DEFEATS OF GLOAMING

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1935, Page 10

DEFEATS OF GLOAMING

SOME FAMOUS RACES RECALLED

PROWESS OF JOCKEY HECTOR GRAY

DESERT GOLD, SASANOF, THESPIAN

.DURING the whole of his long racing career in New Zealand

Gloaming suffered defeat on only five occasions, and on one of these he was caught in the tapes and fell. That was in the North Island Challenge Stakes at Trentham in the autumn of 1919, the race being won by Warplane.

This really leaves only four races in which he did not have his number hoisted on top, and of these four occasions the winner on three was ridden by Hector Gray. In each case it was the great riding of a super-horseman that brought about the downfall of a champion racehorse.

Gloaming suffered the first defeat of his career in the G. G. Stead Memorial Gold Cup at Riccarton in November, 1918. He had scored two brilliant victories in Australia in the Chelmsford Stakes and the A.J.C. Derby, and returning to New Zealand had won the Champion Plate at Trentham and the New Zealand Derby at Riccarton in effortless fashion. In the Gold Cup on the final day of the Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting he was faced by Sasanof, who had just won the New Zealand Cup, Punka, the Oaks winner, and Nanna, a first-class sprinter. Gray was on Sasanof and Ben Deely had the mount on Gloaming, who was a hot favourite. The race was over a mile and a-quarter at weight-for-age. Gloaming and Punka set off at a solid pace from the start, while Gray on Sasanof, displaying his usual uncanny judgment of pace, was content to trail along three or four lengths away with Nanna alongside him. This order was maintained all the way round the back and into the straight. About a furlong from home Gloaming had shaken off Punka and his victory was being proclaimed when suddenly Gray brought Sasanof along. Gray understood that great son of Martian better than any other rider. Responding splendidly Sasanof ran on to win by two lengths. It was an astounded Crowd that witnessed the rather plainlooking bay come back to the birdcage, but it gave him a great reception. Gloaming’s second defeat Came three months later, and it was a race that will linger long in the memories of Taranaki racegoers. After his defeat at Riccarton Gloaming had displayed form at Ellerslie taking his revenge on Sasanof , in the Islington Plate, but he had not up to that time encountered New Zealand’s turf idol, Mr. T. H. Lowry’s bonnie mare Desert Gold. During the proceeding three seasons she had reigned supreme over all distances from six furlongs to a, mile and a-half. She had' always jumped to the front and Stayed there to the finish. In the spring of 1918 she had raced in Australia, where

The Hawk jumped out and set a torrid pace. Gloaming went' with him. They ran the. first five furlongs in only a tick over 58s. Gray on Thespian made no attempt to go with them. He was fully four lengths away at that stage and was still Well behind at the straight entrance. The Hawk soon retired and Gloaming was in charge at the distance. The torrid pace had told its tale, and Gloaming was a tired horse. When Gray came along‘.with Thespian he showed no fight, leaving, the three-year-old to run home ah easy winner in the fast time of Im 36' 3-ss, which at the time created new figures for a mile for New Zealand and Australia. This was Gloaming’s, only defeat, in his twelve starts for that, season. Gloaming's only other defeat on New Zealand soil occurred: a little over two years later at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn" meeting in 1924, when Razzle. Dazzle beat him by half a head in the New Zealand Challenge'. Stakes at Riccarton. That time Gray had no share, in his downfall, Razzle .Dazzle being ridden by F. Waddel. A SHREWD BUYER BOOKMAKER’S SUCCESS New owners often achieve great luck in their early racing transactions, but surely none has accomplished anything approaching what Mr. J. A. Phillips, Victorian bookmaker, has attained, writes the Sydney Referee. Two years ago he bought Gaine Carrington, and the big chestnut won the 1933 Caulfield Cup and a fortune in bets,- besides gaining w.f.a. triumphs. At -the ■ same time he leased Peter Jackson, and a week after Gaine Carrington’s Cup triumph the New Zealander landed the Moonee Valley Cup and a further' coup at betting.

Then he bought Prismatic, who had been, .mixing hurdling and flat racing,

she had suffered narrow defeats in the Spring Stakes, the Craven Plate and the Melbourne Stakes. She had lost in every one of these races but had gone down to defeat gloriously. Poitrel had beaten her in the Spring Stakes, Cetigne in the Craven Plate and Magpie at Melbourne.

and four months afterwards Prismatic won the Grand National Hurdle race, and a big parcel of bets. Many people who closely watched the running Of the Woodcliff Handicap at Caulfield on Saturday believe that the owner’s next good stroke of luck will be in the Australian Cup With this ex-Sydney performer. He finished well and is very fit. But of-'course his flat form would need to improve tremendously to give him .a chanCe in that event. Still What he has. achieved with others, Mr. Phillips might dd- with this already lucky" purchase.

Gloaming was the rising star, but to prove himself in the eyes of the public he must first try himself against the “old mare’’ as Desert Gold was affectionately called. Many clubs were angling for the meeting, and'the Taranaki Jockey Club was the lucky one. It was arranged that the pair should take their places in the field for the Taranaki Stakes in February, 1919. The event naturally attracted tremendous interest, not only in New Zealand but also in Australia, and this was further increased when it was announced that Hector Gray would have the mount on Desert Gold. The conditions Of the race were all in her favour as she had escaped all the penalties while Gloaming had incurred the maximum. He had m carry 9.0 against his older rival’s 8.11, •Never in all its history had a Taranaki Jockey Club, meeting attracted so many visitors to the town, and from the early hours one could sense an atmosphere of

Synagogue, Mr. Phillips bought only last January. But less than two months afterwards he has gained a half success in the rich Futurity Stakes, and once more a fortune was thrown for in the ring. Mr. Phillips has always been sufficiently enterprising to go to big, prices in acquiring good horses, but that enterprise has been rewarded with amazing gobd fortune. Perhaps, too, there is a good deal of shrewdness associated With the choice of these champions. • AUSTRALIAN CUP NEW ZEALAND HORSES Of the six top-weights in the Australian Cup to be run at Flemington, Melbourne, on Saturday no less than three, Vintage, Gold Trail and King March, are New Zealand owned and bred while another, Topical, has a big proportion of this Dominion’s blood in his veins.

excitement and expectation; Besides the two champions droesus, a half-brother to Desert Gold, and Silver Link, then a three-year-old, also paraded for the race. The.'.big crowd was on tip-toe with excitement by the time the quartette paraded in the birdcage, and when the preliminaries were . over, the pound and ten shilling punters went in with a rush to back Desert Gold and Hector Gray. The' big bettors, however, knew that | R. J. Mason was confident and they supported his opinion. The big money sent Gloaming out favourite. The start was not as satisfactory as might have been hoped as Gloaming caught the tapes, losing three lengths. However, Deely soon had him going and rounding the High School bend Croesus and Silver Link were showing the way with Gloaming on the rails and Desert Gold outside him. The big punters were uneasy as they could see that Gray had his rival pocketed. Gloaming’s only chance was to pull out and come round or await an opportunity in the straight. Deely chose the latter alternative, but the chance never came. He was still in the pocket as they straightened out. Gray then wasted no time. A furlong from home he shot Desert Gold into the lead and she was soon well clear and going strongly. She had a handy lead but she needed it. Gloaming followed her and those great powerful hind- ' quarters of his commenced to function. He decreased the gap, but Desert Gold

This race, which is run over two miles and a quarter, is the longest flat race in Australia and New’Zealand. Vintage, on Essendon Stakes form, appears to be held safe by Topical but quite often weight for age form does not work out well in handicaps. Vintage is the ideal type of horse for this race. He is a contented sort who will just lob along in a handy position, never attempting to pull and then make *a move as soon as his rider asks him for an effort. He must have felt strange in the role Of pacemaker last Saturday and, differently ridden, it may be another tale this time. Topical who is a previous winner of this race, can be depended upon td stay the distance. He is right at the top of his form at present. So far Gold Trail and King March have done little to encourage their supporters since arriving at Melbourne. Neither has struck the form displayed at Ellerslie at Christmas. Gold Trail, however, 'usually improves with racing and has a habit of striking form rather suddenly. It will be remembered that she finished well back in the Duke of Gloucester Cup at Trentham prior to going on to score in great fashion at Ellerslie.

wa<i no slug. He could not cut her down la a few strides and the post arrived too soon for him. For the second time Gray had brought about the downfall of The Welkin’s great son. The third and final’ triumph of Gray came three years later in the Islington Plata .on the second day of the Auckland ’ Racing. Club's summer meeting. As on both two occasions four horses and Silver Link redivision and they three-year-olds, Gray had the Gi Young was

The ruling favourite .is La Trobe a four-year-old horse by that smart miler Simon’s Fort. La Trobe has won his last two races with a brilliant run at the business end. He won the Brunswick Stakes last Saturday in easy fashion with 8.4 on his back and with only 7.8 to carry in the Cup, he appears to have a royal chance. The St. Leger winner Sylvan Dale is also certain to carry’ good support but in spite of this opposition Vintage, even with his big impost, will not be disgraced.