C.J.C. NATIONAL MEETING

Evening Star, Issue 16194, 16 August 1916, Page 2

C.J.C. NATIONAL MEETING

STEEPLECHASE ’DAY. , ‘ [From Oce Special Correspondent.] The Grand National Meeting opened ab Eiccavlon on Tuesday in fine weather and before a largo crowd, who were in ■ a speculative frame of mind, ’ tho investments (£46,366) being £2,970 greater than on the opening day last year. The Governor and suite were present. Tho meeting this year was of special interest to southerners, as, four candidates in tho Grand National Steeplechase' and fivtj in the Winter Cnp hailed from Otago and Southland. Tho first mile of the Grand National was one of the most disastrous in the history of tho race, and. was fatal to the chances of Braebnrn (who ran off at the‘post and rails), Ngatoa (who fell at the sed wall, with Breaiiefield, Bravest, and Captain Mackay), Fagot (who fell at tho second fence, the first of tho double in front of the stand, with Recharge), and New- York (who fell at Cutis’s with Queen’s Post). The Brower was responsible for tho lead at some of the early stages of the race, but the surprise of the race was tho prominent position Black Sea held throughout. Two fences from home she was with Idealism, practically on terms with Wamiai, but the latter, one tif the fastest and safest jumpers in the field, jumped clear a couple of lengths, and, taking the shortest course home, won comfortably by three lengths. Merry Lad. who was jumping badly, particularly over the last mile, in which he had a couple of lives, beat Black Sea home from the last fence by five lengths, and Idealism, who was interfered with when the quartet fell at tho sod wall, was a good fourth. Rorke’s Drift was not nearly so heavily backed in the* Winter Cup as the ante--post betting would indicate, and the other southerners in Ogier, Speedometer, and leilma were paying any old price. The Dunedin Gup winner drew third position from the rails,, bub was never prominent at any stage of the race, and finished nearer the tail than the leaders, leilma made a show for nearly six furlongs, and was lying next to Cherry Blossom as the field turned for home, but died right out in the run home. 'Cherry Blossom was always in front after a furlong had been covered, and won very easily. Ogier, Speedometer, and Eingform were never prominent in the race. Toe going was dead and holding, but did not cut up, and all the horses were galloping on top of the turf. Spills were frequent, but none of the jockeys were hurt. Details of the sport:— Koranga, who was made an odds-nh favorite in tho Tally-ho Steeplechase,, gave a very indifferent display, and 2 Rolling Tide (by Cast ashore), ridden by the extrotting rider J. Cotter, ran boms a winner by nearly two furlongs, after having a. life at the second-last fence. Dardanelles, tho only other starter, stopped after going a mile. Time. smin 34£ sec, Investments, £1,1562. Dardanelles was the only withdrawal from the Hunters’* Hurdles, for which. Union Jack and Turehuiia were made favorites. * 5 Prcnez Garde, 6 Compulsion, and 4 Sabienni, by Sabretache —Emir Bey mare (Henderson), were in front for the first half-mile, when the latter took charge, and shaking off Compulsion a quarter of a mile from home, won by a good length from 9 Cron Park, who beat 11 Bill Terry by -'a neck for second place, Turehana, Compulsion, and 14 Tnaditor next. Time, 3min 12|sec. Investments, £4.009. The field for the Trial Hurdles was reduced to five, of which Golden March was made almost an even money chance. The latter led for nearly a mile, when 4 Czaronus look charge, but half a mile from home 2 Kooya, by Signalman—Koiano (M‘Flynn), was in front, and won comfortably by two lengths from Czaronus, who beat 3 Sir Solo by five lengths. 5 Mullicipal fell at the last fence. Time, 3min 29|sec. Investments, £4,659;). The Jumpers’ Flat, with 13- starters, gave a better index to the big Hurdle Race 0:1 Thursday, and in a good betting race Pursefiller, Tararu Jack, Marconi, Awahou, and St. Ehnn were the best backed. 9 Art and 7 Tenacious were the first out, but .8-Master Hegel was first after a furlong had been covered, and only succumbed in the last tew strides to Art, by Sarto—Mist (M’Kay), who was always handy amongst the second division, and over the last two furlongs drew right away from the rest of the field, finishing at least five lengths clear of 10 Crib. Tararu Jack and Marconi were always close up, and finished fifth and sixth, just in front of Pursefiller. Crib by his running improved his chances in the big Hurdle Race, and will now probably start a warm favorite. Time, 2rain 48sec. Investments, £6,515-j. The starters and order of favorites in the Grand National Steeplechase were; 2 Braebum (11.11, Deeley), 0 Waimai by Spalpeen—Cap-a-Pie mare (11.8, Rae), 4 Ngatoa (11.2, Julian), 6 Fagot (10.11. Tutchen), 12 Tarero (10.11, Taylor), 9 Wirokino (10.11, M’Flynn), 5 Branstield (10.8, Poulgrain), 7 New York (10.3, McDonald), 16.Bravest (10.2, Henderson), 1 Idealism (9.11, Bush), 15 Naupata (9.11, M‘Sweeney), 11 Merry Lad (9.8, Burt), 13 Captain blacky (9.8, O’Connell), 10 Queen’s Post (9.7, Thompson), 17 Black Sea (9.7, G. Feilding), 14 The Brewer (9.7, L. Hagerty), 19 Lady Uibbero (9.7, •Edwards), 8 Heatherlea (9.7, W. Feilding), and 18 Recharge (9.7, Stan. Reid). Idealism piloted the Held over the first fence, with Queens Post and New York next, but at the first of the stand double New York had taken charge, while Fagot and Recharge came down. Racing out of the straight and towards Cutts’s, New York and Queen’s Post were followed by Tho Brewer and Idealism, but tho jump here proved fatal to the first-named pair, and Merry Lad was then in command, with Waimai and The Brewer next. The succeeding jump, the sod wall, brought down Bravest, Bransfield, Captain Macky, and Ngatoa, and at the next fence Braeburn ran off. The Brewer, Merry Lad, and Idealism were the leading division over the kennels, with Waimai, and coming into the straight The Brewer had Waimai as his closest attendant, with Idealism and Wirakino next. The stand double found The Brewer showing the way. to Waimai, Merry Lad, Idealism, Black flea, Wirokino, and Heatherlea, but ab Gutts’s Waimai had run to the front, with Merry Lad and Black , Sea next. Going along the back Idealism moved up, and at the Kennels double was within five lengths of the leader, Black Sea and Merry Lad being dose behind him. Round the turn into the straight Black Sea put in a good run, but over tho last fence Waimai drew away, and won by three lengths from Merry Lad, who was twice that distance in front of Black Sea. Idealism was fourth, and then came Lady Bibbcro, Wirokino, The Brewer, Heatherlea, Tarero, and Naupata. Time, 7min 24-lsec. For the Enfield Steeplechase all started, and Gluepob by Gluten—Cloud (10.9, Anderton) was made a slightly better favorite than Nita (10.13). 3 Critic (9.13) and 6 Oratonu (9.13) were in front to the kennels double, where the latter made a bad jump at the second fence, and lost several lengths, leaving the favorite iii front, an advantage he maintained to the finish, beating 4 Ikowai (10.13) by a length, Nita three lengths away. Then came Oratonu, 11 Fairy Finn (9.13), and 7 Rarekohu (9.13). 8 Caseshot (9.15) fell at the second fence at the Kennels double, and Critic and 5 Wellwood (10.13) also fell, the latter at the post and rails. Time, 4min 12|sec. Investments, £4865. The starters and order of favoritism in .the Winter Cup were: 10 Rorke’s Drift 11.9, Robinson), BMultifu»l (11.1, Deeley), 6 San 'Sebastian (9.0, F. E. Jones), 12 Seadown (10.11, O’Shea), 13 George (10 6 H. Young),. 5 Golden Lyte (10,4, Bid, Reid), 1 Meltchikoff (10.4\ A. Wormald), 5 Ringforra (10.2, Griffiths). 14 Glenrov (10.1, Hatch), 1 Gold Soult (10.1, L. Wilson), 2 Sedd-el-Bahr (9.13, Oliver), 16 Ogier (10,0, Donovan), 4 Cherry Blossom by Ban Fran—Prize Bloom (9.1, Olsen', 11 Jeannot (9.0, G. J. Pine), 19 Speedometer (9.0, Stan. Reid), 9 Heeltap (9 0 W. Price), 17Sir Tarka(9.o, J. Campbell), 21 Gnome (9.0, M'Oarten),’ 18 Multum (9.0, Buchanan), 15 Rumania (9.0, Bell) and 20 leilma (9.0, Horn). Heeltap, leilma, and Cherry Blossom wore quickest out from a fairly even start, ’but with a furlong gone ; Cherry Blossom had rushed to the front, and quickly established a lead, ftf ’ several lengths. She was well clear of her field when they turned into the straight, and won' with the greatest

ease by five lengths. Sedd-el-Bahr finished well, but was a nock behind Heeltap, and then came'Seadown, Jeannot, and Gold Soult. Time, Amin 48&sc. Investments, £8,789. . ’ J>'ot tho Avonliead Handicap a field of •27 hoses started, and 13 Varnish by Yarco —Purdisli .(9,2, W, Bell) "won comfortably by two lengths from 1 War Tax (9.13) and 5 Yes (10.9). 27 Rica (9.10) was fourth, the Southland candidate, 16 Canrobur (9.3, Robinson) was left at the"post. Time, Imin SOME ADDITIONAL; COMMENTS (From Another Source.), The Grand National Steeplechase of 1916 fully came up to expectations as a spectacular race, and will be numbered as one of the finest contests in the history of the race. There were 19 starters, but only 10 completed the course, the running being full of incident and the falls were frequent, although there wore no serious consequences. Fagot • and. Recharge toppled over opposite the stand in the first round. .Cutts’s jump accounted tor Queen’s Post and New York, while tho sod wall saw tiie finish of Ngatoa, Bransfield, Captain Macky, and 'Bravest. Braebum inn off along the back. These incidents, following so closely on one another, made tho first mile of -the race a disastrous one. The last round was got through with much better success, although there were several fairly heavy knocks registered. Idealism was the first to make the front, and jumped splendidly until the last mile, when h’e appeared 'to find the distance trying. Passing the stand on the second round The Brewer had assumed the lead with Waimai, Black Sea, and keeping close company. After Cutts s jump. the second time Waimai ran to the front, and alone the back stretch Idealism fell in behind the leader, with Black Sea, The Brewer, and Merry Lad still keeping handy. At the half-mile Waimai looked to hold the race safe. Idealism at this point blundered his jump badly and dropped back, while Black Sea made a bid that seemed to threaten a dose finish,-but she felt the strain a furlong from the post, and, although vigorously ridden, had to surrender second honors to Merry Lad, who struggled past her over the last 50 yards. Idealism had no difficulty in holding his position as fourth, a good distance back.