THE CONDITIONS IDEAL

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1935, Page 5

THE CONDITIONS IDEAL

BED SDN A PROMISING HURDLER. STEEPLECHASE A DISAPPOINTMENT. (By Telegraph.—Special to Daily News.) Christchurch, Last Night. The weather was dull when a start was made for the third and final day of rhe Canterbury Jockey Club’s Grand National meeting, but the sun appeared for the second race and conditions were ideal for the remainder of the day. The track was holding after overnight rain. There was a large attendance to witness the good racing. No Race for Cardhu. Night Parade and Witui led out in the Aylesbury Steeplechase but Cardhu was with them at the stand double. Night Parade then dropped back and Witui fell at the sod wall near the mile post, leaving Cardhu to beat Night Parade by ten lengths. Witui was mounted by a spectator but after jumping several

fences he slipped into the big brush at the top of the straight, breaking his back. Thus disappeared a safe hunter who had been a good servant to Miss C. Elworthy in South Canterbury. The Hack Six.

The Longbeach Handicap was a good race. Arrowrose, Dollar Bill and Elbanor led out from Viking, Dollar Prince and Colombo, but before the distance was reached Invoice, Joyous and High Glee were in the leading division, but Land Raid- was in hot pursuit and got up to beat Joyous on the post by a head, with High Glee half a length away third. Superex was three lengths back fourth at the head of a bunch in which Dollar Prince, Invoice, Tooley Street, New Note and • Dollar Bill were prominent. The winner is owned in Kumara and was trained by H. Nurse, Riccarton. Polydora Jumps Well. Verden set the early pace in the Sydenham Hurdles, with Revision, Polydora and Rasouli handy. Hounslow was last most of the way. Verden was beaten when the straight was reached, and Revision led Rasouli and Polydora over the last hurdle. Polydora finished well and beat ‘ Revision by a head, with Rasouli half a length away. Hounslow was close up. This was Polydora’s fifth start in hurdle events for two wins, a second and a third. She gave a good jumping display. Verden was not at his best on account of soreness having prevented him from doing much work. The Hack Hurdles.

Manawatu was the early leader in the Styx Hurdles but Sunward and Giggleswick headed him at the seven furlong post. Joppa was fourth to this point, but soon retired, Red Sun taking his place. Giggleswick led Sunward and Red Sun to the Straight and there was not much between them at the last hurdle, but Red Sun stayed on best, beating Giggleswick by over a length,

with Sunward and Manawatu close up. Red Sun won like a good horse and may make top class as a hurdler, while jumping experience may also help him back to the good form he has shown in distance racing on the flat. Trishna ran badly and Anvil bucked over three hurdles and was then pulled up. Handicap to Arctic King. Epris and Sunee were soon out clear in the Heathcote Handicap, Osculate, Gay Crest, Kemal Pasha and Arctic King following them to the home turn. Korero was next after being even closer up early. The . two leaders retired in the straight and Arctic King headed Osculate at the distance to beat the southerner by nearly a length. There was a great finish for third place, Kemal Pasha beating Korero by a short head, while Lapel, who came on the scene in the straight, was a head further back. Gay Crest and Silver Sight were in the bunch close up. The winner has been racing with wonderful consistency and he revelled in the holding track. Hunting Go was fancied in the south but went off slowly and never looked dangerous.

Only Three Finish. The Lincoln Steeplechase was disappointing, as only three out of the five starters finished. Punchestown fell at Cutts’, the first fence. Billy Boy then led from Free Air to the kennels double, where Pahu and Umtali jumped badly, but they ’ were in close attendance on the other pair at the stand double. There was no change till Pahu refused at the first fence of the kennels double. Free Air headed Billy Boy at the top of the straight, Umtali being handy. In the run from the last fence Billy Boy tired and though Umtali finished strongly, Free Air beat him by a neck. Billy Boy was five lengths back. Free Air was third in the Grand National Hurdles a year ago and second in the Great Northern Hurdles last June, while she was sixth in the Grand National Steeplechase on Tues-

day. But for unsoundness she could have won a steeplechase before to-day. Mile Event for Hacks.' The Redclyffs Handicap was a good race most of the way though only three horses were prominent till the final furlong. Madam Pompadour was first out but after two furlongs Rebel Lad was out clear of Impossible, with Madam Pompadour, Riptide,. Star Raider, Mount Vai and Maroha next. Star Raider headed Rebel Lad when the straight was reached with Mount Vai third. Inside the distance these three drew away, Mount Vai getting up to beat Star Raider by a neck, with Rebel Lad third three lengths away. Then came Hom’s Reef, who finished strongly, followed by Riptide, McHeath, Polygraph and Friday Night. The winner is a half-brother to Mount Boa, who won the Winter Cup two years ago. Mount Vai is an improving horse. The Last to Fair Weather. The meeting concluded with a field of nine contesting the Selwyn Handicap. Travenna was smartest to begin from Sea Fox and Fair Weather, but Cranford soon took charge, Fair Weather dropping back. Knockfin moved up round the : turn and was prominent to the straight, but dropped out again. Travenna was challenged by Fair Weather and Haere Tonu inside the distance, Fair Weather winning by a length from Haere Tonu, with Travenna a length further back, just stalling off a late rush by Kemal Pasha. The winner scored his second win of the meeting, showing his best form since coming to Riccarton, and giving F. Christmas his fourth win as a trainer at the meeting.