TO-DAY’S RACING NEWS

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1936, Page 13

TO-DAY’S RACING NEWS

Galloping meetings~to come.

August 13, 15— Canterbury. August 22— Pakuranga Hunt. August 27—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt August 29—Taranaki Hunt. September s—Otago5—Otago Hunt. September 10, 12—Wanganui. September 19—Ashburton. September 19—Foxton. September 19, 21—Avondale.

Sydney Jockey injured: A Sydney cablegram stated that the successful jockey, J. Pratt, suffered severe concussion, due to his fainting and falling off Winball, while riding work at Moorfield course yesterday. Pratt was recently indisposed. His condition is critical.

Hostis: Mr W. Greenhill’s Hostis (Honour — Gold Spear) who has been laid aside with leg trouble, has been sent to Oamaru, to be taken in hand by P. Hogan, trainer of Queen of Song. Hogan is confident that he can get Hostis right again, and if his confidence is realised the son of Honour, may redeem the great promise he showed early in his career.

Grand National Record: Record time for the Grand National; Steeplechase is the 6min 55 l-ssec. re-, glstered by Oakleigh in winning on fast going in 1922. The only other j winners who have bettered 7min. aie, Peter Maxwell (1926) and Snowfall (1931), both on good going. Royal Limond winning yesterday’s Grand National Steeplechase recorded 7.9 1-5.

West Coast Interest: The Winter Cup winner, Wino, has more than a passing interest for the West Coast, for he is owned by the Hon. P. C. Webb, M.P. for Buller, and his dam, Inoe, won the Greymouth Cup in 1929, ridden by R. Coveney. Wino is a gelding, by Cockpit from Inoe, by Kilbroney from Bebe.

Sir Hugh’s Breeding: Sir Hugh, who showed promising form as a two-year-old, and won the Cashmere Plate yesterday, is a three-year-old gelding by Philamor from Mistress Quickley, by Solferino from Dame Straitlace, a daughter of Kilbroney. Rosseau, who looked the most promising of the unplaced division of Cashmere Plate yesterday, is a *>three-year-old colt, by Robespieiie from Kildee, by Kilbroney from Grey Linnet, the dam of Songbird.

Royal Limond’s Record: The winner of yesterday’s Grand National Steeplechase, Royal Limond. | is a ten-year-old brown gelding, by the now defunct Limond, from the King Rufus mare, Royal Exchange. He was bred by Mr. J. Donald, and was bought as a yearling by Mr. J. M. Samson, for 400 guineas, and later sold to his present owner, Mr. A. Syme, of Christchurch, for 35 guineas. He made only one appearance as a two-year-old, but prior to yesterday, had started 91 times for nine wins and £2,39 < in stakes. His best previous victories had been recorded in the Great Northern Steeples, the Riverton Steeples (twice) and the June Hurdles (Dunedin).

grand national opens.

WINO’S WINTER CIJP.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 11. For the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National meeting on the first day the weather was gloriously fine. The attendance was very large. The track is in good order. investments amounted to £53,31/ (win £21,695£; place £31,621i), compared with £41,814% on the opening day last year. Remaining results: Enfield Steeplechase, about 2 miles, —7/5 Money Mine (V. Langford) 1, 4/4 Burglar (G. Ridgway) 2, 2/3 Royston (R. K. Smith) 3. Also started--1/1 Thurina car. 12.1, 6/6 Kaokaoroa 3/2 Nocturnus and 5/7 Otaura King. After the stands double had been crossed, Otaura King and Nocturnus led Nocturnus came down at Cutts s for Otaura King to lead down the back Otaura King fell at the first of the ken nels double, for Royston and Burglai to have charge crossing the top. Roy ston and Money Mine led to the lasi fence from Burglar and Kaokaoroa Once over Money Mine drew out to wn by two lengths from Burglar, with Roy ston a length and a-half away. Kao kaoroa was fourth. Time 3.54. Winter Cup, 1 mile.—7/7 Wino (L J. Ellis) 1, 2/3 Concertpitch (A. E. El lis) 2, 1/1 Ponty (G. Humphries) 3 Also started —5/6 Queen of Song, «/

Eprig, 10/10 Fair Weather, 4/2 Aualene 9/9 Davolo, 13/13 Wall Street. 14/14 Rona Bay, 6/5 Boomerang, 16/15 Royal Gallant, 11/H Metal Bird 8/8 The Surgeon car. 8.21,15/15 Silk Arrow and 12/12 Mount Vai chr. 8.0. Concertpitch and Wino were the leaders at the far turn, with Adalene Metal Bird, Royal Gallant and Wall Street following. The leaders were the same crossing the top, for Concertpitch and Wino to lead into the straight from Adalene, Metal Bird and Boomerang. Wino did best in the run home to beat Concertpitch by a length, with Ponty half a length awaj and Adalene fourth. Time 1.41 1-5. Avonhead Handicap, 7 furlongs. Fiord (H. Wiggins) 1, 2/3 Matoru (A. Messervy) 2, 6/6 Sovenegn Ladj (B. H. Morris) 3. Also started 8/. Queen Dorothy, 14/14 Cyclonic, 1/1 Hunting Maid, 4/2 * lo "™ r ’ Braw Lad car. 8.11, 7/8 Cintilla, 18/L Madam Pompadour, 11/11 Tall 5/5 Rose of Tralee, 21/19 Latlta J l ® 17/20 Polygraph, 23/23 Poniard, 22 -

Owlsgleam, 12/12 Emmeline Girl car. 8.2, 20/21 Gasmask, 16/16 Jack Ahoy car 8.23, 10/13 Monipere, 1/17 can Money car. 8.6 J, 3/4 The Sandwichman and Araboa car. 8.1 (bracketed), Redtop car. 8.2 and Lady Kate 8.0 (bracketed). When the field had settled down, the leaders were Grey Honour, Aroboa. Call Money, Owlsgleam, Rose of Tralee and Fiord. Turning for home those most prominent were Grey Honour, Araboa, Call Money, Owlsgleam, Rose of Tralee, Matoru and Fiord. In the run home Fiord did best to win by half a length from Matoru, with Sovereign Lady two lengths away, and Grey Honour fourth. Time 1.28 4-5.

AN EVENTFUL STEEPLECHASE.

FAVOURITE’S DEFEAT IN CUP.

[SPECIAL TO “STAE.”]

CHRISTCHURCH, August 11.

The Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National Steeplechase meeting at Ric-

carton to-day was the most successful for many years past. There was an exceptionally large attendance, which included visitors from all parts of New Zealand. The extent of the crowd could be realised, when the Grand National Steeplechase was coming up for decision. The big stands were crammed full long before the horses paraded, and those who formed part of the long queues at the totalisator window, had to view the race from the ground. The big event of the year lost much of its attractiveness by the unfortunate mishap which ended the career of Diamond, one of the staunchest favourites in the history of the race. He went away with the lead from the jump-off, and jumped brilliantly until he hit the sod wall about six furlongs from the start. He did not shape well at the next fence, and at the kennels double he made further weak attempts, and when rounding the far turn, he had drifted right back. He scrambled over the top brush, but at the next, the carriage paddock brush, he just crawled over, and when he landed he dragged his hind legs for a few yards, and then collapsed. No doubt he suffered an injury to his back either at one of the early jumps, or when he made his first mistake, and a complete fracture was delayed until he reached the fence which closed the chapter. No time was wasted in destroying him after the race was over. The incident caused quite a gloom over the proceedings, but luckily for spectators the remaining candidates gave a most interesting and spectacular display. The first to go after Diamond was Punchestown, who had taken charge. He jumped Cutts’ safely, but got too close into the next, a sod wall, and although he did not fall, his rider, H. Turner, was shot out of the saddle. High Speed then went to the front and led past the kennels double, where Royal Limond made a fast move and was soon out in front of High Speed, Manawatn and Forest Glow. That was the end of the race, as Royal Limond gradually increased his lead, and jumping the last two fences in his stride, carried on for one of the easiest wins in the history of the race. Billy Boy, who was going well until he hit the same fence that brought down Punchestown, was well back at the half-mile, and many considered he would finish in the rear, but he took a fresh lease of life, and battling on in a characteristic manner, wore down High Speed to beat him for second money. This was Billy Boy’s fifth Grand National for one win, one second, two thirds and one fourth. And his owner-trainer hopes to have him back at Riccarton next August. Pahu was never going well, but he put in his usual late run to be close up to Manawatu in fifth place.

Money Mine: Money Mine, who has a very minute reminder that he was once possessed of a regulation tail, and is one of the smallest steeplechasers ever to tackle Grand National country, upset many calculations when he romped home in the Enfield Steeplechase. Noctr.rnus and Otaura King set off at a fast pace, but Nocturnus hit Cutts’ with both knees and was upended. Then Otaura King turned a somersault, at the first, of the kennels double, leaving Royston in charge from Burglar, Thurina and Money Mine. Thurina, who had made a promising forward move at this stage, did not last much longer, and Money Mino ran up to Royston. There' was not much between them over the last fence, but. once on the fiat, Money Mine ran right away from the Riverton gelding, and had a decisive win. Burglar finished on solidly to beat Royston for second money, and the 12-year-old Kaokaoroa was next.

Ponty’ Unlucky: Ponty, favourite for the Winter Cup, should have had a comfortable victory, and no doubt this year’s race will go down into history as one in which the first choice should never have been beaten. The race is easily described in spite of the big and representa- 1 tive field of good class milers. Concertpitch was the early leader, but at the end of two furlongs Wino was along- , side him, and the pair, ridden by A. E. ' and L. J. Ellis respectively, carried on in front to the straight entrance from jAdalenc, Metal Bird, Boomerang, Da-

ivolo, Royal Gallant and Fair Weather, I with Ponty still well back. It could be! ’ seen .that Wino had Concertpitch’s. measure a furlong from the post, and) : the issue appeared to be confined to I them, but a hundred yards from the, line, Ponty put in an appearance, and. 'giving one of the best displays of de-, layed action seen on the course for a, long time, he gradually gained on the; two leaders, but the effort had been] too long delayed, and Wino was a length in front of Concertpitch at the post, with Ponty a similar distance ! away, a head in front of Adalene. ■ i Boomerang, Mount Vai, Metal Bird, JDavolo, Epris and Wall Street followed in that order. What caused Ponty s'to be so far away even with a furlong -! to go will never be satisfactorily clearJ cd up, but it is certain that with anyl thing like reasonable treatment earj Her, he would have beaten his stable i mate, Wino. As it was he would have , gained the ascendancy over the latter

in another two strides, unis does not detract from Wino’s sterling performance, and it was a pleasing few min-| utes for the Hon. P. C. Webb and the] Hon. G. R. Hunter when they led him' in. The former had quite an eventful day, as he had won the Trial Hurdles with Havering, who races in his name only. Concertpitch ran a gieat race also,' and it was unfortunate for many that he had not had some racing before the meeting. The disappontments of the race were Queen of Song and Epris, who showed out for a while during the middle stages, but were not noticed again in the run home. Metal Bird put up a most creditable performance, as he was one of the leaders until well down the running.

An Outsider: The Avonhead Handicap, which brought the day’s programme to a, close, proved a surprise but popular, victory for Fiord, trained by J. B. Pear-, son, who has not had many wins at metropolitan meetings in recent years,] his most recent one of any importancei being in 1927, when he led in Solferite as the winner of the Winter Cup. Fiord has had a lot of schooling over hurdles in the past two or three months with the idea of settling him down and making him more solid than previous-' ly. He won a maiden event at Oamaru | in July, but had not done anything in public that would point to his prospects in this race, and in consequence his dividend reached very close to the

half century. Grey Honour was the first to be prominent, and he led into the straight from Araboa, Call Money, Rose of Tralee, Fiord and Owlsgleam. Fiord put in his claim inside the distance and soon disposed of Grey Honour, going on to win well from Matoru, who was having his first race for J. S. Shaw’s stable. Sovereign Lady came from well back to get up on the post to cut Grey Honour out of third money, and Araboa, Rose of Tralee and Redtop were next. Queen Dorothy and Monipere, who gave trouble at the barrier, and Cintilla got away badly.

SANTA CASA CASE

(Recd. August 12, 2 p.m.) MELBOURNE, August 12.

The Government analyst reported that his analysis of the swabs, taken from Santa Casa, at the request of the owner, after the horse’s unaf countably poor display in the Ahtralian Steeplechase last Saturday, were entirely negative. No alkaloidal substances or drugs were found.