Northern Notes

NZ Truth, Issue 915, 9 June 1923, Page 11

Northern Notes

Only want of stamina stopped Rafa In this first flit of the Jervois Handicap. The son of Potoa and Chime has speed to burn, and Deliur only a three-year-old, is bound to stay on better with age. «He led to the home turn, but when collared gave m without a struggle. There was a quiet tip that Phil Brady had a good thing m the Hunters' Hurdles with Waikawa, The gelding was m a winning position ap-proaching-the last fence, but he could not respond from there to the judge. Waikawa is a six-year-old by Spalpeen — Repetition, and on breeding alone should see -a better day. The Great Northern Hurdles was a fine race; and though the winner, Kohu, was cine of the outsiders of the field his victory was well received. Always within striking distance of the leaders, Bagby moved the chestnut up Into fourth place half a mile from home, but he had to be hard ridden to get to the leader, Royal Abbey. Once over the last obstacle he stayed much better than the opponents, and won welL The start for the Cornwall Handicap was one of Mr. O'Connor's worst efforts and quite half the field had no chance from barrier-rise. Illumination was one of the worst sufferers, and when he did try to get a run just after the jump-off he was chopped out. Ashley Reed did not knock the son of Limelight about when he saw his chance' was hopeless. With any sort of a run m the early stages Tinopono would have made a job of the field m the second .spasm of the Jervois instead of running second to Nocturne. Three furlongs from home Tinopono was m front of a beaten lot at the tail of the field, but he then moved up very quickly and sustained a long run m good style. The unlucky horse m the Great Northern Hurdles was Tlnokaha. Ho and En Route were together m the lead and nothing was going better than the Century Hurdles winner when he got m too close to the hurdle approaching the five furlongs post and, hitting hard, he lost his position. It took some time for Ayres to get him balanced again, but once he v settled down he maae up his lost ground m good style and, staying on well, he got up m the last stride to dead heat with Royal Abbey for Becond place. The Greenlane Steeplechase was only a work-out for No Bother. Sam j Walls was never anxious on him and could have won at any part of the trip. The Coronet gelding looks like being useful over the big fences. In all his schooling work General Advance left a lot to be desired m hia tapping and m the Great Northern Hurdles It was the same thing, and the result was that he could not go with tho horßes who stopped over the fences m their Btrlde. As soon as a couple of hurdles wero negotiated the Dunedln horse beat a retreat to tho tail of the field, and there he remained. Comical made a bold bid for victory m the Cornwall. Half a mile from homo Hunt tried to steal a break on the field, but soon Lord Star was after him, and onco they turned into the straight Lord Star looked a winner. However, just when ho had Comical settled L. Manson came along with Te Kara and tho latter, keeping up a good run, won well. To Kara is by General Latour — March, and, like all the progeny of March, knows how to gallop, and, better still, can keep it up. The public relied upon The Curraph and Sir Wai to do the trick m the Penrose Hurdles, and they showed ffrcnt judgment, as tho pair ran first and second. The Curragh was always m a good position and hit the front when Ronnie hunted him alonff. and afterwards was never headed, although he was kicked right out to koep off Sir "Wai. who finished on well aftor being some distance back over the first mile. O ma lui's failure was simply duo to his inability to may. He gave n. lot of trouble at the start, but McDonald got him away well' and he was m tho lead over the first fence. From that out he was m the front line till his wind gave out six furlongs from home. Praiseworthy nearly brought off a surprise Jn the second spasm of tho Jervois. Tho Australian-bred gelding led to lesa than a furlong from the Judge, when Nocturne and Tinopono both headed him. Nocturne has always been a brilliant galloper on the tracks, hut she had neyor done hotter than prior to the Northern meeting, find it was no surprise to see her sent out favorite for the second division of tho Jervois. Ridden by J. O'Shea, and draw-

ing the ace at the peg, she was handy all through and m the run home shot to the front to win nicely. I W. Hennie must be given credit for riding a well-judged race on Royal Abbey. Instead of rushing the chestnut to the front, as is, customary, he dropped m behind the leaders and only moved up five furlongs from home. His pace and quick jumping soon took Royal Abbey to the front, and then Remiie tried to get a break on the others. He did put some daylight between himself and those following, but it was not enough, and before the last fence was reached Kohu had him settled. The hitherto disappointing Arch Laddie gave nothing a chance m the first division of the Jervois and from barrier-rise Downing had the Avon-dale-trained gelding m front, and, taking no chances, he never allowed the field to get close enough to argue. As a two-year-old Arch Laddie showed speed, <but since then he has failed badly on many occasions. The Great Northern Steeplechase on Monday saw the favorites completely routed, not one of the fancied candidates taking par| m the finish, which was the most exciting In the history of the race. All the honors were with the winner, Mary Bruce, because she- tried her best to run off at the. second fence on top x of the hill the last time and it was only by good luck that Sam Henderson got her over the wing of the fence. At the time she had just run up to Dick, but by shirking the fence she lost many lengths and as they headed down the hill for home the race looked a good thing for Dick, who had gone to the front early. However, Mary Bruce got going again and, overhaulIng Dick fast, she was almost with him at the last fence, which they took well. In a few. strides the pair were locked together, and then Henderson and Kaan sat down m earnest. All the way over the last furlong the horses were locked together, and just behind * them Vociferate and Pittsworth were having a hea'd-and-head battle for third money. It was just like two desperate finishes taking place, with two pairs of horses racing stride for stride. Mary Bruce just had enough the best of Dick to enable the judge to decide m her favor, and a few lengths behind Dick, Vociferate just beat Pittsworth for third money. The favorite, Kohu, was the first to drop-out, by coming to grief, at the second fence on the hill the second time, at which point he "was only going at a hand canter. Next to go was Thiganthu, who had been racing m the first three all the way and was second when he fell at the second fence of the double. With a round to go Snake fell at the sod wall the second fence from, home, but was a long way back and well beaten at the time, Tigerland was always, well up till it came to racing, when he disappeared from the picture and finished a long way back. Sea De'il was beaten by the weight, but Vociferate and Pittsworth both ran good races, particularly Vociferate, Who was running last for two rounds and made up a lot of ground. Oakleigh never had a chance; m fact, when it came to the real test Mary Bruce and Dick had things all their own way. j Mary Bruce is .owned by J. Preston and has always been ridden by her owner's son, but on Monday S. Henderson had the ride and Preston rode Mary Brucer ran a great race into fourth place m the Northern Hurdles and this accounted for her paying a comparatively short price m the Steeplechase. Whether Kohu would have wort is hard to Bay, but he was certainly going well when he fell.