TURF HISTORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22428, 26 May 1936, Page 7

TURF HISTORY

NORTHERN HURDLES INCIDENTS OF THE PABT FAILURE OF TOPWEIGHTS

BY SPEARMINT

The Great Northern Hurdle Race dates from 1892 and was therefore established seven years after the steeplechase, which had proved a great success. It was originally called the Grand National Hurdle Race, and the meeting was known as the North New Zealand Grand National Meeting, There was great rivalry between the North and South at the time, but the Canterbury Jockey Club had prior claim to the title, and in 1904 the race was given its present designation. The first winner was Belmont, by King Quail from Winnie, who put up a great record by also running second to Mutiny and Melinite respectively in the two following years. When he won Belmont was raced by his breeder, Mr. J. Roulston, >of Pukekohe, but in the later events ho ran in the nomination of Mr. F. J. McManemin. Winnie was a wonderful brood mare, as, in addition to Belmont, she produced St. Simon who carried the record weight of 12.12 to victory in tho mud in 1897, and Record Reign, who Avon tho C.J.C. Grand National Hurdles in 1900 with 12.12, also a weight-carrying record. The highest weight carried in a Great Northern was 13.6, which tho gallant Cavaliero had in 1902, when he was brought down by a falling horse. Two years previously, under the name of Cavalier, ho had won with 10.0, and the following year he was third with 13.1 —a splendid performance. Cavaliero, who was a sou of Cuirassier, was owned by Mr. L. Harris and ridden by P. Johnson. The second contest was one of the easiest victories in tho history of the race.' Mutiny, a son of Mute and Lady Maxwell, led from end to end and won by 15 lengths. Mutiny had been a hack in the Taranaki district; but subsequently distinguished himself by winning the Grand National Steeples twice and numerous other races. Decisive Victories

Another very easy winner was Hopgarden, who scored in 1896. Hopgarden was owned and trained in the Gisborne district and was very heavily supported from there, but did not please tho track-watchers on his arrival at Ellerslie. The public installed as favourite the veteran Liberator, who that year had 12.10 and was ridden by J. Rae, but Hopgarden cleared awa.v from his opponents at the start and was never in danger of being caught. Another end-to-und winner was Wimmera, and almost equally easy victories were scored in successive years by Lochella, Fisher and Poanui. A good contest was spoiled in 1902, when the favourite, Treshain, fell at the seventh fence, three furlongs from home, and brought down Frost, Rufus and Cavaliero. This left Royal Conqueror with a commanding lead, and he ran home an easy winner. It must not be imagined, however, that his victory was a fluke, as he was a good horse and subsequently won the Winter Hurdles in Wellington with 11.7 and ran second with 12.0. One of the worst demonstrations ever Been at Ellerslie took place on the occasion of Battleaxe's win in 1903. The Great Northern Hurdles was run off the second day and Battleaxe had run an indifferent third in the Remuera Hurdles on the first day to two moderate horses. A protest which was lodged was dismissed on the ground that Battleaxe had hurt himself during the running of the Remuera Hurdles, but the probability is that he was short of a gallop and that the race worked the necessary improvement. Battleaxe was a high-class horse, who won the Taranaki Cup twice, the Hawke's Bay Cup and the A.R.C. Century Stakes at weight-for-age.

Won at First Start A horse's chances in a race like the Great Northern are often discounted on the grounds that he is lacking in experience over jumps, but there are striking instances of newcomers being successful. The fact that the Nordenfelt mare Melinite was having her first race over hurdles did not prevent her beiVig installed favourite for the 1894 contest, and she won. When Bully won in 1909 he was having his second race over jumps, and a remarkablo performance was that of Drum-Major, who was only a threeyea r-old when he ran third to Shy lock nnd Nor'-West in 1899. Drum-Majot led to the last jump, but the race probably finished him, as he was not much good, afterwards.

The riding premiership in the Great Northern Hurdles is shared by P. Johnson and W. Ronnie, with three winners each. Johnson rode Mutiny, Cavalier and Battleaxe, while Rennie was successful on Wedding March, Prince Lu and Landmark. Riders who have ridden two winners are W. Phillips (Shylock and Irish). J. O'Cpnnell (Merriwai and Waipu), C. Scott (EI Gallo twice), and W. J. Bowden (Fisher and Landlord). El Gallo is the only horse who has won twice. The only previous winner engaged this year is Wee Pat.

Topweights and Favourites The Great Northern Hurdles has always been a hard race for topweights to win, and only six, Liberator, St. Simon. Wimmera, Landbird. Landmark and Make Up, have succeeded. In 32 contests out of 44 the topweight has been unplaced. Although tho horses wearing No. 1 saddle-cloth have done a little better in recent years, from 1902 to 102-5 the topweight got into the money oii only two occasions. The record of topweights since 1920 is ns follows: — 1920 .. Sir Solo, 11.2 .. .. Unplaced 1921 .. Thrace, 11.6 .. .. Unploced Kauri Kini*. 11.6 .. Unplaced 1922 .. Explorer, 11.9 .. .. Unplaced 1923 .. Poanui. 11.2 .. .. Unplaced 1924 .. Exploror, 10.10 .. ~ Unplaced 1925 .. Highway, 11.4 .. .. Unplaced 1926 .. Landbird. 10.12.. .. First Erie. 10.12 .. .. Unplaced 1927 .. Archibald, 10.7.. .. Second Kawini, 10.7 .. .. Unplaced 1928 .. "Wedding March, 11.8.. Unplaced 1929 .. Red Fuchsia, 10.13 v .» Unplaced 1930 .. Elysianor, 11.5.. .. Unplaced 1931 .. Carinthia, 11.9 .. .. Third 1932 Landmark, 10.10 First Mako Up, 10.10 .. Second 1933 .. Make Up, 11.5 .. .. Fir3t 1934 .. Make Up, 11.8.. .» Second 1935 .. Wee Pal, 10.6 .. .. Unplaced Favourites have fared rather better, 12 having been successful. Those who won before 1920 were Melinite, Liberator, Opai, Exmoor, Waipu, Wimmera, Whakaweira, Napper and El Gallo. The performances of the first favourite since that date are: —

1920 .. Lochella, 9.18 .. .. First 1921 .. Onmhu, 10.8 .. .. Second 1922 .. Snake, 9.11 .. .. Unplaced 1923 .. Tinokahu,, 9.13 .. .. Second 1924 .. First Born, 10.fi .. Unplaced 1925 .. Sir Roseberry, 10.12.. First 192R .. Erie, 10.12 .. .. Unplaced 1927 .. Knwini, 10.7 » .. Unplaced 1928 .. Wedding March, 11.8 . . Unplaced 1929 .. Red Fuchsia, 10.13 .. Unplaced 1930 .. Roman Abbey, 9.11 .. Second 1931 .. Lucess, 9.2 .. .. Second J932 .. Landmark, 10.10 First Make Up, 10.10,. .. Second 1933 .. Billy Boy, 10.11 .. Unplaced 1934 .. Emancipation, 10.0 .. Third 1935 .. Wee Pat, 20.0 .. ~ Unplaced

It is noticeable that only one favourite has been successful in the last 10 years. On that occasion investors had the benefit of a # bracket, Landmark and Make Up, who finished first and second respectively.