GREAT STEEPLECHASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21201, 6 June 1932, Page 7

GREAT STEEPLECHASE.

GENUINE STAYERS TRIUMPH. COPEY DEFEATS CALLAMART. TOP-WEIGHTS FORCE THE PACE. BY ARCHER. Nineteen years ago J. Pryor trained the winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase, when lie prepared Bercola for Mr. J. R. L. Stanford, and lie again had that honour 011 Saturday, when ho won with his own horse, Copey. As a result of his consistency last year and the fact that ho was believed to have made, some improvement in the meantime. Copey was considered to have excellent prospects and in the betting be was a good third choice to the Make Up-Landmark bracket and Billy Boy. The contest was a romarkably good one and the field ran in very close order until reaching the hill the third time.

-Tho field went away to a good start and thero was a thrill almost immediately, when Mangani fell while in the lead at the first fence. Make Up avoided him by running through near the fenco and then went on to make the running up the hill the first time from Paris, Claremore, Naßsoo.k and Master Lit. Onco tho horses had reached the top of the hill Billy Boy moved up handy to tho leader and at tho water-jump ho and Make Up wero running neck and Jieck ahead of Claremore. Nassock, Copey. Master Lu, Nukumai and Paris. .• . • Billy Boy jumped to the front at the stonewall and after crossing the wattle fence at tho completion of tho first round ho was out about a length from Mako Up. lho nest mishap occurred at the fenco near tho five-furlong 3 post, whero Landmark struck hard and unseated his. rider. Billy Boy continued on in the lead up tho hill the second time, when he led by a length from Claremore, witli Make Up, Nukumai, Master Lu, Copey. Nassock, Paris and Callamart following in close order. The whole field jumped tho two fences on tho hill well and when they came down the decline Mako Up and Nukumai moved up to tho leader.

Falls at Fence on Hill. There was very little between Billy Boy. Nukumai and Make Up when they crossed the double and Claremoro was right tip handy just ahead of a bunch comprising C.'opey, Callamart, Paris, Master Lu and Nassoek. Mako Up was again in the lead when tlio second round had been completed and along the back the last time he was in front from Nukumai aild Copey, with, Billy Boy falling back. The field was still in very close order ascending the' hill the last time, when everything was closfe enough to have a chance." At this stage Mako Up and Nukumai were together in front from Copey, and Callamart was making a forward move.

No sooner had tlio horses completed tlio ascent than Copey ran to the lead and he was left a few lengths clear when Mako Up and Nukumai went over at tho first fence on tho hill. Then Nassoek fell at the next fence when closing up slightly and Copey turned down the inclino with a handy advantage frpm Claremore and Callamart. who were in hot pursuit, 'and well clear of Billy Boy: and Paris. Copey led Callamnrt by over a length over the stonewall into the straight and still' retained a plight lead at tho last fence, where Claremore was also handy". Onco tho pressuro was applied' Callamart swerved out to the outside rails and, Although he made a .gallant effort over -the last half furlong, could not reach Copey, who won by a length. . Claremoro was four lengths away third arid Billy Boy was a good distance back fourth, ahead' of Paris and Master Lu. Riding of Top" Weights. An extraordinary feature of the race was tho tactics adopted by the riders of tho topweights, Billy Boy and Make Up, .in going, out and making tho running.- It was certainly not good generalship -and it ■ wasnot surprising . that Billy Boy .begjtn to. tire about a .mile from home, afte.r being made far too much uSo ; of-fdr a jhorse /with liiaweigljt. Make Up and Nukujtnai were still going fnirly, well, whepi tli.es' fell at the first fence on the hill in "the£ third round, but it is doubtful ; whether' .-either, would, have beaten the first and second horses even if they had stood up. ' The contest was a triumph f-pt .the genuine stayers, who shone at the finish. Copey gave a fine display of jumping and that materially assisted him to beat Callamart, who seemed to lack a little confidence after his fall on the previous day. and did not fence too well in tho first round.; In addition, Callamart did not improve his prospects when he swerved out at the finish and he may have made the finish even more exciting if he had gone straight from the last fence. There was a good interval between tho three placed horses and Billy Boy, who just beat Paris for fourth. Billy Boy gave a very fine display of fencing and he battled on very gamely after being very tired when he reached the hill tho third time. Paris went a good race for three miles and then began to lose ground. He jumped the country much better than he did the hurdles on the first day. Master Lu was well beaten and was ft good way back at tho finish.

FULL MEASURE'S VICTORY.

LEITRIM ENDS HIS CAREER. Full Measure was sent out favourite for the Panmure Hurdles and he duly scored after his task had been made easier through Arcade falling and seriously interfering'with Appledore> at the second to last fence.. Kia Horomai, Biform and Leitrim were the leaders over the first fence and .Kia Horomai led past the stands from Leitrim, Full Measure. Biform, General Lu, Appledore. Arcade and Fernden. With, a mile to go Full Measure assumed command and he turned along the' back three lengths clear of Arcade, with Kia. Horomai, Leitrim. Appledore and Biform following. Leitrim fell at the fence near the five-furlongs post and at the half-mile Full Measure was four lengths clear of Arcade, Appledore and Cargen. with Trowbridge moving up in sixth position. Arcado fell at the second to last fence and seriously interfered with Appledore, who lost several lengths as a result. Full Measure was then left with a commanding lead from Trowbridge and Appleaore and he jumped the last fence safely to win by four lengths from .Trowbridgo. Appledore was tho same distance awav third and Biform was fourth, sncceded by Cargen, Fernden. Kia Horomai. General Lu and Master Rolcy. Full Measure confirmed his good form of I lie first day, wlion he waa just beaten at the end after being in front a mile from homo. He had nothing in reserve at the finish and was ridden out with the whip in spile of the fact that ho landed over the last fenco clear. Trowbridge, who would have returned over a, quarter of a century to win, finished on fairly well. Appledore was unlucky and Biform ran quite a good race. Arcade went, well until he fell and Cargen -was also well placed for about a mile and a-lialf. Leitrim. broke -a shoulder when he fell and was destroyed. LUCESS TAKES HURDLES. FINE DISPLAY OF JUMPING. Splendid jumping proved of great assistance to Lucess in the Reiriuera Hurdles and ho scored narrowly from Arch Eagle, who \vaa sixth fancy in a field of seven, and waa paying double figures to win. High Pitch waa a better favourite than Cruaehan but his supporteVS ' were unfortunate, as he was interfered with and lost his rider at tho second fence. ~,,,, Advance Camp and Arch Eaglo led over tho first fenco and they carried oil the running to thfe second, where Fernden fell mid interfered with High Pitch, whose rider was unseated. Arch Eagle then drew clear and led past tho stands a few lonzths ahead of Advance Camp, with Cruaehan. Lucess and Patutahi following almost abreast. Turning along the back Arch Eagle held a lead of five lengths, but Advanco Camp l)G|?nn to close UP at the fence near tho five-furlongs post, where Lucess and Cruaehan were also handy. Arch Eagle just led Advance Camp with half-a-mile to go and Lucess and Cruaehan were within flfrikiii? distance. Arch Eatfle Jed round the bend, where Lucess rfin up second, ahead of Advance Camp and Cruaehan. .Lucess wns first over the last fence and lie held his own in the run homo to win by half-a-I'-ngth from Arch Eagle. Cruaehan was five lengths away third rind Patutahi was fourth, with Advance Camp well beaten , . Tho winner jumped in bis best style and he made a fine iumn at tho lust fence, where ho landed ahead oF Arch Eagle, who made a fine showing at his first attempt over two miles in good company. Cruochan did not fence quite as well as usual and weakened at the finish afler lookin" likely at. the turn. Patutiihi plodded on" to get fourth, but Advance Camp tired in the straight.