GRAND NATIONAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23083, 7 July 1938, Page 11

GRAND NATIONAL

VICTOEIA STEEPLES NOTABLE PERFORMANCES NEXT SATURDAY'S CONTEST BY PHAETON Many notabjo performances are bound up in the history of the Victoria Racing Club's Grand National Steeplechase, which is to be run at Fleniington on Saturday. In 1881, in which year the race was instituted, Sussex, a six-year-old horse by Grandmaster carried the heavy burden of 13.1 to victory in a manner that stamped him as a real champion. It was eclipsed 11 years later by Hodleap, an aged son of Dante, who carried 1.3.3, and boat n strong field of 18 in dashing style, earning him the distinction of being the finest crosscountry performer who has graced the Australian turf.

Other high-class performers include Mountain God, who scored in two successive years (1921 and 1922), under the respective imposts of 11.5 and 12.7 In 19.30 Mosstrooper won the hurdles and steeplechase, carrying 11.10 in the cross-country race. Redditch registered a fine performance in 1933, by scoring under 12.3. In the following year, carrying top weight, 12.7, he made a strong bid lor victory, but he had to | surrender to the light-weight, Woodt lace, 9.12. On several occasions New Zealanders have contested the Grand National at Fleniington, but so far without success. Forty-eight years ago, the Ellerslie trainer, E. J. Rae, had a sturdy candidate in Titokowaru, whom ho rode in the race of 1890. Titokowaru safely negotiated the big fences, which were more severe then than now, but Victoria had a very dashing candidate that! J year in Fearless 11., and Titokowaru j had to be content with second place, j At an interval of 25 years, Mr. G. ! L. Stead had a promising candidate, I Tim Doolan, who was supported with ! such spirit as to send him out favourite. j The luck was against "Tim," and | ho was beaten by three-quarters of a | length by Flash Jack, whe was responsible for a surprise victory. Two years after Tim Doolan's defeat the Waikato sportsman, Mr. T. Wilson, sent Waimai to Fleniington, but he ran third to Old Mungindi and Cainbye. The horse now elevated to the position of favourite for Saturday's race is Gnair, who is weighted at 10. G. He mastered the big fences at Onkaparinga when he won the Great Eastern Steeplechase last year, and that is held to bo his chief claim to the position of favourite. Green Cape, 9.9, and Montargis, 9.11, are a pair of recent winners likely to trouble the favourite.

HIGH-PRICED HORSES

AN ITALIAN BRACE

These are tho clays of tall prices for notable blood stock, and in that respect Italy has been prominently placed at short intervals, with the sale of Douatello 11. and Neareo. Memory is carried back to the auction sale of the Duke of Westminster's horses on March 8, 1900. That sale was rendered notable under several headings, chief of which was that the French sportsman, M. E. Blanc, outstayed the bidders at the ringsido in the competition that ensued for the possession of the four-year-old Flying Fox. The final bid for the son of Orme was 37,500 guineas, and he went to France. Much curiosity was evinced as to how M. E. Blanc's speculation would result. Flying Fox proved a golden bargain. Besides earning a largo sum in fees, M. Blanc sold four of Flying Fox's progeny for a total of £94,000.

Four years after tho sale of Flying Fox. Sir William Bass bought the stallion Cyllenc for 31,500 guineas, and the four-year-old mare Sceptre for 25,000 guineas. Sceptre won a few races for her new owner. At an interval of three years, Cylleno was resold to a South American breeder for 25,000 guineas.

The sale of Prince Palatine in 1913 after winning the Ascot Gold Cup furnished a highly-interesting incident. Mr. J. B. Joel was tho buyer, and the contract note was for £-15.000, with a proviso that if the horse suffered defeat prior to tho dato fixed for delivery, the sum to bo paid would bo reduced to £40,000. Prince Palatine was unexpectedly defeated in the • Goodwood Cup, and tho sum paid for him was £40,000. Prince Palatine was resold somo few years later for £25,000.

STUD ITEMS THE CARBINE LINE Queensland possesses two notable sires tracing to Carbine, who are keeping up the credit of the Musket family 111 .a marked degree. Spearfolt, by Spearhead and The Buzzard, by Spion Kop, trace to Carbine through Spearmint. From August to April of tlio present season, The Buzzard's progeny had won prize-money to the amount of £24,790, and those of Spearfolt, £17,901. In the interval, Spearfelt's total has been raised by several thousands.

LIMOND'S PROGENY Australians purchased so many of Limond's progeny that it is no surprise to find the Commonwealth more powerfully represented with his stock than New Zealand. Veilmond, Limarch and Theo aro located in New South Wales; Waikare, in Queensland; Agrion, in Western Australia; Fulmond in South Australia. Another son of Limond booked for the stud in Egmont, was recently sold in Sydney cheaply for 310 guineas.

FLEMINGTON RACING

DAVANTHUS WINS HURDLES HEROIC COLT SCORES EASILY (Received July 0, 7.-10 p.m.) MELBOURNE. July 0 The track was heavy for the second day of the Victoria Racing Club's Grand National meeting at Flemington to-day. The Heroic colt Stoic scored an . easy win in the Lawn Handicap, the Keilor Hurdles being won by Davanthi.s, Details: — KEILOR HURDLES, Of £500; 2 miles DAVANTHUS. J. Bencn's br g, Oyrs. by David—Amanus Daughter, 0.4 (J. 11 alter) .. 1 GIANT KILLER, G. 11. Moody's b g, •lyrs, by David-—-Lady Kingsburgh. I).Id (F. Dummott) . . 2 DORNFORD, F. W. Tfoysted's b g, aged, by Windbag—Pensee, 0.12 (C. Oakey) .. .. .. ..3 Nino started. Two and a-ltalf lengths; four lengths. Time, 3m <lo%s. LAWN HANDICAP, Of £500; 0 fur. STOIC, C. 0. Fflirbnirn's ch c, 3yrs, by Heroic—Hasta, 8.7 (A. IJewhursl) .. j OTHELLO, R. R. Thomas' ch c, 3yrs, by Heroic—Dcsdemona, 8.5 (11. Badger) .. a JUDEAN, B. S. Downig's b g, 4yrs, by Curialis—St. Judy, 8.3 (W. Elliot).. 3 Ten started. Three lengths; neck. Time, lm 16«.