SPORTING Tremello Has Runaway Win In National Hurdles At Riccarton

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 August 1948, Page 7

SPORTING Tremello Has Runaway Win In National Hurdles At Riccarton

[SPECIAL TO STAR]

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

The Ringmaster gelding, Tremello, raced by Mr J. and Mrs L. McMillan, and trained by the former successful horseman, E. Temperton, scored a spectacular win in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton on Saturday. He cleared out from the field with about half the journey covered and allowed none of his opponents to get near him. Boolamskee finished well into second place without looking like catching the winner, and Diamond King was third. The favourite, Corineus, finished tenth. . Royal Tan won the Islington Handicap impressively iroiii the. North /Islander. Ballinagh, in a splendid finish. Royal Tan has not been a lucky racehorse, and .Saturday’s was only his second success since he won the New Zealand Derby in 1946.

The Grand National Hurdles, of two miles, was run in 4.48 1-5, the fastest time since Jolly Beggar recorded 4.47 in 1936. The National Hurdles did not provide the spectacular contest expected, as the Awapuni-trained Tremello went to the front in the first furlong, and opening up a big break, had the field struggling and spreadeagled throughout. Tremello was followed at a 10-length interval over the first half of the journey by Turf Topic, Diamond King, Foreign Ways, Ostentatious, and Matapan, with Brookby Song. Boolamskee. Pedantic, and Skywriter next, and Foxchase, Desert Trek, and Nanook bringing up the rear. Tremello did not concede any ground through the back stretch and was still 10 lengths in front entering the straight from Diamond King, Turf Topic, Foreign Ways, Boolamskee, and Foreign Ways, but had to be kept up to his work over the last furlong to hold off Boolamskee, who, ridden by his owner, put up a remarkable performance to be only four lengths away at the post, and was finishing on better than the winner. Diamond King was a close! third, two lengths in front of Foreign Ways, with a gap to Sphere, Foxchase, Ostentatious, Pimlico, Pedantic, Town Survey, Glad Fox, and Corineus.

Success Repeated

Troytown was installed a strong first choice tor the Beaufort Steeplechase, but crashed when going well a mile from home. Hughsotis and Siglow had carried on a long way in front to this stage, but the former lost his rider after a bad jump at the seven-furlong post. Siglow gradually weakened and Lunaria took chaige, but was joined by Bravura rounding the home turn. Bravura landed first over the last fence, and carried on to win all out from Lunaria. There was then a big gap to Siglow, who

was some eight lengths in front of Ring Scarf, with another big gap to Eleanor Star. Spanish Main and High Morale were the only others to complete the course. Ring Scarf’s rider. O. Ferrall, failed to draw his weight, and fourth prize of £5O went to Eleanor Star. Bravura was having his first race for some time. He won the Beaufort Steeplechase 12 months ago. Distinction, trained at Trentham by W. J. Bromby, justiged his favouritism for the concluding event, the August Handicap, by a narrow but impressive win. Verdant soon took up his usual role of pacemaker, but only lasted to the straight, where Distinction and Da Vinci were struggling for the lead, with Julius Caesar, Connaught, and Wonder Boy also handy. In a hard .struggle to the post, Distinction gradually gained the honours from Wonder Boy. who got up right on the line to oust Da Vinci, with Julius Caesar two lengths back in front of Duvaals, Verdant, and Lord Elgin. Grand Coulee, favourite for the Spreydon Hack Hurdles, crashed at the first hurdle, and Lord Broiefort, Gold Song, and Sir Desmond went out at the same fence. Specialist soon took charge and with half a mile to go had a useful lead from Vanity King, Baffling, John Gay, Supreme Shepherd, and Roman Duke, with a big gap to Knight Crusader. Vanity King gradually overhauled Specialist rounding the home turn, and leading over the last fence, comfortably held off Roman Duke, who put in some solid work over the concluding stages. Specialist was some seven lengths back, in front of Supreme Shopherd, with Knight Crusader a long way back. F, .1. Langford, rider of Grand Coulee, was taken to hospital suffering from concussion, but was later discharged and returned to the course. The other riders involved in the smash escaped injury.