WHAT IS WRONG WITH ASHBURTON COUNTRY – THIRD JUMPING FIASCO

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22637, 14 May 1948, Page 1 (Supplement)

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ASHBURTON COUNTRY - THIRD JUMPING FIASCO

(Herald Special Service.)

TT may well be asked what is wrong with the Ashburton country, ' as last Saturday’s Alford Steeplechase was the third jumping fiasco in two years.

The Ashburton racecourse is over a mile and a quarter in circumference with a straight two and a half furlongs in length so that it should be ideal for cross-country events. while the obstacles are just average in height Yet, despite this, the Ashburton County Racing Club has been most unfortunate in its one race of this description in the last three contests held there. In 1946 there were six starters and Bravura was first past the post after all had made mistakes. The winner ran off halfway through the event when in the lead and later fell, to be remounted and win. Runner-up Also Fell The runner-up, Spanish Main, when left in front after the winner’s mishap also fell and he, too, was remounted and weighed-in second. Prince Dolomite, the third placegetter, took over the lead, but he baulked and could not be got over for some time. The other three starters were Gold Nugget, fell in the first mile, Appeasement, who baulked when left with the lead and refused absolutely to complete the course, and Bannockburn, who fell at the third fence and was remounted, only to fall again to knock his rider, J. F. Nicholson, hors de combat. Last May there were five contestants, including Appeasement and Gold Nug-

get. Lunaria collected first money, hut not before he had run off and actually fell twice. The runner-up, Commemorate, ran off once, fell once and baulked twice, but eventually arrived home in time to get second money. Appeasement, third, with Jack Nicholson in the saddle, fell at the second fence and then three fences later refused on two or three occasions, but eventually “cat” jumped it and completed the course. Almost a Round in Front The other two starters were Gold Nugget, who fell, and Trisune, who fell at the first fence, was remounted by a spectator, but refused to jump the fifth fence where Appeasement was doing his circus act. Now this year another small field gives another similar exhibition. The winner. San Quentin, did not have as many “lives” as the two previous winners and when he passed the post was practically a round in front of the runner-up, Cavalryman. The winner had no previous form to speak of, his best being a fourth (only four finished), in the Gardiner Steeplechase at the recent Birchwood meeting and a similar placing in a hurdle race at the Dunedin spring meeting. He is a six-year old by Siegfried out of Shelter, and being a member of F. Langford’s stable it can be expected that he knows how to jump.