SPORTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 August 1941, Page 3

SPORTING

C.J.C. MEETING ASTRAL FLAME WINS STEEPLES. WINTER CUP TO TREASURER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. August 12. The New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, the feature event on the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club's meeting at Riccarton today, was won by the lightweight', Astral Flame. Seldom, if ever, is a Grand National won by a horse responsible for so many blunders at the fences, but the winner survived all his mistakes, including one at the last obstacle, and had too much stamina under his weight for any of his opponents. The only horse that ever had a chance with him over the last mile was Ballybrit, but after taking the lead at the Kennels double, the Homeby Steeples winner failed to stay the course. It was the first South Island success in the race for four years. Astral Flame was ridden by J. L. Strathern, an apprentice rider, who thus made history by being the first apprentice to ride the winner of this important event. He was also having his first ride over the Grand National country. , There was a very large attendance, and the totalisator handled £80,126 (win £35,375 10s, place £44,750 10s), an increase of £4691 10s on last year’s first day. The weather was fine but cold, and the track was dead. Results:—

Enfield Steeplechase. about two miles and a half: 6/5 Night Scout, 9.6 (D. Hamill) 1; 1/1 Gay Boa, 11.3 (H. Preston) 2; 3/3 Ruling Star, 10.6 (J. Hayes) 3. Also started: 5/6 Surcoat, 2/2 Son and Heir (fell), 4/4 Hyderabad. 8/8 Panara (fell), 9/9 Dropped Catch (fell), 7/7 Prince Flaneur, 10/10 Young Squatter. Length and a half each way. Surcoat was fourth. Time, 5.18 4-5.

Cashmere Plate, six furlongs, First Division. —2/2 Sir Gundi, 8.0,(L. J. Ellis) 1; 9/9 Good Scout, 8.0 (W. J. Mudford) 2; 1/1 Scottish Dale, 8.0 (L. Hare) 3. Also started: 8/8 Paper Whistle, 3/3 Te Marua, 17/11 Arabian Night, 10/10 Bascule, 20/22 Desert Love, 13/12 Guardress, 6/6 Hunting Charm, 7/7 Lady Nottava, 21/15 Lindus, 5/5 Miss Saone, 18/18 Square Cut, 14/13 Prince Shad, 12/14 True Mate. Length and a half; length. Te Marua was fourth. Time, 1.16 2-5. Cashmere Trot, second division. —2/2 Silver Ball, 8.0 IT. Kilgour) 1; 4/4 Milton Abbas. 8.11 (A. E. Ellis) 2; 1/1 Renarde, 8.0 (D. R. Mackie) 3. Also started: 15/15 Pink Dart, 20/17 The Flying Fortress, 16/20 As Required. 19/20 Bold Sheila, 13/12 Greek Dancer, 6/6 Gunga Din. 7/7 Kernel, 21/19 Leander, 5/5 Lord Dundas, 18/18 Penny Whistle, 14/13 Prince Dolomite. Three lengths: neck. Kernel was fourth. Time, 1.16. Brackets were: Espionage and Good Scout, Greek Dancer and Guardress, Gunga Din and Hunting Charm, Kernel and Lady Nottava, Leander and Lindus, Lord. Dundas and Miss Saone. Pennywhistle and Square Cut, Prince Dolomite and Prince Shad, Renarde and Scottish Dale, Silver Ball and Sir Gundi, Solerity and True Mate. Jumpers’ Flat Handicap, one mile and a half: 4/5 Pekoe, 9.13 (P. Burgess) 1; 9/9 King Rey, 12.0 (R. Collett) 2; 1/2 The Dozer, 11.4 (G. Ridgway) 3. Also started: 7/7 Esperance Bay, 3/3 Half and Half, 2/1 Young Charles, 8/6 Foxiana, 10/10 Cuisinier, 11/11 Master Dingle, 6/8 Green Boa, 12/12 Great Flight. One length; neck. Cuisinier was fourth. Time, 2.44. Paparua Handicap, six furlongs: 10/13 Boswell, 9.5 (R. J. Mackie) 1; 8/6 Saxon Tor, 9.3 (W. J. Mudford) 2; 3/3 Poutatau, 8.4 (R. G. Howell) 3. Also started: 1/2 Sunny Knight, 6/9 Rebel Mate, 12/12 Augment, 15/15 Waitoru, 16/16 Nightcalm, 2/1 Wings of Song. 13/11 Sceptre,. 4/4 Gold Flight. 14/14 Withdrawal, 17/17 Dictate. 5/8 Palfrey, 18/18 Skyrena, 7/5 Sham Boy, 9/7 Stabilise, 11/10 Dainty Dell. Head; two lengths. Withdrawal was fourth. Time, 1.15.

Grand National Steeplechase, three miles and a half: 4/4 Astral Flame, 9.12 (J. L. Strathern) 1; 6/6 Dozie Boy, 9.2, (P. Burgess) 2; 1/1 Slayer, 11.6 (E. A. Leckie) 3. Also started; 3/3 Ballybrit, 8/8 Erination, 2/2 Bridegroom, 7/7 Aussie Ra, 5/5 Chat fell. Five lengths; two. Ballybrit was fourth. Time, 7.9 1-5. Trial Hurdles, one mile and threequarters; 4/4 Night Dress, 9.7 (A. Leach) 1; 3/3 Fundy Bay, 10.3 (A. Stove) 2; 2/2 Merry Simon, 9.6 (P. J.' Boyle) 3. Also started: 1/1 Noko, 5/5 Colibri, 8/6 Flame Queen, 7/7 Petersham, 6/8 Batsman, 9/9 Red Dragon (fell), 10/10 Night Prince.'Two lengths; neck. Colibri was fourth. Time, 3.23 4-5.

Winter Cup, one mile: 1/1 Treasurer. 8.1 (C. T. Wilson) 1; 6/5 Boloyna. 8.8 (A. E. Didham) 2; 1/1 St Cloud. 8.13 (FI. W. Hibberd) 3. Also started: 4/4 Gladynev, 9/10 Noble Fox, 7/6 Haughty Winner, 14/14 Centrepoise, 2/3 Gayest Son, 15/15 Wagner, 13/13 Minority, 11/8 Little Robin, 12/12 Gay Parade, 5/7 Esquire, 8/9 Trench Law, 16/17 Cymric, 3/2 Algerian, 17/16 The Wrecker, 10/11 Eulogist. Head; length and a half. Algerian was fourth. Time, 1.42 f-5.

Avonhead Handicap. 7f.: 3/4 Jolly Time, 8.10 (P. Spratt) 1; 4/3 Blue Coat, B.L! (J. L. Strathern) 2; 7/6 Scarteen, 8.6 (W. F. Ellis) 3. Also started: 9/8 Valcron, 13/14 Sanction, 15/13 Johnemby, 6/5 Greenbank, 1/1 Ann Mie, 5/4 Kanui Te Pai, 18/16 Gnohill, 12/15 Kinkajou, 19/19 Citizen, 7/6 Blue Abbey bracketed with Scarteen. 8/9 Lord Midas and Parchment bracketed, 2/2 Nightglass and Hurry Girl bracketed, 16/18 Red Dash and Star Wink bracketed, 14/12 Grey Night and Gold Don bracketed, 11/11 Force and Roman Son bracketed, 4/3.Auburn Lad bracketed with Blue Coat, 17/17 Batsham and Ackemma bracketed. 10/10 Roadside? and Moderate bracketed, 20/20 Myriad and Avenal bracketed. Two lengths; neck. Johnemby was fourth. Time, 1.30 2-5. RACEHORSES DESTROYED. DROPPED CATCH AND ESPIONAGE (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 12. Dropped Catch and Espionage were destroyed at Riccarton today. Dropped Catch, who fell in the Enfield Steeplechase, broke his back. Espionage and Kurawhai collided during the preliminary to the Cashmere Plate, Espionage receiving a fractured hip.