POPULAR CONTEST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23058, 8 June 1938, Page 11

POPULAR CONTEST

NORTHERN HISTORY . NOTABLE SURPRISES KIATERE'S WEIGHT RECORD BY PHAETON Tlio Great Northern Steeplechase, set for decision to-inorrow, is the 54th in its his'ory. From the initial winter meeting at Ellerslie in 1885, the big cross-country event has held a. popular place. . , ; In the early days the Great Northern meeting was confined to one day, and a sterling display was made by a little mare named Jenny, a five-year-old daugliter of Puriri. She was first sent out to contest a twp-mile hurdle race, for which, ridden by P. Johnson, she ruled a warm favourite. Sho inade a game bid for victory, but had to surrender to Donald, who was- ridden by J. ltae. Although Jciiny was distressed as the result of the bard jaco exacted' from her she was_saddled up again in less than a cpuple ,of hours., to 1 content the Great Northern Steeplechase. The little mare, who was again ridden by P. Johnson, was popularly counted out for tlib crpss-country race, but she confounded" the critics by leading the field practically from start to finrsh and her perfect fencing'^'as'the feature of the contest. - Most Sensational Win •Tho victory registered by Despised in 1893 was the .most sensational win connected with the race, and although 45 years have elapsed since the Cap-a-Pie gelding led the field home in the winter of 1893, the incidents surrounding his success, still furnish subjects for discussion.

By carrying 12.13 to victory jn 1907, Kiatere registered a performance of the truly champion' order, and his longsustained run from the head of the straight anil.the brilliancy of his finishing effort allowed him to be endowed with tho staying quality to' a high degree. .Kiatere contested' the Great Northern Steeplechase five times. He Won in 1905 and 1907, ran unplaced in 1908, finished second in 1909, and was unplaced in 1910. Hautere, who led the field home in 1912, was bought for £l2 10,s at a Wanganui auction, at which period he was three years' old, in the hope that ho would be useful as a buggy horse. The Kuroclydon gelding, as he was then simply known, showed such marked dislike for the job between tho shafts that lie smashed everything to which he was -hitched to smithereens. He was •then bought for £3O by the late Mr. J. B. Williamson, and on the latter's death, he passed to his son, John. Tried and Rejected

Hautore was subsequently offered to a Waikato farmer to square a grazing account for £2O, but was declined. .Later, the gelding was taken on trial at a purchase price of £2O, but an unruly display and then a bolt from the stable caused the would-be buyer to cry oiF 1 the intended purchase. It was then to place the gelding in training, with happy results. When schooled lie early displayed relish for jumping, With a good dash of pace. The once despised one was a strongly fancied candidate for tire* Great Northern Steeplechase, which ho won in dashing style.

"From 1901, embracing 36 contests, s6von-year-olds have gained 11 successes, . the victors of that age being The Guard, 12.3; Haydn, 11.6; Capitol, 10.4; Co ra /on, 10.9; Her col a, 9.13; Glucpot,, 1Q.7; Mary Bruce, 9.0; Sir Hosoberry, 10.3 c,; Beau CavaMe* i »r , 9.r; Copey, 9.0; Uoyhl Limond, 9.8. In last year T s race Irish Comet, a 13-year-old veteran, 'brought- off a surprise when' he beat a fiekl of a ddzen in good style. Veterans have won the Great Northern before, but it is opbn to doubt whether any of them had reached the same age as Irish Comet. Success in Tlrst- Start Seven mares have been successful as follows: —Belle, 11.2; Allegro, 9.0; Jenny, 10.0; i Muscatel, 10.3; Mary Bruce, 9.0; Uralla, 9.0; Aurora Borealis, 9.0. ' Liberator, Bercola, EI Gallo and Master Lupin, who scored respectively in 1897), 1913, 1915, 1919, had not previously started in a cross-country race.

Despised, Levanter, Moccasin and Uralla were all defeated in the Maiden Steeplechase run on tho opening day of the meetings fit which they Avon tho Great Northern Steeplechases.

Wniinai contested tho Great Northern Steeplechase 011 six occasions. In 1916 he, ran second, and in tho succeeding year ho failed to complete tho course. He won in 1918, and .finished second to Master Lupin in 1919. He vyas unplaced in 1921 and 1922.The Paihvay Department, at tho time of the winter meeting of 1890, raised tho fare, Auckland to Ellerslie, from Is to Is 6d. This wtfs viewed in a serious light by the Auckland Racing Club committee, and appeals were made to the department to;observe tho old rate, but without avail. Tho imposition of the extra sixpence, it was thought, Would seriously affect the attendance and it was therefore deemed 'advisable to declare a free gate.- "I Fate of Favourites The 'following table shows how tho favoujite has fared:— Favourite Position 1 1885—Now Yenr, 11.12 .. Fell 388(1 —Guy Fnwkes, 11.7 .. Fell 3887 —Silvio, 11.2 .. First 1888—Muffliesla, 10.10 .. Second ■1881)—Oildfellow, 30.0 ~ .. Unplaced 1800—Auckland, 10.2 .. .. Second 1801—Sentinel, 12.0 . .. Fell ,18! 12 —Courunto, 10.13 . .. Second 18011—Booties, 10.8 . .. Unplaced j 804—Despised, 12.8 .. .. Unplaced 1805—Liberator, 11.12 . .. First 1800—Don McKinnon, 12.2 . Baulked ISO"—St. Simon, 12.0 . .. Unplaced 1808—Muscatel, 10.3 . First 1800—Dummy, 3 1.11 . .. First 1000—Kuimate, .9.7 .. Third 1001—Molfaa, 10.7 .. .. First. U.MO2 —Cavallaro, .12.10 .. Unplaced 3 003—A waliuri, 11,5 .. .. Fell 3001 —Papain, 30.2 .. .. Foil 1005—Kiutere, 11.0 .. .. First 1000— Sol, 31.0 ... First 1007—Irish, 10.31 .. .. Fell 1008—Sol, 12 5 Second 3000—Capitol, 10.1 .. ... First .3010—Audux, 30.12 .. .. Third 1011—Sol, 11.12 . ... .. Fell 1012—Hautere, 30.3 .. .. First 1013 —Dorando, 0.13 .. .. Second 1011—Huffy, 10.0 .. .. Third 1015 —Morecambe, IO'.O . .. Second 1010—El Ghllo, 11.5 .. .. First 1017—El (inHo, 12.10 .. .. Frll .1018—Collector, 10.8 '.. .. Fell 1010—Waimni, 12.7 .. .. Second 1020—Lochclln, 11.0 .. .. First 1021—Fisher, 10.1 Fell 3022 —Oinahu, 10.1 .. .. Second 1020—Kohu, 30.5 .. .. Fell 1021—Oinahu, 10.13 .. .. Second 1025 —Sir Roseberry, 31.5 .. First 1020 —Mahtfololre, 0.0 .. .. Fell 1027 —Maunxa, 0.13 .. .. Second 1028 —Beau Cavalier, 12.2 .. Fourth 1020 —Olendowie. 1t.4 . .. 'Sixth 1030— —Roman Abbey, 0.11 ... Fell 1031—Lucess, 0.12 .. .. Third 1032—)Mnkfi Up, 10.5 . ' Lost rider 1 ' )Liuid Murk, 30.0 .. Fell 1033—Coney, 10.0 Fifth 10:11—Billy Boy, 11.8 .. .. Unplaced Wco Pat, 10.5 .. .. Second 1030—Royal Llniond, 10.10 .. Fell 1037 —Valpeen, 10.5 .. .. Second In 1923 the totalisator investments 011 the race amounted to £15,436 10s, which stands as a New Zealand record for a cross-country race. FOR MELBOURNE CUP FUTURE OF FLOOD TIDE I Tt is tho intention of Mr. Desmond Davis that Flood Tide should undergo another preparation for tho Melbourne Cup, a race ho was sent to compete in last season, hut. a minor mishap prevented his starting. After his spring campaign, Flood Tide will be tried as a hurdler, and as this gelding is partial to heavy going, apart from his physique, he should soon become a proficient jumper.