GRAND NATIONAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 10 August 1942, Page 2

GRAND NATIONAL

FOXIANA WINS STEEPLECHASE WINTER CUP TO BASHFUL LADY (Special to the “Mail”) Christchurch, This Day. The Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National meeting opened on Saturday under favourable conditions and despite travelling restrictions the attendance reached record proportions Speculation was brisk, the day’s turn-over amounting to £82,694 compared with £80,126 last year. Had totalisator arrangements been more adequate this total would have been much larger as a big sum was shut out on each race. The Enfield Steeplechase produced such a series of mistakes that half a mile from home only four of the 12 starters were left in the race. Roseman went out to force the pace hut he ran off, going round the top at the stand. Golden Memory was just heading Night Hawk and Sir Hugh, but here the latter pair stopped, as did Benevolent, when Cutt’s fence was crossed. Golden Memory had Recollection, Surcoat and Valantua as his nearest opponents. Bad jumping cost Recollection several lengths and Surcoat went after Golden Memory. This pair crossed the last fence on terms, but in the run to the post Surcoat drew away for three lengths to win. Altogether it was a poor display, Surcoat and Golden Memory being the only ones to jump at all cleanly. Though it attracted a huge field, the Cashmere Plate did not give rise to much interest. Home Rule and Foxhaven were at first prominent, but both weakened as soon as pressure came to be put on. Once into the course proper Botany drew clear and from this out had matters all his own way, defeating John Gay by three lengths. Botany is a three-year-old son of Pink Coat and Denise, bred and owned by a South Canterbury sportsman Mr D. Grant. He is a promising brother to Speedy Density. John Gay, the second placefiller is a three-year-old by Theio, from Jenny Diver, owned by Mr H. D. Greenwood. The surprising feature of the race was the size of the dividends paid by the place-fillers. John Gay and Eulogia both returned over a quarter of a century. By winning the Trial Hurdles convincingly under 11.4, Authoress put up an outstanding performance and fully justified the confident manner in which she was backed right from the start. Authoress was one of the leading division with Strip, Adina. Ferriby and Donodea always well placed. When Authoress turned into the home straight with a useful lead from Heidelberg, her victory seemed assured. By a late finishing run Malacca had the leader doing her best over the last bit, only half a length dividing them. Well back came Donodea, Heidelberg and Native Song. The winner is a nice-looking daughter of Defoe and Otauru Lass, and is owned by a Hastings sportsman, Mr E. B. Todd. Native song did not race up to expectations, but Malacca and Donodea both put up improved efforts. Happy ending demonstrated sprint- i ing of an unexpected ability bv putting down a strong field in the Paparua Handicap for which two other North Islanders in The Champ and Rara Avis carried the heaviest investments. Tlic Champ, Maggiore, Hurry Girl and Sham Boy were early leaders with Stabilise and Happy Ending handy. At a distance Stabilise had a useful lead but by a great finishing effort Happy Ending just got up in the last stride to get the verdict by a half-head. The Champ ran a good race into third place, but Rara Avis was never prominent. Outside the placed horses Hurry Girl, Sham Boy and Symbol showed to the most advantage. With the exception of Foxiana and Slayer they were anything but a good lot that went out to contest the Grand National Steeplechase. This pair dominated the betting, the only others in any demand being Dozie Boy and Ruling Star. The backers of Slayer had a poor run for their money as he ran off before the circuit had been completed. Early running was made by Clansman, Foxiana and Gay Boa, and this was the order as the back straight was entered. At the Kennels double Foxiana had joined Clansman in the lead with Gay Boa handy Racing past the stand Gay Boa just headed Foxiana, th e pair being followed by Clansman, Master Lackham and Erination- With a mile to go Foxiana had jumped to the front from Clansman, Gay Boa and Erination. Turning for home Foxiana had the race at his mercy, the only one to threaten danger being Erination who, under pressure, got to within a length of him. At 20 lengths interval came Vateus, followed by Clansman and Gay Boa. Few better displays have ever been seen over Riccarton fences than that given by Foxiana. He gained ground at every obstacle and always had the pace of those that tried to race witli him on the flat. Though the veteran of the field Erination went the best race of his career, and when ne challenged Foxiana a furlong from home it looked as if he was going to make a race of it. When he unaccountably ran off at the top turn Slayer made one of the few mistakes of his career. Amongst the well beaten field Vateus struggled on into third place followed by Clansman and Gay BoaKanui Te Pai continued his winning sequence by putting down a useful field in the Sydenham Hurdles for which he was sent out at a short price. Author and Noko set a very solid pace from the start with Dividend and Alienate handy. There was little change till three parts of the journey had been covered, when Kanui Te Pai moved up into thlvl place. Over the last furlong Noko and Kanui Te Pai drew right away and in a spirited finish Kanui To Pai just lasted long enough to defeat Southlander by half a length. There was a lot of merit in Noko’s effort and for a comparative novice he gives much promise. On her brilliant win at the Christchurch Hunt Club’s meeting Bashu Ladv was made a much better favorite than All Night and Compier for the Winter Cup, and the Gore-trained

mare carried her backers through in effortless style. Don’t Forget as usual was soon out forcing the pace from Potatau- All Night, Atreus and Bashful Lady. After being first into the home straight Don’t Forget compounded, leaving Bashful Lady, All Night, Rakanui and Compier at the head of affairs. Without being called on for a serious effort Bashful Lady drew away to win by three lengths from Rakanui, who was only a neck in front of All Night. From the manner in which Bashful Lady finished up her task in this, tier fourth successive win,- it is certain that she will show to advantage over even longer journeys. She is the five-year-old daughter of Paper Money and Blissful Lady, trained at Gore by J. R. Rochrane lor Mr J- Burnett. Rakanui put up a solid race under his 10.2 but Boloyna, Gladynev, St. Cloud and Don’t Forget were disappointing. The Avonhead Handicap had to be run in two divisions which detracted from its interest. The Hastingstrained Lowry Bay, hot favourite, just managed to get ut> in the last stride to dead heat with Court Dress in the first race, with Jolly Time heading the others. Two rank outsiders, Ann Mie and Kurawhi fought out a great finish in the second division, the former just prevailing by half