JOLLY BEGGAR’S WIN

Southland Times, Issue 22969, 15 August 1936, Page 10

JOLLY BEGGAR’S WIN

A SOUTHLAND SIRE’S SUCCESS NIGGER MINSTREL WINNERS (By Sir Modred). Christchurch, August 13. The Southland studmaster, Mr J. Graham, was a pleased man at Riccarton to-day, when Jolly Beggar won the National Hurdles, as the gelding is a son of the Kennington owner’s sire, Nigger Minstrel. But this was not all. Later in the afternoon when Carfex accounted for the August Handicap and returned a dividend of over three score, it was noted that he, too, claimed Mr Graham’s horse as his sire. Carfex, by the way, is owned on the West Coast and is trained at Greymouth by an experienced mentor, E. Kingan. Quite a number of investors seeking a longpriced winner either way on which to make a recovery for losses, followed Carfex because the well-known jockey, W. J. Broughton, was in the saddle. The Southland horseman V. Langford scored a meritorious win in the Hunt Cup to-day when Money Mine won his second stake of the current National meeting. The well-bred Paper Money—Martifors gelding broke down three fences from home, but Langford persevered quietly to keep rival riders in the dark until he could reach the final fence and the flat beyond. Working for all he knew from the last obstacle, Langford managed to keep Money Mine going in the run in to stall off a challenge by Bonny Buff (N. C. Trillo), who might have won had his pilot been aware of the full facts of the case.

Turning for home close to the leaders in the Duke of Gloucester Cup contest, Signaller (Mr J. S. Hazlett) looked all over a winner, but he compounded below the distance, and the smart galloper, Shy, drew away to win easily from Golden King, and Hunting Bag. The winner, who races in the same colours as the steeplechaser Billy Boy, was made the medium of a plunge by visiting North Islanders and their supreme confidence was not misplaced. Signaller was started again later on in the Spreydon Hurdle Race and V. Langford gave him a lesson in what is required from batten-toppers. The Balboa gelding was again in evidence crossing the top, but could not or would not run up to the leaders, a feat that should have been within his powers. He has been a great disappointment to his connections of late and he has either become sour or has trained off.

Beaufort Steeplechase.

The field, led by Nocturnus, crawled along over the first stages of the Beaufort Steeplechase. Over the last mile the pace was crowded on and this suited Manawatu to perfection. The useful flat racer jumped the last three fences well and strode away to give A. McDonald an easy ride and record a popular win for a good sportsman and enthusiastic lover of jumpers in Mr F. Armstrong, a North Islander who has raced many smart hurdlers and ’chasers in his time. The final pace set was beyond Royal. Limond, who drifted, and Billy Boy, but Pahu raced well into second place. Punchestown was another contestant who found the last five furlongs sultry, but the outing may prove beneficial to him. Manawatu (Byrs) promises to furnish into a valuable cross-country performer, as he can go the pace and jumps soberly. Nocturnus (N. C. Trillo) ran his best race for some time past. V. Langford kept Punchestown hard at it throughout, but the chestnut was short of recent racing experience. Turned out in superior condition to that displayed at Riverton at Easter time—he is now prepared by N. E. Hancock, of Wingatui—Travenna never looked like getting beaten in the Islington Handicap (l|m.) and the only rival to keep him up to his work in the run home was Wall Street. The latter ran a good race, but could make no impression on the winner. Queen of Song was prominent in the bunch chasing Travenna to the home turn, but she failed to stay on over the last two furlongs. A mile and a quarter appeared to be beyond her at the present time, but eight furlongs might have suited her. The Winton-owned Poniard ran a very fair race in the Woolston Handicap (seven furlongs), and was close up to the placed competitors when the winning-line was crossed. The two Nationals of the week fell (o horses trained by Riccarton trainers, Royal Limond being prepared by D. O’Connor, while Jolly Beggar is an inmate of the establishment presided over by F. Christmas. Rex Beale piloted both successful geldings. Havering (N. C. Trillo) was displaying a bold front in the Spreydon Hurdles, with six furlongs to go, when he stifled an obstacle and drifted to the rear.

Breeding of Jolly Beggar.

The Grand National Hurdle Race winner, Jolly Beggar, is by Nigger Minstrel from Glencross (sister to Fiery Cross, an Auckland Cup winner), by Gienapp (imp.) from Red Cross, by Son-of-a-Gun (Musket tribe) from Caritas, by Apremont from Charity, by Cadogan (imp.), from Malice, by Traducer (imp.) from Mermaid (imp. and a great taproot mare). He was bred by his owner, Mr D. H. Roberts, for whom he is trained by F. Christmas, a clever and persevering Riccarton mentor. Jolly Beggar is bred to stay on and while he is a plucky fencer he can also gallop fast across the flat. R. Beale’s performance in riding the winning National double of the week, Royal Limond (Steeplechase), and Jolly Beggar (Hurdles), equalled the record set for the Great National events by W. Clarke (won on Ahua and Kulnine in 1892) and W. Young, who accounted for the double on Te Arai and Paisano in 1910. To prove that Jolly Beggar’s feat was one out of the ordinary, it may be mentioned that the time record is credited to Huntique (9.0) in 1934, when he set the figures at 4.46, while Jolly Beggar (11.4) mafle 4.47 for the present distance of two miles and a-half and 160 yards—this distance was fixed a few years ago. Jolly Beggar is a son of the Southland sire Nigger Minstrel.