NEW ZEALAND’S DAY OUT

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1929, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND’S DAY OUT

MAGNIFICENT NIGHTMARCH PHAR LAP CANTERS HOME. CARRADALE NEXT—THEN HONOUR.

(By

“Moturoa.”)

The Epsom, for the past 18 years at least, has been beyond the Maoriland contingent, and many good handicappers have gone across to suffer defeat, the red-hot fancy, The Hawk, in 1923, being one of many example's. But the barrier has been broken down and the great Nightmarch has shown the Australian and New Zealand sporting public he can both sprint and stay. Today he is booked ' i face the starter for the Metropolitan Handicap, a £5OOO twelve-furlong race, and he promises to start the warmest favourite in years. In -winning the £BOOO Derby, Phar Lap has equally put New Zealand to the fore, and, his pointless victory reflects on the erstwhile New Zealander, Hughie Telford, who owns and trains him. At any distance past a mile he is undoubtedly the best three-year-old in Australia. NIGHT RAID’S DOUBLE HONOUR. The South Island sire Night Raid has surely merited inclusion in the category of those that have achieved great--ness. When rising three years old Night Raid was sent up to auction in England and changed hands for 120 guineas, being sent to Australia. He showed, promise in his training and after picking up

a minor race broke down in Sydney when being trained by George Price for the Melbourne Cup. After serving a season in Australia Night Raid was bought for a small sum by Mr. A. F. Roberts, of the Seadown Stud, Timaru, and till the time that Nightmarch made a name for him in winning the New Zealand Derby Night Raid was at the service of breeders at 39 guineas—now Mr. Roberts can ask his own price. Night Raid is a son of Radium, a sire of the No. 3 family which includes Magpie, .Cicero, Heroic and others, and by Bend Or. His dam. Sentiment, is by the Carbine horse Spearmint from Flair, by St. Frusquin from Clare, by Ayrshire —Footlight, by Cremorne — Paraffin, by Blair Athol from Paradigm, by Paragone. ■ Such illustrious blood is certain to produce something good, and though not a success as a racehorse, Night Raid can boast of one of the beet pedigrees in Australasia. Radium, his sire, was a great stayer, and amongst his many great victories are wins in the Doncaster Cup (2 miles 1 fur.), Goodwood Cup (21 miles), Jockey Club Cup and Lowther Stakes. The mention of Musket blood through Carbine on his dam’s side is sufficient to suggest that Night Raid should leave good stayers. “It’s no use bumping your head against a stone wall,” said an ownertrainer at Randwick recently, “and after phar Lap’s win at Rosehill I don’t want to run anything in the Derby. I am not the only one either.” Some owners, however, are hard to convince that their representatives are not quite up to .the desired standard, while for others a chance of nearly £7OOO at a cost of £32 (sweepstakes and jockey’s losing ride) is a great attraction. Last year Mr. C. G. -Macindoe had the remarkable experience of winning the Derby and £6657 with a colt that, owing to accidental error, was incorrectly nominated. In fact, the circumstances were such that it is contended by many that Prince Humphrey was not actually entered. However, the owner nominated a colt which he believed to be by Duke Humphrey from Shepherd Princess, and which he subsequently named Prince Humphrey. Moliieon was supposed to have a mortgage on last season’s Derby, but that did not prevent eleven other owners trying their luck, wrote the Sydney Daily Guardian. The record for the race is the 17 of Tivalve’s year, but in the respective years of Cisco, Kilboy and Salitros, the total was only one less. The richest Derby was also Trivalvc’is, his owner, Mr. E. E. D. Clarke, receiving £7309. inclusive of a breeder’s premium of £4OO. From the time Woodlands won from nine others in 1877, double figures were not again reached until Parsee got home ahead of ten other runners in 1908. Since then the field has fallen short of double figures half a dozen times. "• THE DERBY DESCRIBED. (From Wireless Relay). According to the Australian broadcast, the course was in perfect order when the field paraded for the Derby. Neclda moved very scratchily in her preliminary, but Honour went down very freely. He had been doing good work on tlie tracks, but his gallops on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, although good, had not impressed the trackwatchers very much. Interest was shown when the Rosehill Guineas winner, the New Zealand bred Phar Lap, made his appearance. He stripped well and lookeel probably ip the best racing condition of those going out for the big event. He stood as still as

a sphinx at, the barrier. Cathmar, Queen Nassau a.nd Lorason were in turn troublesome at the barrier, but a brilliant start was effected, Pentheus and Lorason showing out from Queen Nassau, Phar Lap, Comanche, Honour and Cathmar, but when the field settled down Queen Nassau was rushed to .the front, leading up the straight two lengths ahcad°of Pentheus, with three lengths to Lorason. Honour and Phar Lap were together ahead of a bunch which included Cathmar, Comanche. Toper, Sir Ribblc, Carradale and Nedda. With half a mile covered, Queen Nassau had opened up a break of ten to fifteen lengths from Pentheus, -while Lorason had dropped back to fifth, giving way to Phar Lap and Honour, who appeared to be travelling easily. Comache and Toper showing up from the others. Phar Lap went after the leader with half the journey compassed, the first six furlongs being covered in Imin iSlsec, and when they entered upon the tel'lino- half of the race Queen Nassau was still eight lengths ahead of Phar Lap, who was straining at the bit, Pentheus and Honour lying together five lengths back. Queen Nassau began to come back to the favourite three furlongs from the judge, and as they went across the top Pike decided he would use the brilliance of the son of Night Raid as well as his stamina and gameness, and as they came into the straight Phar. Lap bowled past pacemaker, while Honour found the measure of Pentheus, and Carradate began a brilliant late run from a bad position. At the part of the course opposite the judge's hox the announcer caught the feverish excitement of the crowd and burst forth with: “Look Pike is just sitting on him and holding him back to the field. He’s a moral—a million to one against his being beaten!”. The next and*last half furlong saw the New Zealand bred gelding win pulling up .by nearly six lengths, from Carradale, whose fine late run had carried him past Honour, who was another 1 four or five lengths back. Comanche was a .fair

fourth, while Lorason lasted long enough to beat Pentheus for fifth place, Nedda beincr a fair seventh and Cathmar and Toper tailing the field. Judging by the announcer’s enthusiasm, Phar Lap made an exhibition of the field and could have won by a considerably bigger margin. As it was he established o' record for the race and the fact that the first six furlongs was cut out in Imin ISlscc proves that a solid pace was maintained, thanks to Queen Nassau, whose flutter soon had the field strung out. Carradale was not mentioned as being within many lengths of the leaders at any stage, and it looks as if Wilson took Phar Lap too cheaply. He certainly gave a green horse an almost impossible task to concede a seasoned find proved galloper like Phar Lap a big break, probably of a dozen lengths, over the last quarter of a mile. Tom Green always had Honour in a good position, but it was obvious that Mr. Greenwood’s colt was ndt good enough for the task set him. The rest were hardly impressive. Carradale looks a likely sort to become a brilliant stayer this season. However, “Phar Lap won in a canter,” to quote the words of the announcer. PARS ABOUT THE EPSOM. Static was very bad when the Epsom Handicap field was being described and the race run. , Nightmarch, who was ridden by Roy ReedT was badly drawn at the. barrier, 23rd position in a mile race being a stupendous handicap. Maurice McCarten had the mount on the favourite, Paquito, who was also badly drawn, being 21 out from the rails. Bright Glow, ridden by T. Green, was No. 7 and Royal Duke, on whom Cook had the mount, drew No. 12. Reonui drew No. 3. .'enctian Lady, Killarney, Royal Duke and Sion gave trouble at the barrier, Killarney proving the worst offender and delaying the start several minutes. Gilt Edge and Venetian Lady were amongst the leaders as they jumped out, but at the end of a furlong Racksa was temporarily in the lead from Sir Chrystopher,* Killarney, Gilt Edge, Reonui and Adrian’s March. Sir Chrystopher took up the running between the five and the four furlongs posts, and three furlongs from home was piloting Killarney, Gilt Edge, Adrian’s March, Reonui and Paquito. There was a juggle for positons across the top and Gilt Edge, Killarney and Adrian’s March were amongst the front liners, with Nightmarch making an appearance on the outside of a bunched field. “Nightmarch has thrown out a 'great challenge and he is within striking distance of Gilt Edge,” roared the announcer above the hubbub. Half way up the straight Nightmarch had the leaders well in hand and over the last half furlong nothing in the world would have a chance with the brilliant New Zealand stayer, who was going away from his field. Reonui must have been snuggled in on the rails, and the erstwhile Maorilander came with a good burst of speed over the last few strides to gain second place. Nightmarch won and in winning he proved that he is brilliant as well as a great stayer and a wonderful harvest seems to lie before Owner A. Louison and Trainer A. McAuley. Sportsmen in Australia are said to have backed Nightmarch for huge sums in the Metropolitan and big commissions have taken the New Zealander for the double event. If Nightmarch is successful to-day the Australian bookmakers will get one of tho worst beatings they have had for years. The journey was run at a’killing pace and to come around such a big field ( must have cost Nightmarch the best part of a second. Against that he ran

Hie mile in Imin 36%sec, just half a second outside the Australian record established by Amounis in this race Hi 1926. At that rate, with a clear run from a good position, Nightmarch may have broken the taboo which has fixed itself against' the mile being run at the rate of 12secs to the furlong. On the other hand, the bad position may have been the best thing that could have happened to Nightmarch, and whereas,had he drawn a good marble, he would have been hunted along to keep his position, the outside berth gave him a chance to gather in the leaders after they had made their runs. Nightmarch and Roy Reed were given a \vonderful ovation on returning to scale. RE-HANDICAPS FOR DUNEDIN. By Telegraph—Press Association Timaru, Last Night. Following are re-handicaps for the Dunedin Jockey Club’s meeting:— Maungatua Handicap. —Some Toff 7.13. M'osgiel Handicap.—Evening 7.5.