G.N. STEEPLECHASE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 147, 7 June 1932, Page 2

G.N. STEEPLECHASE

HOW COPEY WON. Nineteen years ago J. Fryer trained the winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase, when he prepared Bercola for Air J. R. L. Stanford, and he again had that honour on Saturday, when he won with his own horse,. Copey (writes “Archer”). As a result of his consistency last year and the fact that he was believed to have made some improvement in the meantime, Copey was considered to have excellent prospects .and in the betting he was a good third choice to the Make Np-Landmark bracket and Billy Boy. The contest was a remarkably good one and the field ran m very close order until reaching the hill the third time.

The field went away to a good start and there was a thrill l almost immediately, when Mangani fell while in the lead at the first fence. Make Up avoided him by running through near the fence and then went on to make the running up the hill the first time from Paris, Claremore, Nassock and Alaster Lu. Once the horses had reached the top of the hill Billy Boy moved up handy to the leader and at the water-jump he and Make Up were running neck and neck ahead of Claremore, Nassock, Copey, Alaster Lu, Nukumai and Paris.

Billy Boy jumped to the front at tho ,tonewall and alter crossing the wattto .once at the completion of the first round he was out about a length from Make Up. The next mishap occurred at the fence near the five-furlongs post, where Landmark struck hard and unseated his rider. Billy Boy continued on in the lead up the hili'the second time, when he led by a length from Claremore, with Alake Up, Nukumai, Alaster Lu, Copey, Nassock, Paris and Callamart following in close order. Tho whole field jumped the two fences on the hill well and when they came down the decline Alake Up and Nukumai moved up to the leader. FALLS AT FENCE ON HILL. There was very little between Billy Boy, Nukumai and Alake Up when they crossed the double and Claremore was right up handy just ahead of a bunch comprising Copey, Callamart, Paris, Alaster Lu and Nassock. Make Up was again in the lead when the second round had been completed and along the back the last time he was m trout from Nukumai and Copey, with Bil'ly Boy tailing back. The field was still in very close order ascending the hill the last time, when everything was close enough to have a chance. At this stage Make Up and Nukumai were together in front from Copey, and Callamart vas making a forward move.

No sooner had the horses completed -he ascent than Copey ran to the lead .nd he was left a few lengths clear when Make Up and Nukumai went over it the first fence on the hill. Then Nassock fel'l at the next fence when closing up slightly and Copey turned down the incline with a handy advantige from Claremore and Callamart, who were in hot pursuit, and well cleai of Billy Boy and Paris. Copey led Callamart by over a length over the

stonewall into the straight and still' re 'mile da slight lead at i lie las. I nee, where ( laremore was ulsi handy. Once the pressure was applied Ciillamni t swerv i d out to the outside rails and, although he made a gallant < over the last half-furlong, could not reach Copey, who won by a tongth Claremore was four lengths away third and Billy Boy was a good distance back fourth, ahead of i .is :.ud . q Lu.