N.Z. GRAND NATIONAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20024, 14 August 1928, Page 14

N.Z. GRAND NATIONAL.

INCIDENTS OF THE RACE. BY PHAETON. Going back to 1576, in which year, so far as I can gather, tho first New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase was contested, this year will mark the 51th race. -ho first raco was decided ot Riccarton. Mr. ]<\ Brittain furnished the winner with Royalty. In some of tho following years the race was run at Timaru and Oamaru and then Riccarton again became the tcene of the contest. A feature of the early contests was a treble victory on tho part of Tho Agent, who won in 1879, 1880 and 1881. In 18SS the Canterbury Jockey Club took over the race and in the interval it has always been contested at Riccarton. The raco of 1895 produced a horse that was destined to make history. That was Mutiny, who scored under 11.5, and the following year saw him beat his field under 12.4, while in tho succeeding year he made a game bid for victory under the steadier of 12.13, Levanter (12.6) beating his game chestnut rival by half a length in a stirring contest.

An incident is bound up in the history of the contest for the Grand National Steeplechase of 1897 that brought a thrill to the backers of tho favourite division when the final stage of tho journey came up. Tho Voltiguer maro Dromedary, who carried the colours of Mr. W. Armstrong, was fighting it out with Mutiny and ?he seemed to have the beat of the favourite. Dromedary, however, had the misfortune to meet with a policeman in tho run to the post and the collision that occurred caused her to fall. There aro a lot of people to be found who to this day contend that with a stand up Dromedary would have brought off a surprise, and, as the total investments on her chance only amounted to £sl. it may be imagined that her party would tiave handled a big dividend had tho mare cot home first. One of the luckiest wins in a Grand National contest was that registered by Inniskillen in 1905. A tearaway and a most erratic fencer, it seemed to be a shade of odds on his failing to complete the course. " Tim" Howard, who had the mount, kept tho brown gelding on his legs and ho brought off a surpriso win.

In 1911 Corazon, who had previously von the Wanganui Steeplechase and Great Northern Steeplechase under tho colours of Sir William Russell, ruled a strong favourite, but it was left to a maiden candidate in the shape of Paritutu (10.2) to score. Corazon made a game effort to win under 12.3, but in a great finish Paritutu, who was in receipt of 291b. from tho top-weight, gained the verdict by a head.

In 1315 another pronounced surprise proved to be in store and the whole of tho places were filled by outsiders. Ngatoa (9.9), who had only been bought a short time previously by Mr. E. W. Alison, jun., got ! ome first. The Brewer (9.7) and Golden Glow (10.9) filling the other places. The records show that Ngatoa won by 50 yards, while a gap of 100 yards separated Tho Brewer and Golden Glow

In 1916 a field of 19 was found on hand to contest the Grand National honours the Birkenhead gelding Idealism (9.11) and Braeburn (11.11) ruling first and second favourites respectively. Both proved a disappointment and it was left to Auckland owned Waimai (11.9) to lead the ficild home. In 1920 tho top-weight, Lochella (12.7), counted sufficient admirers to send him out favourite, but he failed to complete tho course, and Coalition (11.13) romped home an easy winner in front of the light-weight. Guanaco (9.10). In the race of the following 'year Coalition, who figured at the head of the list with 12.7, was sent out favourite, and he duly scored. Luck, however, played a part in giving Coalition the distinction as a dual Grand National Steeplechase winner. Waimai led over the last fence, but he everbalanced on landing and fell and what looked like a good winning chance was exploded. When the Grand National of 1922 came up for decision Coalition (12.7), who again figured top-weight, was supported with such force as to make him favourite. The winner, however, turned up in the Auckland-owned Oakleigh, who ro;jiped homo an easy winner in front of Waikaretu, who also hailed from Auckland. When the Grand National of 1023 came round Oakleigh was found on the scene with 12.0, and, with recollections of Inß dashing display 12 months previously, he was always a staunch favourite. In the contest that eventuated Oakleigh (10.7) answered all demands and won by a length from Master Peter, to whom he was conceding 2at 12lb. In 1924 Carawock (11.2), Oakleigh (12.5), and Lochella (11.0) comprised the favourite division, but they all failed to complete the course and it was left to Sturdee (9.3) p.rid Tigerland (9.11), the two greatest outsiders, to fight out the finish for tho leading position, which ended in a four lengths victory for Sturdee. In 1925 Passin' Through (11.4) counted sufficient admirers to send him out favourite, Tigerland (10.3) being second in demand. Both, however, were complete failures, pnd it was left to an outsider in the shape of Tuki (9.4j) to score an easy win over another light-weight in Fireblight. In a field of 16 that lined up to contest the Grand National of 1926 Kawini (9.9) was the one singled out for particular attention. Peter Maxwell (9.1), another lightweight hailing from the Auckland district, who figured as an outsider, displayed such dash that Kawini never had a chance with his rival in the run home from the last hurdle and Peter Maxwell scored by four lengths. The contest for the Grand National Steeplechase in 1927 found Beau Cavalier (11.7) favourite, and the contest that eventuated was rendered memorable by reason of the fact that the favourite led tho field throughout and romped home an easy winner in front of Peter Maxwell (winner of the race the previous year), to whom ho was conceding 201b.

In the decision of the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase in 1922, 1926 and 1927 horses hailing from Auckland filled first and second places respectively. Waimai and Waikarctu were the pair to distinguish themselves in the .first-named year, in ,1921 Peter Maxwell and Kawini fought out the finish, and in the race of the following year Beau Cavalier and Peter Maxwell were the 7inir involved. In each instance the public declared for the winner prior to the race.

Since the year 1888, the following is a list, of the horses that have won the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase carrying 12.0 or over: 1891, Norton, 12.8; 1896, Mutiny (12.4): 1807, Levanter (12.ti); 1.921, Coalition (12.7); 1923, Oakleigh (12.0). In a survey of the records I find that horses hailing from the North Island hold the record with 32 wins to their credit. The following are Iho respective lists:

North Island. Mangaohone, Chemist, Waterbury, Norton, Mutiny (twice), Levanter, Dummy, Blackberry, Tho Guard, Gobo, Haydn, Awalntri. Inniskillen, Eclair. Burns, Nadador. To Arai, Pari tutu, Captain ■Tingle, Ngatoa, Waimai, Master Slrowan St. Elmn, Coalition (twice), Oakleigh (twice), Sturdec, Tuki, Peter Maxwell, Beau Cavalier.

Soul.h Island.—Royally, Fakir, Mousetrap The Agent (three times), Clarence. Kater i'elfo, Kosciusco. Moody. Canard. Faugh-a Ballagh, Daddy Longlegs, Freeman. Ahua, Slow Tom, Phaolonitis, Eurus, Tim Doolan Lochella.

ENGLISH HORSE BOUGHT. GRANDSON OF CARBiNE. Writing on July 13, our London 'correspondent mentions that at tho Newmarket sales Mr. J. Fohlen (Matamata) bought a horse called Spenr Dance, five years old, for which he gave 400gns. Spear Dance, wlio is by Spearmint—Lady Star, was bred by His Majesty. Last year he contested seven races and won one of his engagements*—the Portland Welter Handicap, one mile and three furlongs.