FIVE OF TEN STARTERS

NZ Truth, Issue 1175, 7 June 1928, Page 11

FIVE OF TEN STARTERS

I. Beau Cavalier's Jumping Ability ',■■•■' \^as Deciding Factor (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Auckland Representative.) The great Northern Hurdles event of 1928 was evidently fated om .the hop-off;

■T looked all right with an acceptance ■ of 15, eight/days before the race, H but then things started to happen ■rhich.. brought about the withdrawal of Hye before the time .of starting, leaving Hrily ten oompetitors-^the smallest field Mince 1920, when a similar number Hontested the big Hurdles, won by H<ochella. , ■ The first to go wrong this year after Acceptance day was Perle .de Leon, H'hich .threatened to start the actual Huyorite. • v ■ fee developed lameness five days be.the -r rkce, but was not \ actually Hfthdrawn until • about 24 '■ hours prior |H the rape. . • As for Brigadier Bill, he was regarded as a?ure starter on of the likeliHood of being for the big Steeples. actually happened. ■ jHThen Archibald threatened to. go and it was deemed advisable not send him. to the post for such a ■■ying contest. others to go out'were Red Comet Hid Kawa, though m their case. little |B-sh was spilt m ante-post betting, HBut for more than, a week, prior xc race there were bundles of bankl^fttes. supporting both Mjster Gamr BBid Aberfeldy, as their pleasing late ■Rork at headquarters warranted those 'Visitors being assessed as. the mosi HB<ely pair to survive. |H In their schooling work up .north J^ithcr gave any indication that th?

fences would trouble them on the righ day, but as a matter of fact both toppled out on the journey, Aberfeldj going at; the first obstacle and Mistei Gamp at the ninth— a little over thre< furlongs before the deciding line. Of the field of ten which did line v] for the prize, only five finished Vexatious falling at the second fence 1 while , neither Pouri nor Karamu wen , equal to surviving the test, Sam Henderson had Beau Cavalier out m front early and at one - stage had fuUy ten lengths' break on his nearest attendant. Going put of the straight for, the las ' round, he eased "the Beau" ana allow ed Mister Gamp to get near him. ' Then the trouble started for Miste Gamp. '. ' Hn certainly had a lot of dash lefi } but m pacing it up to tite seventh ob k stacle with such a bold fencer as Beai [• Cavalier, Mister Gamp made an m different jump, and lost ground. l • This was about six furlongs fror v home, but his pace again asserted it " self and he got over the eighth fenc j safely, agajn racing up handy to th leader at the ninth, when the pressur " told and he tppplefl put. ■ ' This left Mia Bella as Beau Cava I lier's mpst dangerous opponent; j! The pair were within .range rpun the home turn and over the last fe?ic< ( But it was alwajte 7S.?ftH Cavalier 1 g race— -arid he reache£i. ; ftpn,ie 'iws> and a half lengths to th^.gp.Qd, ; ,Vlt|i gating ;, seven lengths furuher'i^a&&v' 'f7eddin ■ March "fourth a' couple J;,gf.,/huhdre yards further back and i^byaiFFor] (the only other . pf tKQ^ten ; stai't'erg t finish) over half a furlong further bac still, „ • ■ ..; m !'.m;';, •"■;■. \ Mia Bella's was ' a' gr.eait effort from the' last fence home, but towards the close she was plainly swerving under the heavy strain. ■ Yes, the Great Northern Hurdle contest of J928 was more .than a litt bit disappointing m many respect though th> return of Sam Hendersc with Beau .Cavalier to the birdcaj was marked by all the sporting er thusiasm that coif Id be wished to grei a great jumper and his "heady 11 rider For Sam "really did display ''head] tactics throughout the race which aide his mount to victory, " ' . It was Henderson's first victory ': the Great Northern Hurdle race. . , He fully deserved the plaudits, ar. the preseiltation of the cheque wliic accompanifed the congratulations frpi Owner Quartley after the event, i