at his first attempt over the Riccarton country. Further, the winner was a horse who had reached fame in his first winter, a most unusual state of affairs. But the combination of unusual incidents does not end there, for to Strathern also fell the honour of being the first apprentice to win, and but for the presence of D. Hamill he would have been the first apprentice to have had a mount, in the race, for prior to this year's contest not a single apprentice had participated in it. Hamill had the mount on Whirr, who races in the interest of Mr. L. C. Hazlett, uncle of Messrs. J. S. and W. E. Hazlett, who race Astral Flame in [ partnership. A Rapid Climb. It was not until an advanced stage of last season that Astral Flame, who is a gelding by Colonel Cygnus from ; the Kilbroney mare Illume (a daughter of imported Simper), made his appear-, ance under silk hi a hunters' flat race at the Birchwood Hunt, Southland. He ran second, but at his next start he won the Crown Novice Handicap at Otautau. However, it was very evident that his owner had destined the gelding for a jumping career, for Astral Flame did not have his flat racing continued, being transferred to hurdling He failed in the role, but as a 'chaser he proved to be an immediate success by taking the Craigmore Steeplechase at South Canterbury on May 15. He fell in the Pareora Steeples on the second day. Going on to the Dunedin, Meeting he took both the Tahuna and Dunedin Steeplechases, but on the middle day he again was guilty of falling, in the Roslyn Steeples. Fruitful Returns. His success on the second day at Wingatui was registered in open company, and it brought Astral Flame his richest stake-winnings, while his record read eight starts for four firsts and a second and £497 in stake-money. As he was still eligible for hack events he took his place in the Lawford Hack and Hunters' Steeples at the Christchurch Hunt to carry his winning account still further, but on the face of things it appeared to be flying high to attempt to win a race such as the Grand National Steeples. However, it is now history that Mr. Hazlett was sound in his judgment, although he must have had anxious moments during the race, for Astral Flame certainly took some chances at his fences. Fortunately for him, he was able to burst' through the top of the brushes. - Good Turn of Speed. In all his races over country Astral Flame has shown that he possesses speed above the ordinary. This, after all, is not surprising as his dam is a sister of those good flat performers of the past, Affectation, Gold Light, Razzle Dazzle, etc. It was due to sheer pace, rather than jumping ability, that he won the Grand National Steeples, for even when outjumped his superior pace enabled him to recover the lost ground in remarkably quick time. The tactics on the part of his rider appeared almost suicidal, but he apparently knew the ability of the horse. Astral Flame has climbed to fame within the space of five months and has won for his owner the substantial amount of £1687. A Lucky Buy. Surrounding The Dozer, winner of the 1941 Grand National Hurdles, is also a fund of interesting history, for like Astral Flame he has enjoyed a ; sensational rise to fame. A matter of three years ago he was running out on a farm in Taranaki more or less an unwanted, and when Mr. J. Droz- \ dowski approached his then owner with a view to purchasing him, The Dozer, as he is now known, was bought for 7s 6d. For a period the son of Valette was a visitor to the hunting fields, where he showed that he could at least jump, and it was with a view to trying him as a racing proposition that Mr. Drozdowski handed him to Hector Gray, who was then temporarily in residence in Taranaki, to be trained for a more active role. Makes Good. Racing enthusiasts in the north then commenced to take notice, and The Dozer came in for solid support in his subsequent engagements. His first win came at Avondale in November of that year, and in the closing stages of the season he added three further successes, one of them coming in the Papakura Hack and Hunters' Hurdles at Franklin, it being his one and only start in the role for the term. Peculiarly enough, he was restricted to flat racing for a. considerable period in the following season, but probably his owner was content to let him pay his way on the flat, and it was not till the Waikato Meeting, which served as a preliminary to the Great Northern fixture, that The Dozer strikingly demonstrated that he was a class hurdler in the making by running Streamline a close second. Then, at the Manawatu Hunt Meeting last month, he showed enthusiasts at this- . end of the island his undoubted qual-, ity. Varying Reports. After his win at Awapuni a report was current that The Dozer would not fulfil his Grand National engagement, but he went south, and despite an indifferent display in a schooling bout prior to the day his trainer was always openly confident that his representative would take a power of beating. Some doubt was entertained as to his staying ability, but this was exploded on the day, for A. E. Ellis took him to the front and the tactics did not in any way tell against the gelding. True. Tidewaiter might have made his task more difficult had he not blundered two fences from homewhen he had ranged up to his rival, and the effort in making up that leeway told over the final pinch. As The Dozer had won over £1800 prior to the Grand National Hurdles, and , his success in that event brought in a further £725, he has proved a great ' proposition for his Taranaki owner.