Story of the Grand National

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 119, 10 August 1927, Page 12

Story of the Grand National

Solferite’s Surprising Price in Winter Cup

THE horse to beat Beau Cavalier over country has yet to be found, for the Auckland representative yesterday won the Grand National Steeplechase just as easily as the Great Northern and Wellington Steeplechases. Solferite won the Winter Cup, and strange to relate he was at a very long price.

<Special to THIS SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Canterbury Jockey Club commenced its Grand National meeting at Riccarton to-day in fine but cold weather. There was a large attendance, and the course was slightly holding. The totalisator handled £62,302 10s, against £64,330 10s on the opening day last year. There was only one scratching for the Hunters’ Hurdles, which left a field of eight to contest the stake. In a good betting race Rangiawhio was made favourite, while The Babe closely pressed him. Royal Fashion was quickest to the first fence, and led Rangiawhio, Calluna, The Babe, Bandolero, Gay Jim and Plastic. Passing Cutts’s the order was Rangiawhio, Calluna, Royal Fashion, The Babe, Bandolero and Gay Jim. At this stage Plastic was tailed off. Rangiawhio led across the top, but Royal Fashion made a fast run which took him to the front. Once over the last fence The Babe came through, and stalling off Calluna, who finished well, won by a length and a half, with Rangiawhio a length farther back in third place. Gay Jim was fourth, followed by Royal Fashion, Bandolero and Plastic. Luthy ran off. The winner won most decisively and will win again before long. CONSISTENT HURDLER Aberfeldy and Peneus were evenly backed for the Trial Hurdles. The race hardly needs description, for at no stage of the journey did Aberfeldy appear as if lie would get beaten. Aberfeldy was the first to begin and led over the initial obstacle from Peneus. However, Tilson eased Aberfeldy, and going out of the straight, Peneus went to the front, followed by Aberfeldy, Beauty Light, Guncase and Vexatious. Along the back Aberfeldy, jumping in great style and with comparative ease, ran up to Peneus, the pair opening up a break of 10 lengths from Beauty Light, Guncase and Vexatious. Aberfeldy was travelling at his ease in front of Peneus entering the straight, and once over the last fence went on to defeat Peneus by a length, with Guncase the same distance away third, followed by Beauty Light, with Vexatious 15 lengths away last. Aberfeldy won so well that it looks as if a great chance of winning the Grand National Hurdles had been thrown away through not being entered. ROYAL LINEAGE SCORES

The bracket, Money Peer and Wreath of Myrtle, was made a firm favourite for the Cashmere Plate, while the best supported of the others was Royal Lineage and Prince Paladin. Paris was first to become prominent, but inside a furlong Quantum had run to the front, followed by Uproar, Money Peer, R.oyal Lineage and Prince Paladin. Qiuantum led on to the course proper from Royal Lineage, Money Peer, Prince Paladin and Scoff, with Wreath of Myrtle coming fast on the outside. At the distance Royal Lineage was going easily in front of Prince Paladin and Wreath of Myrtle, with Quantum dropping back. Royal Lineage held his advantage in the run home and decisively defeated Prince Paladin by two lengths, while Wreath of Myrtle was a neck away in third place. Quantum was fourth. Royal Lineage won very easily. BONENA LETS BACKERS DOWN Bonena was always favourite for the Jumpers Flat, while the winner, Perle de Leon was only third in demand. Going out of the straight Rangatalii and Pei'le de Leon were together, followed by Bonena, Coastguard and Royal Form. At the mile post Kaikahu ran to the front, and by the time the seven furlongs was reached he was out three lengths from Coastguard, Rangatahi, Passionate, Parle de Leon, Nukumai and Bonena. Kaikahu led into the straight from Perle de Leon, Rangatahi, Passionate and Nukumai, while Bonena was on the outside coming fast. Perle de Leon hit the front inside the distance, and went on A GREAT HORSE Interviewed after yesterday's Grand National, S. Henderson, rider of Beau Cavalier, said: “My mount was pulling so hard from the commencement that I thought it was best to go to the front and attempt to lead all the way. He made a bad jump at Cutts the first time, but from then on he jumped well. ‘ When Maunga ran up just behind me I became a little anxious, but when he fell 1 knew the rest was easy. He is a great horse, and he won like the good one he is.”

where Maunga fell. Beali Cavalier was going- well in front, with Charlatan, Zircon, Peter Maxwell, Kipling and Kawini all prominently placed. Going pastCutts’s the order was Beau Cavalier Charlatan, Peter Maxwell, Zircon and Kawini. At this stage Tuki, Kipling and Vice-Grand were beaten, and dropped back. Going to the kennels double the second time Charlatan, Peter Maxwell, Zircon and Kawinni all made a forward move, but Beau Cavalier was still going strongly in front. Rounding the far turn Charlatan got on terms with Beau Cavalier, but 100 yards further on Beau Cavalier strode away from Charlatan, Peter Maxwell, Zircon and Kawini. At the second last fence Kawini nearly lost his rider. From there on nothing had a chance with Beau Cavalier, who registered an easy victory by eight lengths from Peter Maxwell, who finished a length in front of Charlatan, with Kawini six lengths farther back fourth. Then came Zircon. WIN FOR TRENTHAM Hokioi and Osterman disputed favouritism for the Knfield Steeples, and backers showed good judgment, for that pair finished first and third respectively. Jovial was first to become prominent, but going out of the straight Greenstone ran into the lead, followed by Jovial, Hokioi and Osterman. Along the back, Osterman, Jovial and Greenstone were together, with Hokioi handy, and Goodform tailed off. Across the top Hokioi and Jovial were racing together., with Greenstone dropping back, while behind the latter was Osterman, making a fast run. Jovial and Osterman jumped the last obstacle together, but Hokioi easily held his own in the run home and won by three lengths. Osterman was third, eight lengths farther back, with Greenstone next. Goodform was last, while Sir Wai pulled up. BIG OUTSIDERS IN PLACES Magna Charta was always favourite for the Winter Cup, while of the others Kaiti and Indian Sage carried most support. Magna Charta was very wayward at the barrier, with the result that he was ordered to the outside of the field. When the tapes were released Royal Mint and Arrowmir were first to move, but Merry Damon soon hit the front. After a furlong had been covered, Horomea and Kaiti were together while Magna Charta was also well up. Magna Charta and Kaiti were in front across the top, and that pair led into the straight from Solferite, Huikai, Nincompoop and Assurance. Magna £harta dropped out a furlong from home, where Solferite shot to the front At the half distance Nincompoop and Assurance came through, but they could not reach Solferite, who won in good style by two lengths, while Assurance was a head away third, with Kaiti fourth. Chickwheat, Taboo and Huikai were close up, while Soltoe was last to finish. Both first and second horses paid big double figure dividends. CERF BEATS ROWLEY There was only one scratching for the Avonhead Handicap, for which Rowley was best backed. Bronstell was the first out, and led along the back and into the straight, where Cerf, Kalos, Rowley and Cornstalk were handy. In the run to the judge Cerf did best and won by a length from Rowley, who was a head in front of Kalos. Cornstalk finished fourth. Additional Results: JUMPERS’ FLAT HANDICAP 1 i miles. 3 PERE DE LEON, 11.5 1 7—RANGITAHI, 9.2 2 6—KAIKAHU, 10.0 3 Scr.: Gaze, Captain Sarto, Beauty Light. Won by two lengths. Time, 2.41. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE Of £1,600; 3£ miles 1 —BEAU CAVALIER, 11.7 (S. Henderson) „• • • 1 4 PETER MAXWELL, 10.1 (A. E. Ellis) 2 6 CHARLATAN, 9.10 (J. Shaw) .. 3 Also started: — 2 Kawini, A. McDonald 11 1 5 Tuki, J. Humphries 11 0 3 Maunga, A. Griffiths 10 5 7 Zircon, W. J. Bowden 10 2 S—Vice Grand, J. Langford .... 9 0 Beau Cavalier led all the way, and won easilv. Maunga fell while running just behind the leader, the second time over the stand double. ENFIELD STEEPLES Of 250 so vs; two miles. HOKIOI, 10.12 1 JOVIAL, 9.5 2 OSTERMAN, 10.7 3 Jovial and Greenstone led Hokioi in the early stages, but the Trentham horse took charge over the last circuit and won nicely. WINTER CUP Of £750; 1 mile. 17—SOLFERITE, 9.0 1 20—NINCOMPOOP, 9.8 2 14—ASSURANCE, 9.9 , .. .. 3 Also started. —1 Magna Charta, 10.0; 10 Merry Damon, 10.0; 12 Black Mint, 9.11; 4 Chickwheat, 9.7; 16 Tresham, 9.7; 3 Indian Sage, 9.5; 13 Soltoe, 9.4; 6 Whenuanui, 9.4; 2 Kaiti, 9.3; IS Joy Bird, 9.1; 5 Taboo, 9.1; 8 Horomea, 9.1; 22 Grand National, 9.0; 11 Royal Mint, 9.0; 21 Huikai, 9.0; 19 Gold Mint, 9.0; 9 Flaming Ray, 9.0; 7 Peho. 9.0: 15 Arrowmir, 9.0. Won by two lengths. Nincompoop just beating Assurance for second place. Time, 1.42 3-5. AVONHEAD HANDICAP Of £200; 7 fur. 4 CERF, 9.10 1 I—ROWLEY, 10.1 2 3—KALOS, 10.8 3 Also started.—6 Fairy Tidings, 10.7; 8 Master Clarence, 9.9; 2 Royal Head, 9.5; 5 Bronstell, 9.5; 11 Gay Bird, 9.3; 9 Cornstalk, 9.1; 7 Philanderer, 9.0; 10 Spearman, 9.10; 12 Chivalry, 9.0. Won by a neck, with Kalos a length away. Time, 1.30 3-5.