THE W.R.C. STEEPLECHASE.

NZ Truth, Issue 265, 23 July 1910, Page 2

THE W.R.C. STEEPLECHASE.

Great interest was taken m the big cross-country event this year, and it was generally admitted on all sides that tSie field was a high-class one and tbe issue was very open. In the bird-cage the contestants were eagerly scrutinised, by the several hundreds who could gain a glimpse of them, and, after being saddled, the horses were paraded m the straight. Audax, the favorite, hut withal paying a good price, did not look at his best, but his support was due to the fact that it was known S. Waddell fancied him. Lovell was second favorite, but he, too, had lightened up a good deal, and, m addition, was not suited by the going, which was again on the heavy side. The next ; m (demand on the machine was Sir Lefcfae, i and, on looks, he should have been favorite. Red McGregor came otrt next, and should have been much better backed. The preliminaries over tbe field lined up,, .and without delay were sent off to a splendid start. Lovell, on the rails, began smartly with Full Ory w but at the first fence the latter had been supplanted ;&y Sir LeQie, and the two tearaways ■ went out on their own. Honors at tne first fence were with Lovell, but, after tfus,' they both, jumped fattltiessiy. • The second fence proved fatal to Northern Star, but C. CNeill was unhurt. On rising, the southern horse interfered withCapitol, and, for a time, there was a mix up, and tne subsequent winner lost a lot of ground. Up over tbe stane wall they came, and all jumped well except Waione, which ran .it down baslly, and Maidi, which was most erratic all through. At the water jump she landed on top of Waione and knocked him over. The order going on to the course proper was Lovell, Sir Lethe, Audax, and Full Cry, with the Auckland pair whipping the field up. Down the back the positions were unchanged, but across the bottom iAudax slipped into the brush fence ami came down. Here Lovell had a six lengths' lead of Sir Lethe, and the latter was twice that distance m front ol Eurus and Full Cry. The double proved too much for Eurus, ami going on to the course proper it looked as if Lovell and Sir Lethe would not be caught, but Corazon, which had been m the rear the whole way, now put m a great run, and joined the lexers at the six furlong

post. However, the pace was too fast for him, an-tl he came <iown at the spar. Again ifc looked as if the leaders would not he. caught, and Sir Lethe was now moving away from Eovcli. At the big brush at the bottom, Capitol ran into third position under pressure, and, at the next fence he had a winning chance, as the leaders were tiring rapidly. Then Red McGregor came from nowhere, ami this quartette raced together to the hencoop m the straight. . Brady, o n Capitol, cut off the coiner, and gained many lengths. When the fence was reached, he took oft with Sir Lethe, while Red McGregor was ahead of Lovell. Capitol made a good jump, but Sir Lethe struck heavily. The next pair also flew it m good style, and all settled down for the final effort. Capitol was ridden with hands and heels, and won by a couple of lengths from Red McGregor, whose rider was not seen to advantage at the finish. Sir Lethe struggled m third, Lovell walked m, and a long, way hack came Kaitere and Loch Fyne, but these were the only ones to finish. The win of the northern-owned horse was well received.