AURORA BOREALIS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20276, 10 April 1934, Page 12

AURORA BOREALIS.

G. N. Winner, Now a Matron, May Race Again. ENGAGED AT MARTON. (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, April 10. A surprise nomination in the Marton Steeplechase, the first of the crosscountry events at this end of tcie North Island, is that gallant little mac of three or four seasons ago, Aurora Borealis. She is now only nine yea us old, young as 'chasers go, but it looked all over with her racing career whan she broke down in the Wanganui Steeplechase just under three vans ago, and so everybody connected with her must have thought, for she has already graced the matrons’ paddock, and eighteen months ago had a liUy foal to Lackham. She is now owned by Mr A. J. 11. Busst, of Palmerston North, who bought her from Mr F. R. Waller shortly after she broke down at Wanganui, ostensibly for breeding purposes. By somewhat of a coincidence *he entries for the Marton Steeplechase contain also the name of Gasrange, the six-year-old half-brother by Gasbag to Aurora Borealis, a gelding who was unsuccessfully raced over two vears ago by the Riccarton trainer J. B. Pearson, and who has now been re-lea.v:d by his breeder, Mr D. B-ikk, to Mr Waller. Gasrange will thus be making his debut as a jumper in the jacket that his fam ms half-sister carried so notably. Her Racing Deeds. Aurora Borealis began her racing career back in 1927 as a three-year-o* J, and she was a maiden winner at Pahiatua that season. As a four-vear-oid, however, she was a complete failure cn the flat, and in the winter of that .e tn she was first tried out over fences. Her first start in her new role was >ver the country at Napier Park, and she then changed to the hurdles on the second day, being unplaced each rime. A winning turn came at her next attempt, when she won the Woodland Steeplechase at Hastings. As a five-vear-old she mixed her racing in every department of the game, but she was still of little account on the flat. It was a different tale, however, when there were fences to be crossed. She won hurdle races at Awapuni and Marton, and then :-he started her ascent to fame with a win in the Adamson Steeplechase at tlawera—that was in May, 1930. The Century Httrdle race at Wanganui followed. then a third in the Great Northern Hurdle Race, then her wins in the Great Northern Steeplechase and ’Vinter Steeplechase. She was very narrowlv beaten bv Maneani in the Wellington Steeplechase, failed in the Winter Hurdle Race, then, at her ; rst three starts as a six-vear-old won New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase. was second to Carinthia in the Grand National Hurdle Race, and ‘"in the Lincoln Steplechase. A well-deserved spell came to her through the rest of the spring, but she was twice stepped out at Awapuni at Christmas, running second in one hurdle race. After another rest she reappeared on the flat at Marton in May, and then, under big weights, ran third in the Egmont Steeplechase and unplaced in the Adamson Steeplechase and Centurv Hurdle Race prior to breaking down in the Wanganui Steeplechase. Bad Breakdown. Her collapse at Wanganui did not come as a surprise, for her running on the second dav at Hawera and in the Century Hurdle Race left observers extremely doubtful if all was as well as it should be with her. In the Wanganui Steeplechase she was going smoothly till about six furlongs from home, but after a short-lived forwaid move she began to drop back quickly. Her rider (H. Dulieu), realising that something had happened, allowed her to slow down, and he eventually dismounted her and stripped her of net gear, leading her limping back to the birdcage. It all looked very bad for the gallant mare, but. although a tendon had gone, it was not a case for the coup de grace. It seemed reasonably certain that finis could be written to her racing career, and even her owner must have thought that, for he sold her shortly afterwards to Mr Busst, whose only idea was to breed from her. She was mated in the spring with Lackham, and a filly foal duly arrived eighteen months ago. She had an off sea-on then, but last spring, according to the record, she was stinted to Captain Bunsby. It would seem she fai l ed to get in foal. Racing men will now be intrigued to observe how she shapes if she con tinues her Marton engagement. She is comparativelv young, and if her tendon has completely strengthened again there is no reason why she should rot stage a comeback, as other mares have after a season or two at the stud. She is one of the cleverest fencers the Dominion has had for many years, ind, at the peak period of her career, when she was hard and fit. she could handle the weights, despite her deceiving portions.

WALLA WALLA

Negotiate'”"' for Pace at Forbury. Per Press* Association DLTNEDTN. April 9. Negotiations nre in progress by «be Fnrhnrv Park Trnttinfr Club for Walla Walla to rare at Dunedin on the second dav of the Forbury Park meeting on Mav 5. A mntoVi may he arranged against Harold T-oprati, Rol I’Or and. possibly. Red Shadow.