EXCITING HURDLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20890, 4 June 1931, Page 7

EXCITING HURDLES.

TRIUMPH FOR PRINCE LU.

IN FRONT ALL THE WAY.

FANCIED STABLEMATE SECOND. ONLY SIX COMPLETE COURSE. Fifty per cent, of tlie cislit runners ff 11 in the Great Northern Hurdles last year and there was an even greater percentage of falls in yesterday's contest, no fewer than eight of the fourteen runners failing to complete the course, 'lhe result proved one of the greatest surprises in the history of the race, tile winner being Prince Lu, the outsider but one of the field, who was responsible for the defeat of his botterbacked stablemate Lucess, who was a, strong favourite. Prince Ln and Lucess are both trained by \V. J. McLean at Cambridge, but race in different ownership. Prince Lu carrying the colours of Mr. A. Coubrough and Lucess thoso of the trainer. The field went away to a good start and Prince Lu showed the way over tho first fence to Apache, Mako Up. Lucess and High Pitch. The first mishap came hero when Master Lu fell and the field was further reduced at the second fence, where Easterly and Mister Gamp also went down, to bo followed at tho third fenco by Spalpiko. By this time Prince Lu had drawn clear and before reaching the fourth fenco he was out six lengths from Apache, who was followed by High Pitch, Make Up, Lucess, Singleton, Nukumai and Claremore, with C'arinthia and Perle dc Leon n long way back. A Series of Falls. The field began to close up passing tho stands and at this stago Prince Lu led from Singletpn and High Pitch, with Apache, Make Up, Lucess, Nukumai and Claremore all fairly handy and Carinthia making a forward move. Turning into tho back stretch Prince Lu was just clear of Singleton, High Pitch, Apache and Make Up, while Lucess and Nukumai began to move up. and Carinthia was making further headway. The next incident occurred at the fence near the five-furlongs post, when High Pitch fell and interfered with Mako Up, whoso rider was unbalanced and "came off about 30 yards further on. Prince Lu then carried on the running through the cutting, with Singleton. Lucess, Nukumai, Carinthia and Apache all bandy. Singleton and Apacho fell at the second to last fence and Prince Lu led into tho straight, just over a length clear of Lucess, with a gap of se\eral lengths to Carinthia, and Nukumai next. Nenring the last fence Lucess ranged up on the outside of Prince Lu, but the latter landed over in front, and came away near the end to beat his stablemate by four lengths. Carinthia was six lengths away third and Nukumai was fourth. Perle do Leon and Claremore, the. only others to finish, were a long way back. Winner's Perfect Jumping.

Perfect jumping and physical fitness stood to Prince Lu, who jumped every fence beautifully. Hitherto, he has always found two miles quite far enough for him, but on this occasion he stayed on remarkably well after being ridden a great race in front by \V. Rennie, who won the race four years ago on Wedding March. Lucess had every chance and was never off the rails until Foster brought him out to challenge Prince Lu in the straight. It looked as if he might win at the last feuce, but he tired toward the end, and did not come home as well as the winner. Carinlhia put up a fine performance under his big weight and his third was a iery meritorious effort. Nukumai went quite a good race, but Clareijiore and Perlo de Leon never gave any trouble. Singleton was going well when he fell and undoubtedly had a great winning chance. High Pitch also made I fine showing until lie fell and Make Up was also in the picture when he lost his rider. The winning jockey's riding fee amounted to £OO. LAST RACE TO MANAWHENUA. gold money in second place. A disastrous day for investors concluded when Maiinwhenun. fifth choice in the betting, scored an end-to-end victory in the Members' Handicap, for which Awaken, Gold Money and Refresher were the favouritrs. Mnnawheniw sin el Pwkifere were fin>l tc move, but Pi.kitere soon got. cut back and Manawhenua carried on the running througli the cutting from Tetrarchnte. Lady s Bov, Awaken, Gold Money, Inevitable and Puriri Park. Lady's Boy went up msl after passing the three furlongs post and tic came into the straight in the lead, wit.! Mtinuwhenua. Awaken Refresher. (.ok; Monev and Prince Vail all handy. Mnna whenua stayed on well in the run home aim he stalled off Cold Money to win by three I parts of a length. Lady's Boy was half s ! length away third and Awaken was fourth i v r xt to cross tho line were Hefre*lier. late:. I Rose. Prince Val. Puriri Park and Pnkitcre ! Manawhenua made every post a winnoi I after hopping out well from No. 1 and hi; splendid condition enabled hinito stay ot I very solidly at the end. Gold Money mad, ! j, great effort to win the race for the thin year in succession and. although beaten int. i second place, she has seldom run a bettei !n ce Ladv's Boy went well considering i that he drew an outside post position an. ' Awaken also made a solid showing. Luoj , Hose, who finished on the extreme outside ' Refresher and Prince Val all ran soli, i races, Prince Val doing well after bum ' slow awny. — 4 ! HACK HURDLES SURPRISE. CRISTOBEL LEADS THROUGHOUT ; There vas another " boil-ovtr ' in thj Penrose H.-rdles when Cr.stobel at douole i |ii'iiio odds, -cored very easily firm. ' ' l,n I alii. Landmark and Ma ibl o w " l|,„ favourites but Landmark fell early an. Marble King cut up very badly. C'ristobel Landmark. Pendavics am Owt.ila kit raced to the first fence a nios ti breast and Landninrk fell, leaving (.I isto lie! in charge from Owairaka K ','V" I'endavies. Loving (up and I atutahi. C.ris ti.liel v.as clear of Owairaka and Maibi King along tin* back, where I eiuiiiyicf Loving Cup and Patutaln were closest o 1 1 ljf» Ot lltM'P. , • i j | Four furlongs from home CristoM wa . tdx lengths . leal- of Owuiraku. wlio wa clear of 1 'atutahi and Loving (up. tru i lobel drew away at the turn and won vor: : easily by six lengths from Patutaln. wb beat fioving Cup by a length. I ejidnyte was fourtii, followed bv Ownirakn. Imhiui and Marble King. Cristol.el gave nothing a chance and woi j handsomely. Patutahi hit, a "'M* = fencr-s hard but battled oil well to gc ! second Loving Cup also made a fair show ;ing nut was not too certain at Ins fencer '['lie others were all well beaten, nlthoug Owairaka went a good race for a mile an a - ii a 1 f. HUNT CLUB HURDLES. VICTORY FOR TE HOMAI. Like other jumping races; the Hunt C!u Hurdles provided a few falls, but grange! enough they all occurred on the flat. ' rare resolved itself int.. a duel between lb favourite. Te Homai. and Billy Boy. an better condition enabled le Homai to wi decisively in the run from the last fence. Land Measure and le Homai wr quickest to the first fence and they wer clear ,iusi after passing the five furlone post, where Town Beauty fell on the fla and brought down Distress, l'air Abbey an Nassone. Te Homai was then steadied an when they passed the stands Lan Measure, Billy Boy and General Ln wei racing abreast abend of Nukutere and I Homai. . , „ Seven furlongs from home Billy Boy wa in command to be joined at the fence nee the. six furlongs post by Te Homai Aft. this Billy Boy and To Homai were the onl ones in it and they came to the last fenc together Te Homai then came away 1 beat Billy Boy by four lengths. Geiiicr: Lu was ten lengths away thud and <<le Maree was an indifferent fourth. Mashoo Land Measute. Jiu Jazz and Xukutcrc, tl next io finish, were all badly beaten. It was not a good field and only tor rn' ping a, couple of fences hard he woul have won easier. Good jumping assiste Billy Boy. who was not as well conditione as the'winner, owing to the fact that s injury received at Pneroa in March kept hi idle |or some weeks.